Lianne La Havas / Mariell Amélie / Tom Misch / Rejina Pyo / Shaun Downey / Lee Price / Samm Henshaw / Kojey Radical / Sophia Thakur / Cecilia Knapp 01

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The Uncovered Edition / Anja Konstantinova / Lianne La Havas / Mariell Amélie / Tom Misch / Rejina Pyo / Shaun Downey / Lee Price / Samm Henshaw / Kojey Radical / Sophia Thakur / Cecilia Knapp 01

The Uncovered Edition / Anja Konstantinova / Lianne La Havas / Mariell Amélie / Tom Misch / Rejina Pyo / Shaun Downey / Lee Price / Samm Henshaw / Kojey Radical / Sophia Thakur / Cecilia Knapp Conversation

Joshua Wilkins talks to Lianne

82 La Havas

nbound from her holiday in Mexico, Lianne La Havas gets back to talents to be recognised, as hints of embarrassment were embedded in I work on her vibrant career. A rare break away from the demands of the early stages of her musical exploration, “At an early age, in secret, the music industry has helped her to replenish her thoughts and reflect I would play on my toy keyboard and sing and learn the melodies that on her successful spell so far, with all eyes fixated on what she will do were already programmed into it”, she reveals. Lianne would then start next. With her popular first album, Is Your Love Big Enough, obtaining writing her own songs around eleven years of age, with this hidden hobby the iTunes Album of the Year award in 2012, alongside a nomination allowing her to express herself. Eventually, albeit reluctantly, Lianne built for a Mercury Prize in the same year, as well as her critically acclaimed up the courage to audition for her school choir, admitting she was “afraid second album, Blood, charting in eleven countries – Lianne has a lot to of auditioning”, but once she had, she “couldn’t be stopped”. exceed. After performing as a backup vocalist on tour for Paloma Faith, Lianne has transitioned to a solo artist with great success, something she She could not, as almost fourteen years later her album, Blood, has been was somewhat destined for. nominated for a Grammy Award. In those intervening years, Lianne has kept the same vocal coach, who has aided her development and helped At the age of seven Lianne La Havas sang for the first time. She had no her become more comfortable and confident in her own ability. Whilst idea what singing was, or why she wanted to sing, but she can recall the receiving tuition for her singing, Lianne started to play the guitar in her moment clearly, “I remember it just feeling really nice, it was a very late teens, which heavily influenced her music. Adding the guitar to nice sensation to sing”, she says, with an emotional attachment to the her vocals allowed her to express new feelings through her music, with moment. Highlighting the significance this experience had on her life, Lianne citing that learning to play the instrument as, “Probably the best she has made a career out of her childhood ambition, with this moment thing I've ever done”. being a clear starting point for her. However, it took time for Lianne’s Blouse: Yuzzo London. Trousers: Samsoe & Samsoe. Shoes: Atiana. Jewellery: Lianne’s own. Pink Top: Rose & Willard. Navy Top: Gayeon Lee. “When I feel strongly about something, it’s really physical and it’s like that moment when you are about to cry and you can feel it in your chest - that is what makes me want to sing a note”

Song writing methodology occurs in a variety of ways. For some musicians, the process can be arduous, so, artists attempt to create new methods of writing that suit them. One method Lianne describes is to record a voice note, which she may then take to a producer to brainstorm ways to use the recording, “We can hear the idea back whilst together and they may suggest a certain type of beat, which might just change the whole way I thought about it”. Lianne explains this as being a common process whilst making her album, Blood. This is an example of how beneficial sharing ideas with one another can be, and how artists should be open to use other people’s suggestions to help initiate new thoughts. Lianne understands the limitations of having a singular process for song writing and believes there is an element of losing creativity if you rely only 85 on a certain practice. For her next album, Lianne plans to go back to a more traditional method of sitting with her guitar and writing – which could bring a more organic and personal approach to her compositions in the future. Lianne describes her motivation to write songs are due to her feelings, explaining, “When I feel strongly about something, it’s really physical and it’s like that moment when you are about to cry and you can feel it in your chest - that is what makes me want to sing a note”. Lianne uses her emotions to figure out what notes she needs to sing in order to match the particular feeling she has. After recording, Lianne will listen back to her work, ensuring that the audio gives her the feeling she wanted to communicate.

One artist in particular that has influenced Lianne profoundly is Ella Fitzgerald. Known for her soulful jazz vocals and powerful tone, Fitzgerald has helped Lianne in many ways, “When I started singing properly and [started] caring about it, that was when I looked to Ella - I wanted to learn from her”, she says with a sense of fascination. “She always did just enough”, Lianne states, before reiterating how Fitzgerald never over sang or under sang anything, consistently delivering the right amount of emotion, “she could make her voice really sweet and flutter like a bird or she could also make it really raspy and gravelly”. Another influence of Lianne’s was brought to her attention as a present - a vinyl called, Beleza Tropical, that had a selection of Brazilian music compiled together by Scottish-born, American singer, David Byrne from the band, Talking Heads. “It is the most amazing collection of songs and they sound so exciting and alive, I try to inject that into my own style”. When listening to Beleza Tropical you can sense and feel the influence that Lianne has drawn from it. The patterned Bossa Nova guitar riffs are a satisfying rhythm and ideal for a singer of her style to incorporate. Despite the songs being sung in Portuguese, it has assisted her musical direction and enhanced her guitar patterns in her own songs.

Dress: By Sun. Belt: Golden Bears. Necklace: Ros Millar. As well as this, Lianne enjoys music where the whole song is played on product of success and Lianne sees fame as hugely positive, “I want it. I the guitar, including the melody, chords and the bass line. Guitarists want it all”, she affirms. “The more people who know my songs would Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, with their intricate and complex be great, as they would therefore know who I am”. finger picking styles, have influenced Lianne’s guitar playing, in addition to Emily Remler, “My favourite guitarist of all time is Emily Remler, I Lianne places an immense amount of pressure on herself, but this works found her instructional videos online, which really helped me”. Remler as a positive, as it means she is an incredibly resolute individual, “I want is known for her Jazz and Latin improvisation techniques, which have to be better and constantly better myself. I want to leave somewhere made an impact on Lianne. In addition to these timeless musicians, Lianne and feel ready and focussed – you have to be prepared”. This attitude admires modern musicians and sees them as allies, “I am constantly is adaptable to her live performances and how she likes to improve her listening to the charts, what is on the radio, who is nominated for which shows to make sure each show is better than the last. Lianne does a lot award. Just like a music fan, I think it should only be seen as inspiring of research on live performances, using others to help inspire her own or research from my point of view”. Lianne likes artists who do not fit shows, “I watch a lot of old videos of people like Nina Simone, Eryka into a particular genre, and if she can hear something from new musicians Badu, Jill Scott and even Thom Yorke”, she confirms, “I try to get as that is refreshing, then she is more attracted to that particular artist. close to what I think the purest form of my own performance is, and that Tom Misch is a specific example, with Lianne commenting, “I think he is constantly evolving, so I try to push myself and explore what works is amazing, super cool! I really did love his remix of, ‘What You Don’t for me and what doesn’t”. Do’. I like it when people remix my music, especially when it’s a good remix!” Lianne also declares the likes of Radiohead, Laura Marling, Lianne’s positive approach to disappointment is endearing. As she shares Little Dragon, Flying lotus, Thundercat, Robert Glasper and Laura Mvula one of the most discouraging moments in her career, she realises in hindsight as “beautiful and inspiring artists” and calls Mura Masa the “best new the positives to come from the experience, “It was extremely disappointing artist I have heard in recent months”. to miss the number one album spot”, she confesses, “however, I got the number two spot, which was amazing. In the whole of the UK I was Lianne has had to adapt to the demands of fame and manage the experiences second in the album charts!” Beating her to the top spot at the time was and expectations that come with a career in the music industry. She The Maccabees’ album, Marks To Prove It, and being the music fan she remarks that if “horrific fame” was to ever affect her, she would still try is, she bought their album when it was released, joking, “I definitely to be as normal as possible, “I wouldn’t want to start thinking I was any swung it in their favour”. different”, she says, whilst deep in thought. For a musician, fame is a by- 88 Shirt: Nika Tang. Trousers: Nika Tang. Shoes: Atiana.

Top: Teatum Jones. Trousers: Tata Naka. Shoes: Malone Souliers. Ring: Ross Millar. Bracelet: Lianne’s own.

Being a successful musician requires sacrifice and Lianne uncovered the hardship of being part of the music industry, “I’ve had to miss a fair few birthdays of family and friends and I can’t see some friends that much anymore - and I miss them”. For Lianne, these situations have been a struggle and she feels that she often needs more time to distance herself from work, “You have to take all the time back that you have given for yourself - so ideally I need a few weeks off rather than a day or two”. Lianne fears losing friends and dislikes having to miss out on events and be seen as a selfish person, “I just want my career to keep building and keep going well, it obviously can be a cruel industry and incredibly intense at times, so you just want it to be right for you”.

Lianne’s career so far has presented her with opportunities to make new associates. After the release of her EP, Lost and Found, in 2011, musical icon, Prince, made contact, “I just had to be in the right place to receive the phone call”, she clarifies when recollecting the incident. “There was this voice – this low voice saying ‘Hello’ ”. Lianne felt it necessary to confirm who she was in fact speaking to, and in classic Prince style, he nonchalantly responded, “I think you know who this is”, and their friendship began from there. Prince is one of the most successful musicians of all time, so this was a surreal moment for Lianne to be contacted by such an inspiring individual. Making friends with inspirational people is one of the benefits of being successful within the music industry and this is not the only famous fan she has made. Lianne was introduced to Stevie Wonder a few years ago after her first headline show in Los Angeles, “He was holding my hand the whole time whilst we had a moment to chat and he told me that I should not smoke because it’s bad for the voice. I had admitted to him that I smoked. I don’t smoke now - I’ve now quit because of him”. Lianne describes Wonder as her “favourite artist”, so this was obviously an emotional moment for her. After the two exchanged numbers, Wonder left Lianne an answer phone message reciting the lyrics “probably the best

of one of her own songs, something Lianne defines as 93 moment of my life”.

Looking ahead, Lianne is hoping to collaborate more, and already has people in mind, “I did a session with [Labrinth] over a year ago, he’s one person I’m really excited about working with”, she says with a beaming smile. Lianne also has a collaboration with The Dap-Kings in the making, which should add an even more upbeat touch to her music. The plans for her third album are now in motion, and she is making a few changes to her methods whilst still ensuring her song writing is as strong as ever, “I want my next project to be more live, so I am looking forward to recording live and rehearsing with a band”.

Lianne has had to be a strong individual to get where she is today, and has dedicated her life to her artistry. She was brave enough to audition for her school choir, began song writing and taught herself how to play the guitar. Any disappointing circumstances she finds herself in provides her with even more motivation to do better, which is an indispensable trait of hers that others should aspire to enrich their lives with.

Photographer Darren Black. Makeup Maria Asadi using love-makeup.co.uk Hair Roger Cho. Set Designer Phoebe Darling. Fashion Editor Daniela Suarez. Music Editors Joshua Wilkins & Nathan Fisher. Words by Joshua Wilkins. Uncovered: to make known; bring to light; disclose, reveal ‘uncover the truth’