Laura Mvula
Mvula released her debut studio album, Sing to the Moon (2013), to favourable reviews, and earning two MOBO awards and a Mercury Prize nomination.Her second album, The Dreaming Room (2016), was also received with critical acclaim, and won the Ivor Novello award and garnered a Mercury Prize nomination.In her teens, she sang with Black Voices, an a cappella group set up by her aunt Carol Pemberton; in 2005 they toured Italy and other countries.[21][22] On 19 August, she performed with the Metropole Orkest at the Albert Hall as a part of the 2014 BBC Proms Season, supported by Esperanza Spalding and ElectricVocals.[24] The same year, she recorded a track "You Work For Me"; director Guy Ritchie chose it as a part of soundtrack for his 2015 film The Man From U.N.C.L.E., the song's clip was also used in the US trailer of the movie.[25] In January 2016, Mvula released "Overcome", a collaboration with Nile Rodgers, and the lead single from her forthcoming second studio album, The Dreaming Room.[28] Writing for Exclaim!, Ryan B. Patrick gave the album a rave review, calling it "a subconscious succession of visuals, emotions and ideas - sometimes abstract, sometimes allegorical, but always dredging up something for the conscious mind to ponder.The song "Phenomenal Woman" is a happy feminist hymn, inspired by the book of poems of the same title by African-American writer and activist Maya Angelou.[31] In July, she performed with Tom Odell in the first UK event for "Global Citizen" and "Chime For Change", at The View from The Shard in London.[32] On 30 October, she appeared on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing singing her fourth single "Ready or Not", the cover of The Delfonics' song, which was released on 4 November.[35] The evening followed the launch of the #SheWill campaign, which aims to break down the barriers that prevent millions of girls worldwide from attending school.[42] In April 2018, she performed "I Put a Spell on You" as part of BBC One's The Queen's Birthday Party from the Royal Albert Hall in London.[4] She stated her influences include Nina Simone, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Des'ree, Omar, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, The Jackson 5, and Diana Ross.
Glastonbury FestivalBirminghamAtlanticSony UKa cappellaneo-soulgospelclassicallyRCA Recordsextended playSing to the MoonMOBO awardsMercury PrizeMetropole OrkestThe Dreaming RoomIvor Novello awardAntony & CleopatraRoyal Shakespeare Companyalma materBirmingham City UniversitySelly ParkKings HeathSaint KittsJamaicaSwanshurst School for girlsLichfield FestivalAlvechurchRoyal Birmingham ConservatoirecompositionCity of Birmingham Symphony OrchestraSteve BrownKwame KwatenThe Daily TelegraphMontreux Jazz Festival2013 BRIT AwardsSound of 2013The Graham Norton ShowBBC OneTom ElmhirstThe GuardianThe IndependentRolling StoneBrit awardsLittle Girl Blueoriginal soundtrack12 Years A SlaveJules BuckleyBowers & Wilkins' Society of SoundAlbert HallProms SeasonEsperanza SpaldingNorth Sea Jazz FestivalGuy RitchieThe Man From U.N.C.L.E.Nile RodgersSnarky Puppyjazz fusionFamily Dinner - Volume 2The Andrew Marr ShowMaastrichtIslington Assembly HallWretch 32Global CitizenThe View from The ShardExclaim!Maya AngelouLondon Symphony OrchestraGlastonburyTom OdellStrictly Come DancingThe DelfonicsHouse of FraserAntony and CleopatraRoyal Shakespeare TheatreStratford-upon-AvonBarbican CentreWoman's HourI Put a Spell on YouRoyal Albert HallCarlos SantanaAfrica SpeaksHonorary DoctorateAtlantic RecordsBiffy ClyroDiana RossI'm Still WaitingBBC AmericaPitchforkPink NoiseEternalNina SimoneJill ScottErykah BaduLauryn HillDes'reeMiles DavisJohn ColtraneElla FitzgeraldThe Jackson 5CertificationsUK R&BBEL(FL)Digital downloadAt Abbey Road StudiosBEL(FL)TipGreen GardenReady or NotSimon NeilWendy MorganJamie CullumMomentumHuman NatureGregory PorterLiquid SpiritJools HollandRobert GlasperTame ImpalaBecca StevensJacob CollierRecklessAustralian CrawlBrittany HowardJaime (Reimagined)Sing to the Moon TourCritics' Choice AwardNAACP Image Awards