A girl who was inspired to become a singer while watching Sister Act 2 is a girl after my own heart. Sadly, Lauren Hill's amazing talent never rubbed off quite as well on me as on Lianne La Havas, but that film can have a lasting effect on people. For my best mate Lou, her life-long love of Sister Mary Clarence led her family to club together and buy her a real life gospel choir to sing her down the aisle at her wedding (ok, so officially Keira Knightley in Love Actually got there first but it was still very special). For Lianne it was the lightbulb moment that set her on the path to a career in music and possible superstardom.
And thank god for Whoopi Goldberg in a habit. As Lianne's soulful voice and beautifully retro tunes are a real treat. It's not just me that thinks she's great - she's already been touted as one to watch by the BBC's Sound of 2012 and MTV's Next Big Thing, Bon Iver asked her to support him on tour and she has an appearance on Later with Jools Holland under her belt too.
And this week sees the launch of her second EP Forget. I got the chance to chat to her about it for BBC 6 Music when she came in to record a session last month and the interview went out today on the breakfast show and Radcliffe and Maconie.
She told me about her upcoming headline tour, who she counts as her inspirations and what we can expect from the debut album which will follow in May. Here it is in case you missed it...
You know you're getting old when the artist you're interviewing says her MUM got her into The Fugees. And at just 22, Lianne Le Havas is a bundle of excitable energy with an infectious smile to compliment that voice and a lovely habit of taking pictures of her audience for her blog, as she can't quite believe how big they're getting.
Expect more where they came from soon. Lianne's been booked to take part in 6 Music's 10th birthday celebrations at London's Southbank Centre in March. Sadly it's sold out, but her UK tour kicks off next month too so if you can beg, borrow or steal a ticket it will be well worth it.
Here's where she's playing...
8th March - Brighton - Coalition
9th March - Oxford - 02 Academy 2
10th March - Dublin - Sugar Club
12th March - Birmingham - Glee Club
13th March - The Scala - London **SOLD OUT**
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