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Not a newcomer to the music world by any stretch, the London-bred La Havas has already garnered a healthy dose of acclaim overseas. Largely (and incredulously) overlooked here in the US three years ago, her wonderful 2012 debut LP Is Your Love Big Enough? was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize honor and was named iTunes UK album of the year. With a style thats anything but easy to pigeonhole, but most frequently gets pegged as soul-folk, the 25 year-old La Havas has flexed considerable crossover appeal, having worked with indie stalwarts such as Bon Iver, Alt-J, Willy Mason, and Aqualung.
Presumably her biggest affirmation to date has been manifest in her enviable alliance with Prince, who employed her vocal contributions on four songs from last years Art Official Age LP. La Havas performed with the Purple One on Saturday Night Live to great applause this past November, and even hosted a clandestine Prince gig in her East London home earlier last year. True story.
Now poised for a global breakout in a major way, La Havas has unveiled her new single Unstoppable from her forthcoming Nonesuch/Warner Bros. sophomore album Blood, due July 31st. A subdued yet poignant paean to the power of impenetrable love, Unstoppable showcases the versatility of La Havas sweetly seductive vocals, which glide effortlessly atop the rapturous, breezy sonics expertly crafted by Paul Epworth. Revered for his stellar production work with Adele, FKA twigs, Coldplay, Florence + The Machine and Rihanna, among others, Epworths involvement signals that La Havas record label has gone all in, by surrounding her many gifts with top-flight talent. The recent remix by UK electro-soul outfit Jungle is a solid complement to the original, amping up the beats and flourishes on the track, without overdoing it.
Lianne La Havas time is now, and its time for all of us to take notice. Enjoy the tunes below, and keep your ears and eyes peeled for her new album arriving this summer.
Watch Here:
Unstoppable (Jungles Edit)
PRE-ORDER Lianne La Havas Blood