Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

'Green Garden' is about beauty and joy and lush green and dance and excitement and smiling from within.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I have a younger brother and sister who actually play in my band, and we were always into Disney music, big time. The first time I heard myself sing was when I recorded myself singing a Disney song. I remember it because it was awful, and I didn't expect to hear that. I think it was 'A Whole New World' from 'Aladdin.'

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

The first time I sang in church, when I was ten, the applause was so overwhelming that I started to weep. My mum had to rescue me from the stage.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

Limitlessness is important for me; I want to be able to use every opportunity to push me forward onto the next thing.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

What I wear is everything - from how I carry my hair to what I'm wearing on my feet. I have to feel comfortable on stage, so I like to wear things that have room. My mood changes a lot, so sometimes I wear 6-inch heels, and other times I'll perform in bare feet.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

My aunt is the director of the acapella group Black Voices. I was so struck by them as a child. They sang with such passion and conviction. By the time I turned 15, I had plucked up the courage to ask if I could join the group. Acapella is a different discipline from singing with an accompaniment - it is much more exposed.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

One of the things I haven't been ready for is how male-dominated the music industry is. I just didn't have a clue.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I don't talk about Amy Winehouse as a 'singer.' She's a pioneer. I listened to her endlessly when I started writing.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

You don't have to aim to be the best of everything, thinking that one day you're going to be the top of the world; I don't think it exists.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

London audiences have this reputation for being a bit too cool for school.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I respect hippos. They just look the way they do; they can't do anything about it, but they don't seem bothered.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I envy those who can wear red lipstick or any bold lip colour, really. My top lip just doesn't seem to take colour - there's nothing I can do to change that, so I usually just use a nude on the bottom lip.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I had a very thorough grounding in music; I'd grown up around songs. My parents listened to a lot of music. My dad was majorly into jazz, which was absolutely a big influence on me, even if it was more subconsciously as a kid.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

For me, a wake-up playlist completely depends on what mood I'm in. If I need to get into action pretty quick, it will be between Beyonce and Miles Davis. I'm a massive Beyonce fan, and all of her anthems will do it for me. And Miles Davis, because I grew up hearing his music because my dad played it a lot, so that will always be special to me.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

There was always a piano in the house when I was growing up - my dad played, and I thought it was cool - and when I was eight, I begged my parents to let me have lessons. After a couple of weeks, I wanted to give up, but my parents were very focused and made me keep going, which I'm very pleased about now.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I've always had this passion to be creative, and wanted to sing or be in bands and make music, but I didn't have ideas as to what format it'd be, or how I'd do it. I'm not very good with plans. I didn't think it would be me at the front, either. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that was something I'd prevent.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I really love jazz, but I will never be a jazz musician as much as I dream. But, I think that the jazz music I love is there in my music.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I don't think I've ever been chatted up, and I don't think I've ever chatted anyone up. The Fresh Prince has the best chat-up lines.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

Topshop is one of my favourite shops, and I love shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti. There's a graduate fashion designer called Kate Falcus who makes me beautiful commissioned pieces - one of my favourites was the white Glastonbury dress she made me with the puffy skirt.

Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula

I think, when I started writing songs, my voice just became another tool. It wasn't something that I was going to try desperately to woo a listener. As long as I'm using my voice in a way that helps people understand what I'm trying to say, then I feel like I'm doing all right.