In celebration of the start of Summer, I'm restarting my Best Songs feature with an artist I started listening to LAST Summer, Lianne La Havas. She was the star of all of my Holiday 2012 Mix CDs. My adoration of her music hasn't let up in 2013, even with all the kudos her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough?, has gotten lately, including iTunes Album of the Year. She has a gorgeous voice and every song on her album has a different vibe and style. She's not just any cookie-cutter indie singer/songwriter/musician from London. At the same time, this album is totally listenable. Perfect for the (finally) nice weather.
I saw her in concert recently at the very awesome Music Hall of Williamsburg and it was easily the best music show I've seen so far this year. She had the audience in the palm of her hand. Lots of love for her in Brooklyn. Even the waiter we had at the restaurant we ate at before the show was there (we were waiting for the concert to start and turned around to see him standing behind us with his friends--very funny). Anyway, if you can see her live, do it. (Those of you in NYC in July can see her free live show at Central Park Summerstage.)
Here are a few songs I really like from her album, starting with this duet with NYC-based folk singer, Willy Mason. It reminds me so much of old Everything but the Girl songs (OK, sorry, totally dating myself).
N.B.: For those of you who've visited before, I'm back to blogging Best Songs, but have decided to do a few posts per month, rather than a strict one-two posts per week. I hope this will help me keep it up! Thanks for your support over the years. It has kept me going. :)
