Singer Laura Mvula has shared how influenced she was by the late icon Prince, who “really inspired” her to explore a different sound on her new album.
Mvula, 36, stunned the audience when she took part in a Peaky Blinders-esque performance during the Closing Ceremony at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The singer joined people like MahaliaJorja Smith, UB40 and more, who took the stage to the Alexander Stadium to give the Games a spectacular farewell.
But she still has a busy year ahead of her as she looks forward to touring again next month, with venues including LondonShephard’s Bush Empire.
The series of shows will finally allow her to show off her latest album, Pink Noise, which was released last summer, with a heavy 80s sound running through it.
She said metro.co.uk that its distinctive direction is largely due to her “mentor” Prince, whom she had the “special privilege” of working with before his death in 2016.
When asked what inspired the album, Mvula said, “Well, I’d say Prince for sure.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about Prince lately, of course, his legacy and his incredible catalog, as well as being a mentor while he was alive.”
“I had the special privilege of talking to him and it really inspired me to be as creatively independent as possible throughout my career.
She added other lessons the singer taught her, such as ‘that we should never be limited by ideas about what you can and cannot do musically’.
Mvula “knew” that the 80s vibe would be her next direction before she even started the project: “I didn’t even think about it – it felt very natural.
‘To get out of the lockdown… I had to move, I had to dance, I had to feel liberated!
“It felt good to me that the 80s palette would be where I started.”
She teased what fans can expect from her shows, promising a lot of ’80s aesthetic and a chance to let go,’ which we think sounds perfect.
“Playing it live so far, the shows we’ve had, it just fits the biggest stages and it suits rooms where people can move and dance freely.
“That’s definitely what I’m inspired by right now,” she concluded.
Do you have a story?
If you have any celebrity story, video or photos, please contact the metro.co.uk animation team by emailing [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or visiting our Submit things page – we’d love to hear from you.