Laura Mvula
Lush, orchestral soul that feels like a choir singing in a cathedral of synths. A brilliant blend of classical precision and deep, spiritual groove.
Lush, orchestral soul that feels like a choir singing in a cathedral of synths. A brilliant blend of classical precision and deep, spiritual groove.
Laura Mvula creates music that feels both ancient and futuristic. It is built on a foundation of 'gospeldelia,' a term coined to describe her unique fusion of spiritual choral traditions with psychedelic, layered arrangements. Her sound is defined by massive, harmonized vocal stacks that move like a single, breathing organism, often punctuated by sharp, staccato percussion and shimmering orchestral flourishes like harps and bells.
What truly sets her apart is her formal background in composition. Unlike many of her R&B peers, Mvula writes with a symphonic sensibility, using complex harmonic structures and unconventional time signatures that feel natural rather than academic. Her later work shifted toward a vibrant, neon-soaked 80s synth-pop aesthetic, but it retained that same core of intricate vocal architecture and emotional grandiosity.
Start with 'Sing to the Moon' to experience her chamber-soul roots, then move to 'Pink Noise' to hear how she translates that same brilliance into high-energy, danceable art-pop. It is music for people who want soul that challenges the brain as much as it moves the heart.
Laura Mvula (née Douglas; born 23 April 1986) is a British singer. A native of Birmingham, England, Mvula gained experience as a member or leader of a cappella, jazz/neo-soul and gospel groups and choirs. She was classically trained. In 2012, she signed with RCA Records and released an extended play, She, to critical acclaim. Mvula released her debut studio album, Sing to the Moon (2013), to favourable reviews, and earning two MOBO awards and a Mercury Prize nomination. In 2014, an orchestral re-recording of the album with the Metropole Orkest was released. Her second album, The Dreaming Room (2016), was also received with critical acclaim, and won the Ivor Novello award and garnered a Mercury Prize nomination. Mvula then wrote the music for the 2017 theatre production of Antony & Cleopatra by the Royal Shakespeare Company. While working on her third album, she released the 1/f EP in February 2021. In 2018, Mvula received an honorary doctorate of music from her alma mater, Birmingham City University.
Shares chamber pop, orchestral arrangement, cathedral, art pop (signature)
Shares chamber pop, orchestral arrangement, cathedral, art pop (signature)
Shares choral, choir/choral, neo-soul, cathedral (signature)
Shares choral, orchestral arrangement, choir/choral, vocal layering (signature)
Shares choral, choir/choral, sunrise, cathedral (signature)
Shares chamber pop, orchestral arrangement, choir/choral, neo-soul (signature)
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