Soul singer and songwriter Lianne La Havas has finally revealed details of her upcoming album, five years after the release of her second studio album in 2015. Fans were hopeful to hear new music when she put out lead single ‘Bittersweet’ earlier this year. Now, they can listen to single ‘Paper Thin’ and look forward to hearing the full album.
La Havas posted a video to announce the news only a few days ago on 4th May. The album will be released on 17th July 2020, with ten tracks including ‘Paper Thin’ and ‘Bittersweet’. Have a look at the full track-list at the end of this post.
I’m so glad I can finally say…MY NEW ALBUM IS COMING 17th JULY 2020
In ALL of the ways!!! I love you I love you I love you I love you ILOVEYOUUUU https://t.co/UiKaMUX3Wj pic.twitter.com/wjic6zetgf— Lianne La Havas (@liannelahavas) May 4, 2020
Speaking about ‘Paper Thin’, which was also released on 4th May, the artist said “I remember thinking, ‘This is how I want to sound. This is how I sound.’ I love how minimal it is,” in an interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music for New Music Daily. She also explained how the song came about, writing with drummer Homer Steinweiss. Recorded in just two takes, the song was a simple jam over some chords which La Havas had thought up.
Thank you @AppleMusic for making me the cover of #newmusicdaily. Listen to my new single “Paper Thin” https://t.co/wJfWCYIhaC pic.twitter.com/ENOTKMr7es
— Lianne La Havas (@liannelahavas) May 4, 2020
Prior to the release of ‘Paper Thin’, there was ‘Bittersweet’, a song which has gained 4 million plays on Spotify and is a hit with fans. La Havas spoke to Genius about the single and the album, saying that “in the context of the whole album, it’s kind of the overview of reconnecting with yourself and realising that you may have to change something dramatically in your life to make yourself happier and to get more fulfilment from your life.” She also performed an acoustic version and explained the lyrics in detail.
Currently isolating in London, the singer is still working and staying in touch with fans the best she can. Recently, she took part in NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert from home, gaining 300,000 views on their YouTube channel with the first performance of ‘Paper Thin’ along with a few other songs. La Havas was supposed to be playing live at various shows and festivals this year, many of which have been cancelled, and some of which are awaiting confirmation. Stay updated on her website.
La Havas wrote her first song at age 11, learning guitar when she was 18. She started out singing backing vocals on tour for Paloma Faith, before collaborating with Christian Pincheback as a duo. Her first solo EP was released in 2011 after she signed with Warner Bros. Records the year before. ‘Lost and Found’ was the name of the EP, and La Havas went on to create another EP and two studio albums. Her debut album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’ won iTunes Album of the Year, and she has since collaborated with many other musicians, performing at gigs and festivals around the world.
The full track-list for ‘Lianne La Havas’ is as follows:
1. Bittersweet
2. Read My Mind
3. Green Papaya
4. Can’t Fight
5. Paper Thin
6. Weird Fishes
7. Please Don’t Make Me Cry
8. Seven Times
9. Courage
10. Sour Flower
