Laura Mvula Writing Quotations

My songs are very personal, which means they are fantastically therapeutic to write, but performing them night after night is emotionally draining.

Taxi drivers used to ask me what kind of music I did and I'd say, well, it's kind of jazz, soul, classical - but that makes no sense to anyone. Now I say I just write my own songs. I thought I had to help people get me, but I don't think they need to be spoon-fed. If you connect with me that is cool. I don't need the whole world to feel like I am a soul angel.

I write songs from the heart, and I don't hold back.

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

I always said when I was younger, I wanted to write film music, and I think that's what my ultimate dream is.