Laura Mvula is an honest songwriter.
The ‘Green Garden’ singer led a BRIT Master Class at the British Music Experience at London’s The O2 last Thursday (13.02.14) where she advised local music students, members of the BRIT School, youth groups and music enthusiasts to always be as true to themselves when composing tracks.
She said: "I think the main ingredient of good songwriting is honesty."
The star – who is nominated for both Best Female and British Breakthrough Act at this year’s BRIT Awards – talked about her beginnings in the music industry, and how scary it was when she finished studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire with a degree in composition and had to get a job as a supply teacher.
She said: "I was privileged to have the experience of simply focusing on music when I was at The Conservatoire. When I left I was really scared. I had been in this amazing music bubble. Everyone loved each other, but at the same time were competing with each other – so it was this amazingly creative environment. When I left I was faced with the challenge of finding ‘a real job.’
"It was a difficult year – I didn’t even know what a manager or a producer did!"
Laura, 27, wrote songs on her computer before releasing her first EP ‘She’ in November 2012 and her debut album ‘Sing to the Moon’ last year, which was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize 2013.
Previous stars to share their knowledge at BRITs music masterclasses include Emeli Sandé, Rudimental, Imogen Heap, Bashy and Kate Nash.
The BRIT Awards 2014 will be held at The O2 on February 19 and will be broadcast live on ITV.
Honest songwriter Laura Mvula
