“The Dreaming Room” by Laura Mvula is Eastside Radio’s Album of the Week.

This week our featured artist hails from the West Midlands of England however her voice is powerful enough to reach all corners of the globe. Releasing her second album Laura Mvula has given us another record packed full of emotions and originality with tracks that can sound quite abstract that might even bring you on a journey.

The album serves a the follow up to her debut and critically accaimed album “Sing to the Moon”. Released in 2013, it was touted as being “rooted in decades-old forms of gospel, jazz, R&B, and, most deeply, orchestral pop.” The lady that Hello! Magazine pronounced as “the new Adele” released “The Dreaming Room” on the 17th of June this year and once again we get that signature soul sounding voice that is in a league of it’s own. As an artist you can hear in this piece that she has grown, showing off her vocal strengths Mvula has really figured out what she wants to project as an artist.

This time in her latest release we get 12 tracks that shine through with her signature soul sound but with a twist of experimental pop. Listening to her true raw talent, some might say she reminds them of Nina Simone. The similarities in their talent is one thing however her ability to make her voice resonate and seem so pronounced over all other instrumentation is truly remarkable.Throughout the album we get to hear messages of strength and encouragement, with even a plea for help and of self worth. There’s a nice mixture of thoughts, moods and emotions poured into the songwriting that takes listeners on a mini journey throughout each and every track.

Laura Mvula is certainly an artist that is breaking down the “norms” when it comes to arrangement and how so called ‘futuristic pop’ sounds. Mvula is able to give us her own quirky and unique tracks that sound just great and also full of energy. We all know that an artist who isn’t afraid to take chances to connect with their audiences  are always the real deal, instead of just playing it safe and going by the rules of the chart makers. This highly talented Birmingham lady has made her own rules and that is what her artistry is all about, and most definatly why audiences across the globe have fallen in love with her too.

Like a lot of the albums we feature here on Eastside Radio we have tracks that discuss justice, social and world issues well “The Dreaming Room” is also a record that brings these important matters to the listeners through music. A great example of this is the first tracks off the album “Overcome” which features the highly talented Nile Rodgers playing some funky electric guitar strings. On this one we also get to hear Mvula bring in lyrics that are meant empower like “Even though we suffer, come together, be brave, all God’s children, come”.

Another track on the album that features a guest artist and also talks about important issues is he album’s first single “People” seeing Mvula talk about black resilience. Bringing rapper Wretch 32 in half way through for some male vocals, the track is bursting at the seems with a lot of truthful lyrics from the heart. A track that will remind people again that Mvula has similarities with Nina Simone for their passion for civil and womens rights is “Phenomenal Woman”. After reading Maya Angelou’s poem with the same name she got the inspiration to put pen to paper for another truthful track with lyrics such as “She never listened to no hater, liar, breaking boundaries and chasing fire” and a chorus of “Oh my my, oh my, she flies” giving more thoughts here from the heart.

All tracks throughout the album have some outstanding vocal range in each them however if you want to listen to a moe acounstic track that just features Mvula’s powerful vocals then “Show Me Love” is the one you need to listen to. Here you can really hear how much of a talented vocalist this woman really is.

One thing you can be sure of is that this lady is going to go far, with “The Dreaming Room” being her second album that has already seen her headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, and with truthful lyrics, amazing vocals and unique charisma, Laura Mvula is assured for greatness. From time to time you might be surprised where some of the tracks are heading as vocals can come in and out but this just adds more originality to them. If you’re liking the sounds of Laura Mvula wait unitl the 12th April 2017 where Aussie’s can see her live here in Sydney’s Metro Theatre.

Artist Listing

Laura Mvula

Guest artists

Wretch 32

Nile Rodgers

Producer

Troy Miller

Track Listing

1.       Who I Am

2.       Overcome ft. Nile rogers

3.       Bread

4.       Lucky Man

5.       Let Me Fall

6.       Kiss My Feet

7.       Show Me Love

8.       Renaissance Moon

9.       Angel

10.   People ft. Wretch 32

11.   Nan

12.   Phenomenal Woman

You can follow Laura Mulva’s career at lauramulva.com or via her FACEBOOK page. For an extended listen to the album, tune in on Thursday from 1.30PM – 2PM for ‘Album of the Week’ with Josh Crosbie. Don’t forget to also listen out for your opportunity to win a copy of “The Dreaming Room’’ all week. You must be a supporter to win so make sure to sign up at https://eastsidefm.org/support-us-2/. You can also stream the station here.