Lianne La Havas: I wouldn’t know what to do if I performed with Prince

 
La Havas: 'I wouldn't know where to start'
17 February 2014

London musician Lianne La Havas has told how she loves to jam with her new friend Prince but that she “wouldn’t know where to start” if she had to share a stage with him.

The Ivor Novello and Mercury Prize nominated singer told of her whirlwind week after she found herself creating music history when Prince took her up on her offer to host a press conference at her east London flat to launch the global superstar’s latest London tour with his band 3rd Eye Girl.

La Havas, 24, who grew up in Streatham but now lives in Leyton, first struck up a friendship with Prince two years ago when he tracked her down after hearing her music and around a year later came to see her perform in Minneapolis while she was on tour in the US - with both times ending in a jam.

Since then they have struck up a friendship, with Prince even visiting her house, culminating in the press announcement filmed at her home last Tuesday before they travelled together to the Electric Ballroom to see him perform in front of a selected audience and her friends and family.

Singer Lianne La Havas getting ready for the Bafta party at the Savoy ahead of her performance on Sunday .... (Picture: Alex Lentati)

Speaking at the Charles Worthington styling suites for Sunday’s BAFTA Film Awards at the Savoy Hotel, where she was preparing for her headline performance at the official Asprey pre-BAFTA party tomorrow [Saturday], she told the Standard: “It’s always going to feel pretty surreal when it’s such a big star who has changed music, but you do kind of remember that he’s a human being as well.

“He’s a lovely guy, everyone around him is extremely lovely as well. 3rd Eye Girl are terrific women, that’s something very close to my heart and you can tell he’s got a great ear, it’s a great team.

“It was probably all a lot more informal before then than it is now...I did my stuff in the house, but none of the other shows required me to be there, it’s all about Prince and 3rd Eye Girl. Also I wouldn’t know where to start, I’d get it wrong.”

Wearing a glamorous Jenny Packham dress from the British Fashion Council and Lancôme makeup, she added: “I’ve had very little sleep but I’ve had a great time, it’s definitely worth it.”

La Havas, who is working on new material to follow her album Is Your Love Big Enough? said she is excited about Saturday’s performance - particularly because she loves cinema.

She said: “It’s such an important art form. Apart from enjoying a really talented actor or actress I love a good script and good cinematography.”

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