# Lianne La Havas
**Lianne La Havas** (born Lianne Charlotte Barnes, 1989, in London, England) is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for blending soul, folk, jazz, and R&B. Her stage name adapts her Greek father's surname, Vlahavas.[1](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/lianne-la-havas-opens-up-on-her-work-and-friendship-with-prince/) She has released three albums, the first two of which reached the UK top five, and her self-titled third album won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1989, London, England; birth name Lianne Charlotte Barnes[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) |
| Stage name | Adapted from her Greek father's surname, Vlahavas[1](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/lianne-la-havas-opens-up-on-her-work-and-friendship-with-prince/) |
| Debut album | *Is Your Love Big Enough?* (2012), reached number five in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) |
| Second album | *Blood* (2015), reached number two in the UK and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) |
| Third album | *Lianne La Havas* (2020), debuted at number seven in the UK and won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) |
| Critical reception | Metascore of 83 (universal acclaim) based on 19 critic reviews[3](https://www.metacritic.com/music/lianne-la-havas/lianne-la-havas) |
| Live performance | Rated 76 out of 100 based on 55 critic concert reviews; concerts usually last about an hour and a half[4](https://www.liverate.com/artists/lianne-la-havas) |
## Career
La Havas began as a backing singer for [Paloma Faith](https://www.edgepedia.org/paloma-faith) before signing with Warner Bros.[5](https://www.nme.com/reviews/lianne-la-havas-lianne-la-havas-album-review-2708411) Her debut album, *Is Your Love Big Enough?* (2012), reached number five in the UK and earned a [Mercury Prize](https://www.edgepedia.org/mercury-prize) nomination.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) Her second album, *Blood* (2015), drew on a trip to Jamaica and her Greek heritage, reached number two in the UK, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425)
After a five-year gap, she released her self-titled third album in July 2020, written and recorded after a breakup.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) The album features ten songs, nine originals plus a cover of Radiohead's "Weird Fishes," and was produced with Matt Hales, Beni Giles, and [Mura Masa](https://www.edgepedia.org/mura-masa).[6](https://www.nonesuch.com/artists/lianne-la-havas) It debuted at number seven in the UK and won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) She returned in 2025 with the single "Disarray," her first release in five years.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425)
## Reception and influence
Her third album received a Metascore of 83 based on 19 critic reviews, with 18 positive and one mixed.[3](https://www.metacritic.com/music/lianne-la-havas/lianne-la-havas) Pitchfork noted that she "pares her sound back entirely for a folk-soul style filigreed with little more than her skillful guitar-playing and deep, husky voice."[7](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/lianne-la-havas-lianne-la-havas/)
Prince became a mentor after discovering her music online, and she contributed to his 2014 album *Art Official Age*.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425) She has also supported Coldplay on an international stadium tour and headlined [Brixton Academy](https://www.edgepedia.org/brixton-academy).[6](https://www.nonesuch.com/artists/lianne-la-havas)
## References
1. [Lianne La Havas opens up on her work and friendship with Prince, CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/lianne-la-havas-opens-up-on-her-work-and-friendship-with-prince/)
2. [Lianne La Havas Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lianne-la-havas-mn0002440425)
3. [Lianne La Havas by Lianne La Havas Reviews and Tracks, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/music/lianne-la-havas/lianne-la-havas)
4. [Lianne La Havas - Live Tour & Concert Review Consensus, LiveRate](https://www.liverate.com/artists/lianne-la-havas)
5. [Lianne La Havas – 'Lianne La Havas' album review, NME](https://www.nme.com/reviews/lianne-la-havas-lianne-la-havas-album-review-2708411)
6. [Lianne La Havas, Nonesuch Records](https://www.nonesuch.com/artists/lianne-la-havas)
7. [Lianne La Havas: Lianne La Havas Album Review, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/lianne-la-havas-lianne-la-havas/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 2010s to present › Surnames H to O*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license