Lianne La Havas
A singer with a voice like liquid gold, crafting intimate soul-folk that explores love and identity with disarming vulnerability and jazz-inflected grace.
Born 1989 (age 37)·British musician·Birthday: August 23·Millennials
Biography
Lianne La Havas makes music that feels like a conversation in a softly lit room. Born in London to a Greek father and Jamaican mother, her multicultural upbringing seeped into her sound—a warm, intricate blend of folk, soul, and jazz, held together by her agile guitar playing and a voice that can shift from a whisper to a soaring declaration. She honed her skills singing backup for Paloma Faith before her 2012 debut, 'Is Your Love Big Enough?', announced a fully formed artist with a knack for turning personal introspection into universal anthems. Her work is defined by its patience; she takes years between albums, living life to gather material. This deliberate pace results in records like the self-titled 'Lianne La Havas,' a breathtaking cycle of songs about a relationship's end and rebirth that confirms her as a songwriter who trades in raw, sophisticated emotional truth.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lianne was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lianne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Lianne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her self-titled third album 'Lianne La Havas' was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2020.
- Her debut album 'Is Your Love Big Enough?' won the iTunes Album of the Year award in 2012.
- Performed a stunning Tiny Desk Concert for NPR that has garnered tens of millions of views.
- Collaborated with legendary artists including Prince, who personally invited her to Paisley Park.
Did You Know?
She taught herself to play guitar by watching YouTube tutorials.
Her stage name 'La Havas' is derived from her father's first name, 'Lavass'.
She is a trained visual artist and has designed some of her own album artwork.
Prince was a major fan and mentor; she performed with him at several events before his death.
“I want my music to be a comfort, but also to challenge the way people think about love and themselves.”
