Japanese Translation Not Broadcast – Now Published!

We succeeded in an exclusive interview with Laura Mvula, a singer-songwriter from Birmingham, UK, who made her Japanese debut in June and successfully completed her first concerts in Tokyo and Osaka.

Laura's enchanting voice soothes the listener's heart. She spoke with care about her roots, her dedication to her sound, and her live performances, showing no signs of fatigue from her demanding schedule. Her sincere attitude and high level of professionalism were evident in every answer. OPENERS is proud to exclusively publish the Japanese translation, which was not included in the broadcast. Please enjoy.



REVIEW | TRACK LIST

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This Week's "TOKYO MOON on iTunes"

Purchase selected songs from those introduced so far. Experience the joy of instantly acquiring songs that catch your ear. Tokyo is experiencing a heatwave following an earlier-than-usual end to the rainy season. We hope these three featured songs help you cool down and enjoy a pleasant summer.




Gabor Szabo / Summertime July 18, 2010 ON AIR
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band / Sunshower August 1, 2010 ON AIR

The Greg Foat Group / Hello Old Friend July 31, 2011 ON AIR

Simply Moved by the Warmth of the Japanese People

──This is your first time in Japan, and your first live performances here. How do you feel now that your shows in Tokyo and Osaka have concluded?

I'm having a wonderful time. Japan is a special place for me, and the Japanese people are special. I am simply moved by the warmth of this atmosphere and the warmth of the Japanese people. Seeing the audience smiling in front of me while I sang made it very easy and gratifying to perform.

──I attended your Tokyo performance, and I was concerned you might have perceived the audience as quiet. However, it's because they were listening intently, trying to absorb your music. It's a sign of their earnest desire to listen "purely and properly." When we met, I wanted to tell you that directly.

I'm so glad you say that!






──You probably get asked this often, but about your surname. I'd like to ask you to pronounce it once.

It's "Man-voo-la."

──Is it "Man-la?"

It's closer to a "voo" sound than an "n."

──You're from Birmingham, but where are your parents originally from?

My parents have roots in the Caribbean. My mother is from St. Kitts, and my father grew up in the UK but is originally from Jamaica. And my husband's family, the Mvulas, are from Zambia.

What if Someone You Met on the Street Asked About Your Music?

──Let's move on to talking about music. I sometimes DJ in the UK, but unfortunately, I haven't been to Birmingham yet. What is Birmingham like musically?

Birmingham is a city with a rich history that has produced a lot of music. It's completely different from London. It's not as fast-paced as London and has its own unique identity. Musically, it has a large "Symphony Hall," which is Europe's premier classical concert hall. There's also "Town Hall," a wonderful concert hall that has recently been renovated. Many artists come to Birmingham to perform in these venues, and fortunately, I've had the opportunity to perform in both.

Among artists from Birmingham, there's UB40. Also, the five-member a cappella group Black Voices, which I was once a part of, is from Birmingham. My experiences with them form the foundation of my current music.

Covering Songs Isn't Exactly My Forte

──You've just released your first album, and as you create more new songs, your live repertoire will surely grow. At your recent concert, you performed a Michael Jackson cover. Do you intend to incorporate more covers in the future?

Actually, I don't particularly enjoy doing covers. When someone suggests, "Why don't you try covering this song?" and says, "Just do it your own way," I feel like I'm being given restrictions... and I start to doubt if I can do it well.

I hope to get better at that aspect in the future. I'd like to be able to expand my imagination and cover songs in my own style, but even now, when asked to "do a cover," I still feel a bit flustered. However, the Michael Jackson cover I did this time was much easier because my brother did the arrangement.

──Hearing your answer, I suspect it's not just about being a vocalist, but perhaps your pride as a singer-songwriter that makes you hesitant about covers. That's my impression.

That's right. Existing songs are already complete as they are. I feel it would be presumptuous of me to freely manipulate those completed works.

Complete Control from Start to Finish

──Next, I'd like to ask about your songwriting process. How much creative control do you exercise? Writing lyrics, composing music, arranging, and finalizing it – do you handle all of that yourself?

Yes. I control everything: composing, lyric writing, and arranging. As I'm signed with a major record label, I'm sometimes asked in interviews, "Isn't it difficult with people telling you what to do and how to do it?" But this project started with me and ends with me. If I couldn't do that, I might not have signed. I believe that true purity cannot be achieved otherwise.

The only other person involved in the production, besides myself, is Steve Brown, who produced this album. He himself said, "I was only minimally involved." He offered this analogy: water in a cup passes through various hands after leaving the artist's – the producer, composer, arranger, and label staff. By the time it reaches the listener, the cup is smudged with everyone's fingerprints.

In contrast, I oversaw this album from beginning to end, with only a little involvement from Steve. It's truly Laura Mvula herself. Consequently, all responsibility falls on me. Whether you connect with this album or not ultimately rests with me.

Meeting Troy Miller

──When it was decided you would visit Japan, I was very curious about how you would arrange this album for live performance. It's common for live versions to differ slightly from the album, but with you, it felt as though the album was playing right there.

I'm so glad you feel that way! When I finished the album, my first thought was, "What about the live shows?" (laughs). The record company wouldn't likely provide a budget for a tour with 22 musicians, and I certainly couldn't bring a large choir for the harmony parts. It was then that producer Steve introduced me to Troy Miller, who was Amy Winehouse's drummer.

I was nervous about meeting him for the first time, but he turned out to be a wonderful person, and he really liked my music, so I asked him to be my musical director for the live shows. He readily agreed, and we discussed the best approach together. We aimed to reproduce the sound with as few musicians as possible, choosing smaller venues. At the same time, we considered what kind of ensemble would be needed to fill a large stage with sound. It was a challenging experience, but I'm very satisfied with the result.

──So, for the final question, as is customary on this program: What is music to you? Please answer in one word. And, could you tell us about a song that was a turning point in your life or greatly influenced you?

For me, music is something that gives me the joy of living. And a song that influenced me is Nina Simone's "Little Girl Blue."


Nina Simone / Little Girl Blue (Bethlehem)