Mvula grew up in the Birmingham suburbs of Selly Park and Kings Heath with two younger siblings, and was influenced by the girl band Eternal. She sang with Black Voices, an a capella group set up by her aunt. She graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a degree in composition. While she was working as a supply teacher in a Birmingham secondary school, she started writing songs on her laptop. She was working as a receptionist when she sent out two demos to several people in the music industry. She is married to singer Themba Mvula.
Signed to Sony subsidiary RCA, Mvula released her debut extended play, "She", on 16 November 2012. Her debut studio album, Sing to the Moon, was released on 4 March 2013. One person has described her music using a new term, "gospeldelia". The album was preceeded by the single "Green Garden". The song is an elegy to her home in Kings Heath. On 6 December 2012, Mvula was shortlisted for the Critics' Choice award at the 2013 BRIT Awards. On 9 December, she was nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2013 poll, and finished in fourth position. On 1 February 2013, she gave a live TV performance on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, singing "Green Garden".
Who I Am
Laura Mvula Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all I have is gone
Then how am I to live?
I can only be who I am
The lyrics in Laura Mvula's song Who I Am express a sense of acceptance and resilience in the face of adversity. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been judged and lost everything they held dear. Despite this devastating circumstance, the singer refuses to give up or be someone they are not. The final line, "I can only be who I am," serves as a powerful declaration of self-acceptance and individuality. The message of this song is clear: it's not what you have or what others think of you that defines you, but rather who you choose to be.
The message of the song is particularly poignant given the context in which it was written. Laura Mvula has been open about her struggles with depression, which led to her taking a hiatus from the music industry. Who I Am was released as part of her album Pink Noise, which explores themes of self-discovery and acceptance. The song's uplifting message has resonated with many fans who have found comfort in its lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
If all I am is wrong
If everything about me is considered to be incorrect or deficient
And all I have is gone
And everything I had or possessed has been taken away or lost
Then how am I to live?
Then what is the purpose of my existence or how am I expected to carry on?
I can only be who I am
I can only be myself and cannot change who I truly am
Writer(s): Laura Pauline Amanda Mvula
Contributed by Gavin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.