A few features and conceptual drops notwithstanding, Lianne La Havas has remained largely out of the spotlight since her cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Say A Little Prayer” back in 2016. This week, the South London singer-songwriter returns with the soulful new single “Bittersweet,” which is inspired by Brazillian musician Milton Nascimento and iconic group group Destiny’s Child. Produced by La Havas, Beni Giles and Aqualung, the track sees the star singing about what sounds like the brutal reality of a failing relationship:
“I slept all Friday and he couldn’t get through/
If we’re good tomorrow, does that make it true?/
Not completely, we’re pickin’ that fight everyday/
This s***’s goin’ nowhere, baby/
…
Bittersweet summer rain, I’m born again/
No more hangin’ around … my sun goin’ down/
Tellin’ me something isn’t right, something isn’t right…/”
She explained her present course via press release:
“I’d forgotten how much I love singing. I’ve tapped into the best and worst parts of me and while I didn’t expect this to be the direction of my new music, it’s my reality and it’s driven by emotion.”
The song hopefully signals the soon-come release of her official follow-up to 2015’s Blood, a critically acclaimed effort that helped add to her slew of nods from the GRAMMYs, the MOBOs and more.
Check out “Bittersweet” below, along with upcoming world tour dates. La Havas also blessed the folks at COLORS and their viewers with a live rendition of the single. That’s been added below as well.
Lianne La Havas tour dates:
Wed, March 4: London, UK – Moth Club
Tues, March 31: West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
Sun, May 3: Brussels, Belgium – Botanique
Fri, May 8: Berlin, Germany – Pitchfork Music Festival
Thurs, July 2: Rotselaar, Belgium – Rock Werchter
Sat, August 8: Cornwall, UK – Boardmasters Festival