Sometimes it is the very first time you hear a track from a new artist and you know that they have something special. There is always something familiar, but it is the unexpected twists and turns, and the bands and artists that stand out with their own style and sound that are truly striking. And so it was for Laura Mvula.

I was in love with her jazz-infused, cinematic voice and subtle but awkward melodies when I wrote about her back in May before her debut EP release. She is not just a down-tempo artists, however, with her upcoming single, Green Garden, having an urgency that drives straight to your racing heart. Whether she is reaching back to the glamour of old or bringing together the intricacies of song stuctures from foreign shores, she is always exciting and 2013 should be a big year indeed.

Thanks to Josh Shinner for the photo