As the song begins, it’s sweet and simple; quiet, yet the guitar’s intricate plucking pattern leads you into the song, “Green and Gold”. As the song progresses, a high hat joins the plucking, adding a little more foundation and structure, then finishing the intro with more drums and bass.

This song comes from Lianne’s most recent album, Blood, released in 2016. The background of this song is about the artist herself, Lianne La Havas. The creation of “Green and Gold” started when she was visiting family in Jamaica. Since her mother is from Jamaica, Lianne wanted to discover more about her ancestry and where she comes from. The title of the song references the colors of the Jamaican flag, which consists of black, green and gold.

Throughout the song, Lianne references her heritage in several instances. In lines such as, “Dreaming of the green and gold, just like the ancient stone,” and, “Those eyes you gave to me, that let me see where I come from.” The “ancient stone” that she refers to, refers to her father is from Greece. She shows that she is proud of where she came from and embraces her parents’ heritage.

Throughout the song, she also mentions and makes connections about her youth, and how she has developed over her lifetime. The first verse talks about one of her earliest memories as six year old La Havas stands in the mirror, looking at her characteristics and wondering why she doesn’t look like either of her parents. As the verse goes on, it explains how her mind is developing and how she tries to hold onto her youth while also finding who she is.

The second verse contrasts the first. While the first verse is about her youth and growing up, the second is about her being a musician in New York, being the star she always wanted to become. It’s about her being more mature and understanding her struggles as a child, while also understanding herself in the current moment. “Just sweep away the dust from the mirror” references the mirror as her clouded, young, and impressionable mind. Then states as she matures and is able to understand the unimaginable from before, she is able to sweep away the dust from the mirror.

This song is definitely not the only deep and meaningful song on the album. Themes throughout the album include feeling secure and happy, loss, identity, love, and more thought out events throughout her life. Her soulful and delicate voice can make any song sound powerful and flow with any instrument. Along with Blood, she came out with an acoustic version of the album a year later, but I digress. Lianne La Havas makes any room brighter with her slow vibrato and confidence in who she is and where she comes from. La Havas is one of a kind and will never cease to amazing me, whether she’s out performing in New York or in between albums. Stay tuned for future singles and EPs, more creative than the last.