After several showcases, Mvula was signed by Colin Barlow to Sony subsidiary RCA.
She released her debut extended play, She, on 16 November 2012.
The title track is the first song Mvula ever wrote.
Her debut studio album, Sing to the Moon, was released on 4 March 2013.
She worked on the album with producer Steve Brown and mix engineer Tom Elmhirst.
Paul Lester from The Guardian described her music as "gospeldelia", calling it a new musical genre.
The album was preceded by the single "Green Garden", 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 her first live TV performance on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, singing "Green Garden".
Mvula stated her influences include Nina Simone, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill.

Sing to the Moon reached number 9 on the UK Albums Chart and within the top 100 in seven other countries, and reached 173 on the US Billboard 200.

In October 2013, Mvula won awards for best female act and best R&B or soul artist at the 2013 MOBO Awards.

In March 2014, Mvula re-recorded an orchestral version of her debut album Sing to the Moon in collaboration with the Metropole Orkest and conducted by Jules Buckley.
This was released on 23 June 2014 as a high quality download via Bowers & Wilkins' Society of Sound and on CD on 11 August 2014.
On 19 August 2014, Mvula performed with the Metropole Orkest at the Albert Hall as part of the 2014 BBC Proms Season, supported by Esperanza Spalding and ElectricVocals.
After several showcases, Mvula was signed by Colin Barlow to Sony subsidiary RCA. She released her debut extended play, She, on 16 November 2012. The title track is the first song Mvula ever wrote. Her debut studio album, Sing to the Moon, was released on 4 March 2013. She worked on the album with producer Steve Brown and mix engineer Tom Elmhirst. Paul Lester from The Guardian described her music as "gospeldelia", calling it a new musical genre. The album was preceded by the single "Green Garden", 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 her first live TV performance on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, singing "Green Garden". Mvula stated her influences include Nina Simone, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill.
Sing to the Moon reached number 9 on the UK Albums Chart and within the top 100 in seven other countries, and reached 173 on the US Billboard 200.
In October 2013, Mvula won awards for best female act and best R&B or soul artist at the 2013 MOBO Awards.
In March 2014, Mvula re-recorded an orchestral version of her debut album Sing to the Moon in collaboration with the Metropole Orkest and conducted by Jules Buckley. This was released on 23 June 2014 as a high quality download via Bowers & Wilkins' Society of Sound and on CD on 11 August 2014. On 19 August 2014, Mvula performed with the Metropole Orkest at the Albert Hall as part of the 2014 BBC Proms Season, supported by Esperanza Spalding and ElectricVocals.
Laura Mvula