A singer songwriter from Streatham who was heralded as ‘one to watch for 2012’ has said she would never enter a television talent show because she is too focussed on penning her own tunes.

BBC Sound of 2012 nominee Lianne La Havas told the Streatham Guardian she hasn’t felt tempted to audition for shows such as The Voice, as she was always passionate about writing music.

Speaking before a gig in Holland, the 22-year-old soul performer, who spent her youth jamming with members of the Croydon Brit School, and shares a mutual friend with former pupil Jessie J, said: “If you can sing and dance, and all you want to do is sing and dance, then that is fine- it depends what a performer wants for their career.

“If I did not have the interest to write music I might have gone on [The Voice] just for singing."

"But it is a certain type of person that wants to write. There are not really any television shows about song writing.”

Born to a Greek father and a Jamaican mother, La Havas grew up near St Leonard’s Church in Tooting Bec Gardens, spending the majority of her time with her grandparents after her parents’ separated.

The Lost and Found singer said when she gets time to re-visit the area in between her busy touring schedule she feels like she’s “home again”.

She said: “Streatham has been a big part of my life. I used to like walking from my house to the main part of Streatham just for the walk. And I liked going to Streatham Common.

“My grandparents still live there and I visit them whenever I can. I’ve seen lots of changes but it always feels the same.”

La Havas, whose debut album is due for release in July, is preparing herself for a packed summer of festival gigs across Europe, and is particularly looking forward to playing Bestival on the Isle of Wight, where her idol Stevie Wonder is headlining.

“Just the prospect of being at the same festival as Stevie is wonderful,” she said. “I probably wouldn’t be able to handle speaking to him, but I would like to tell him he is amazing and that he has inspired many people, including my family.”

Lianne’s album Is Your Love Big Enough is out on July 9.

For more visit www.liannelahavas.com.