Singer Laura Mvula says that being able to count music legend Prince as a fan is "like feeling loved".

Her hypnotic track Green Garden, about parks in Birmingham, is one his favourites.

Mvula, 28, who supported the Purple Rain star Prince on tour, told Stella magazine: "On Twitter he said he wakes up to Green Garden every morning. He plays my album before and after shows. It's the highest praise. It sends me a very clear message. It's very grounding, like feeling loved. "

In her glittering debut year Mvula was handed nominations for both Brit and Mercury awards and she also won two Mobo awards including best female act beating Jessie J and Rita Ora.

Just two years ago Mvula, a classically trained pianist and composer, was working as a music supply teacher in Birmingham.

In the face of her hard-earned success, Mvula says she is hates the cult of celebrity.

She said: "Celebritiy is so rampant in our culture. I loathe it. We are driven by this weird world that 's so complex, yet has no substance."

She and her husband Themba are currently flat hunting in London and she is not ruling out spending some time in Africa.

"I can imagine myself living in Africa in years to come," she said.