She's best known as a singer with dance band Basement Jaxx, but Vula Malinga is now singing on a track of a different kind - she's one of the vocalists on BBC South's re-recording of the classic hymn Amazing Grace, put together to help mark the 200 years since the passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. But hymns are not so unfamiliar to Vula. As well as her work with Basement Jaxx, she's also part of the London Community Gospel Choir. So Vula already knows Amazing Grace, and is aware of the meaning behind it. MeaningfulShe says, "I think it's a pretty meaningful song. Lyrically, what the song means, and its sentiment, it definitely takes you to another place. The lyrics are self explanatory, but in conjunction with what this project is all about, they become pretty poignant. "And it's nice for different communities from different areas to come together, to mark this event. It is important - we all know about Black History Month but to have another thing to celebrate our people being free - and as I'm a singer, to be able to get involved in something where I can express my talent that God gave me - I'm happy to get involved.  | | Vula Malinga is releasing a solo EP |
"And I like the song. My mum hums it when she's doing the dishes…" Solo materialAside from recording Amazing Grace, Vula, who has been performing with Basement Jaxx for two years, including numerous live gigs as well as the lead vocal on the single Oh My Gosh, is still keeping busy. She says, "Last year we supported Robbie Williams, and this year we're doing the festivals, and I'm also writing and recording my own stuff, as I'm a songwriter too. "So I've now got a couple of songs together which is coming out on an EP in the summer. It's really nice to combine this project with the Basement Jaxx stuff, and my own stuff too." | 
