Minutes into the Zoom name and British musician Anne-Marie Rose Nicholson is already speaking about curries. “I’m not used to being in a single place so I needed to practice myself to be comfy in a single place,” says the singer who has spent the previous couple of years touring and taking part in with a number of artistes, as she squats on the ground of her front room, including that she’s rising greens too – potatoes, tomatoes and pumpkins! – and watching a great deal of documentaries through the lockdown. “I eat something with veggies concerned. And curries, I really like curries. You simply can’t go improper with an Indian curry. I’ve had some on the Indian eating places in London and I can’t wait to attempt it in India!” says Anne-Marie.
That collaborator life
Anne-Marie is now getting ready her originals for her second studio album. The 29-year-old Rockabye hitmaker has spent years as a visitor collaborator, solely performing solo for the primary time in 2015. “It was the perfect coaching floor earlier than beginning my very own profession. I don’t understand how folks simply soar in and begin making music. These collaborations uncovered me to varieties of music I’d by no means even heard of. I used to be ‘ooh, I like that – let’s do that,’” she says.
She credit her collaboration with Clear Bandit and Sean Paul for altering her life. “I used to be touring within the US when it launched, so, I awakened sooner or later and it was primary in every single place. My mum and pa had been shocked!” she recollects. This expertise highlighted the great thing about collaborations – you lock into completely different fan bases as folks begin questioning who you might be! It additionally earned her a name by David Guetta that started with, ‘Hey, I might love so that you can attempt to sound this out.’
Annie-Marie grew up listening to the likes of Christina Aguilera and P!nk
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Hayley Louisa Brown
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“It was loopy! I used to be like ‘you’ve heard my voice?’ as a result of I grew up listening to him!” she giggles.
“Nervousness is an ongoing factor. Final 12 months when psychological well being turned a speaking level, i used to be like, ‘oh, this sounds acquainted’”—Anne-Marie
Different artistes she grew up listening to incorporate Christina Aguilera and P!nk, who gave her the songs she felt she wanted to listen to when she was youthful. “Which is why Rockabye was so near my coronary heart – it speaks a few single mom,” says the millennial who would copy Christina Aguilera’s intricate riffs rising up. However the performer who made all of the distinction was P!nk – evident by the color of Anne-Marie’s hair.
Karate child on tour
Her collaboration life additionally noticed her tour with Ed Sheeran in 2002, and so they even received matching tattoos! “You may see it extra clearly on me. His tattoo is hiding someplace on his arm!” she compares, holding up her arm for the digital camera. And what did she study from the Form of You composer? “Properly, I taught him karate,” laughs the black belt in Shotokan karate who has received gold medals in championships. “I practise on tour and get everybody to study,” she giggles. As a teen, it had an added benefit: Her dad and mom let her keep out late due to it. Right this moment, she appreciates the main target it offers her. “I’ve a brief consideration span. With out karate, I might have struggled within the music trade!”
Anne-Marie was part of Les Misérables in 2012
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Hayley Louisa Brown
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Fame is a scary thought for Anne-Marie as a result of she noticed many well-known musicians’ lives unravel. Stage fright nonetheless just isn’t a problem. She’s been on stage because the age of six, when she bagged a component in Les Misérables (2012), a debut that taught her probably the most essential lesson – put a narrative throughout in a tune. However the older she received, the extra nervous she received.
“If i needed to attempt for perfection on social media, i’d have gone loopy by now” —Anne-Marie
“Nervousness is an ongoing factor. Final 12 months when psychological well being turned a priority and speaking level, I used to be like, ‘oh this sounds acquainted’. It’s scary to speak about emotions generally for musicians,” says Anne-Marie, who has not too long ago began speaking to a therapist – she’s few classes previous now. “I at all times have questions and I’m at all times connecting issues like a puzzle. I really feel like a lot weight is lifted,” says the musician, who requested her therapist how they deal with all of the venting they get day out and in. “Seems, my therapist additionally goes for remedy,” she reveals.
Social rulebook
One other supply of tension is social media, the millennial confesses. “When you’ve gotten a big following, you have to be accountable and a job mannequin. The strain is frightening as a result of I’m making my very own errors and I is also improper,” she factors out. One other stress level: Labels and massive companies test your social media numbers whereas signing you. “I don’t suppose I might have these numbers (6.6m) with out touring,” she humbly factors out.
Anne-Marie’s one rulebook is to point out folks that she lives her life like they do
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Hayley Louisa Brown
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So, she has her personal rulebook: To indicate folks she lives her life like they do. “I would like folks to come back to my web page and know who I’m without having to search for it. I don’t need folks to take a look at me like I’m one thing particular. I’ve by no means needed that. Additionally, if I needed to attempt for perfection on social media, I’d have gone loopy by now,” says the singer who strives to lift consciousness about issues necessary to her – very like Rockabye. So, her IG feed is stuffed with solutions to observe ladies who hold it actual by posting footage of pimples or stretch marks, sans filters!
Is she as specific about TikTok? “There may be a lot expertise on TikTok and but these persons are exceptional! Which is loopy as a result of so lots of them are higher singers than me!” she exclaims.
However social media can also be a boon – it’s the place she found her Indian fanbase. “I used to be amazed to get a lot love from India. So lots of them additionally posted covers of my songs and sounded unimaginable. There are influences of Indian music in British music, however I wish to study extra. So, India is without doubt one of the first locations I wish to go to in any case this (Covid) is over,” she says.
(Anti-clockwise from high left) Anne-Marie with James Arthur, who she collaborated with for Rewrite The Stars (from The Biggest Present) in 2018; Along with her karate teacher from the age of 9; Along with her mom, to whom she devoted her 2020 Mom’s Day launch Her; In collaboration with Marshmello for Buddies in 2018; With Sean Paul, whom she labored with for 2016’s Rockabye together with Clear Bandit; and with David Guetta, her accomplice in By no means Depart Me Alone, 2018; Anne-Marie with Ed Sheeran
Aside from the music, she desires to spend a while absorbing the tradition, studying Hindi and perhaps even go to a Bollywood movie set. “They at all times look so stunning with the colors and costumes! I wish to take a great deal of footage, go to the Taj Mahal, adopted by much less touristy locations,” she plans. Although she hasn’t actually been introduced up on spice, Anne-Marie is keen to attempt it, given her aforementioned love for curries. “I’ve been coaching my tongue on spice ranges and I ought to be good to attempt the actual deal quickly,” she laughs.
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From HT Brunch, November 29, 2020
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