ANA MAE

We love Ana Mae’s psychified doo-wop ditties, and we’re pretty sure you will too.

If you had to describe your music in a sentence, what would you say?
It’s pretty dreamy, with a soulful vintage feel.

How did you get into music?
Since I can remember I’ve always made a lot of noise and wanted to create. I loved hearing my mum sing songs around the house when I was a kid. My family loves music, so I do. I was a weird child and spent a lot of time playing alone and making up imaginary worlds, games and songs. Growing up I was awkward and unsure whether I would really ever be able to perform any songs I’d written. I suppose now I’ve found my sound and it fits right, so I’m happy to share it.

Can you pinpoint a live gig or a piece of music that initially inspired you?
So, I have two answers for this, which I reckon have left equal imprints on me. First is about my dad who has been playing guitar forever; I remember waking up to hear him playing Here Comes The Sun most mornings when I was little. This made me want to play the guitar too. The second is about my grandma and her showing me Nat King Cole when I was about 10 and describing his voice to me as velvet, his singing made her so happy. This made me want to sing too.

Do you have a favourite song or piece of music to perform? What does it say about you?
To be honest I really like performing a song called Honey Somewhere that I wrote ages and ages ago. It’s been re-worked and performed with different people in different ways but it still makes me smile. It’s about fighting off your demons and feeling sweet and sound in a savoury place, I suppose this is something I’ll always relate to.

What do you think is the overriding influence on your songwriting: other art, emotions, current affairs – or a mixture of all of these?
It’s a mixture, I think. When I write songs I pick things out from the past or the present or consider the future, or just make things up like fantasy. I love how there aren’t rules or lines to follow and you can really just go on about whatever you like if it sounds right. Sometimes a little more meaning is involved though, of course. Writing stuff is like having a mate you can tell anything to.

If you could support any artist in the future, who would it be?
Probably Björk. She’s the queen of musical magic to me and I love her so.

Why is music important to you?
Because, even when I feel like shit, if I put my favourite songs or albums on I feel better. There’s music for every mood. It can be emotive and empathic and feel what I feel if that’s what I need. Sometimes it’s good to listen to something overtly heavy to just take my mind off stuff too. I think I mentioned before it’s like my mate, always there.

That I Would Do is out now on SoundCloud.

Ana Mae plays the Eggy Records Showcase as part of the BBC 6 Music Festival Fringe on Saturday 29th March at Shipping Forecast.