Anna B Savage

Musician

Where are you now and what are you doing?
On the bus over to Bristol to look after my nieces.

First record to send a shiver up your spine?
‘Unforgettable’ - Nat King Cole.

First gig you attended?
Craig David at Wembley.

First gig you played?
Opening for Sparky Deathcap at the Slaughtered Lamb on Old Street. 

Most memorable gig?
Wild Beasts at Manchester Cathedral.

What has been the most ‘pinch me’ moment of your career so far?
Singing backing vocals on a record for an – as yet undisclosed – artist. Also, the first show post lockdown / album coming out in Bristol. A couple of women in the front row were singing every word. And playing the Garden Stage at End Of The Road was great as well. 

Most embarrassing thing you’ve done either drunk or sober?
I constantly embarrass myself, almost always sober. If you want, you can see it on Twitter. The mega famous, excellent author David Nicholls started following me and being lovely to me. I mentioned how wild it was that he knew who I was as I’d read a few of his books, and only recently listened to his Desert Island Discs and loved all of the above.

He hadn’t been on Desert Island Discs – I had got him and the author David Mitchell mixed up. (Thankfully I have actually read his books.) He graciously told me and was okay about it, and I dug myself a little hole in the earth, climbed in and pulled the soil over my head. Been down here ever since. 

Last record you bought, borrowed, or blagged?
I went to City Slang and they gave me the Son Lux trilogy.

What shite jobs have you had in the past?
Being a chugger. That was hard. Other jobs I had I mostly loved (and some I still do). Worked in a toy shop; bookshop; as a book cover designer; graphic designer; illustrator; terrarium workshop host; florist; and waiter. 
 
Who’d be in your dream band line-up?
All of Penny Isles, me, and Lianne La Havas. Would just be really, really nice.

Sexiest musician on the planet?
Prince, obviously. Or me, famously a close second. 

What song would you have played at your funeral?
‘Ringing In My Ear’ – Adem.

• Anna B Savage will release her new album n|FLUX on Feb 17 via City Slang. 

Read our Hot for 2023 issue here.