Louder Than The Music

British singer/songwriter annaJo recently came to our attention at LTTM with her brilliant album 'Just Me'. This talented musician instantly grabbed our interest so we decided to find out more about what makes this lady tick.

For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?

I've always loved to sing, but when I was a kid I never imagined that I'd one day have the confidence to sing for audiences. I wasn't one of those girls at school who puts themselves forward for all the solos or anything like that - it really scared me! But I started writing songs when I was 13 - really bad pop songs - and the more I wrote the more it became a part of who I was, and the more I wanted to share that with other people. Now I can't really imagine not doing it.

Tell us a little bit about your debut album 'Just Me' and what the inspiration behind it was?

'Just Me' is what it says really! It was my first chance to put an album together for real, and the songs represent where I was at that point and I guess show off the range of styles that I was exploring. I didn't try to limit myself to a particular genre or audience, but I think you could look at 'Just Me' as my first attempt to create a coherent 'sound' and begin to figure out who I was as an artist.

The album comes as a two disc set, what was the thinking behind that?

Well they were almost two separate projects, really, so I wanted them to be appreciated separately as well as together. The first disc is professionally produced, and it was the first time any of my songs had been played and recorded properly with a full band - I still get excited when I listen to them! The second disc is acoustic and stripped back, which gives it a very different flavour and allows you to appreciate the songs in their most basic form. So in a way, the two discs present different musical versions of me, and I wanted to show them both.

Which is your favourite track on the album and why?

The song that means the most to me is probably 'Gideon'. The story of Gideon is all about trusting God rather than our own resources, giving up our own desire for control and letting Him do things His way. Gideon went out and fought an army of thousands with 300 soldiers, and when they won the battle, they knew they weren't responsible for the victory - God was. The song came out of a really difficult situation in my life, where I felt God was telling me not to try and fix it myself, but to wait and trust Him to fix it for me. I wrote the song while I was in the thick of it - waiting and hoping that it would all turn out okay. It means a lot to me now because looking back now I know He was faithful in that time, and lo and behold, a few months later He completely turned the situation around. So it's a reminder to me that He really can be trusted!

What's your song writing process?

It normally involves a small initial idea, a piano and a few weeks. I write lyrics and music at the same time, so the songs often build up gradually as I play them again and again and wait for the next bit of inspiration to strike. Sometimes I spend forever perfecting just a couple of lines; other times a whole song comes really quickly. I usually have several songs on the go, but only the strongest survive!

If you could work with any song writer, who would it be and why?

There are loads of songwriters I admire, but it'd be really interesting to work with someone a bit different to me, like Imogen Heap - I love her music and I love how she uses technology to enhance her music, which is a skill I definitely don't have! It'd be very cool to write with her.

How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?

I never know how to answer that question! I like strong melodies and songs that are creative and interesting but still accessible, and that's what I try to create. There's a lot of pop in there but also shades of jazz, soul, rock and anything else I listen to really - some of my favourites are Sara Bareilles, John Mayer and Ben Folds if that helps!

As a cystic fibrosis sufferer, what advice would you give to other people with the condition who want to get into music?

I think I'd give the same advice to anyone: if you have a gift, use it. Just be who you are and do what's in your heart to do. We all have limitations, but in my experience you get a lot further by assuming you can do things than by assuming you can't! You will always be able to do whatever it is that God is asking you do.

You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?

If it was going to be the last song I'd hear... I think maybe 'Everything' by Lifehouse.

What does the next year hold for annaJo?

I have no idea! There are a lot of different directions my life could take right now, so I'm trying things out and finding out what works. It's a bit scary, but mostly quite exciting. I'm learning that God wants me to be free; that it's okay to take risks and trust Him to get me to where I need to be.

Find out more about annaJo at www.annajo.co.uk or download her album 'Just Me' from iTunes.