Anni B. Sweet: sweet temptation

Times change, and how. Blog-to-blog word of mouth is why we wanted Start, Restart, Undo, the album by Málaga’s Anni B Sweet, in our hands long before she even stepped into the studio to start recording it. That’s why we had her at our Fiestas Demoscópicas.

As with La Bien Querida, for Anni B Sweet the internet has become the place to make songs known that would otherwise have needed many nights on tiny stages. «I think Myspace is an effective tool in that sense. When I uploaded my first songs everything started moving very fast; through the page I got in touch with Arindelle Records (and they with Subterfuge, who are releasing the album) and with Brian Hunt, who ended up producing it».

«When I uploaded my first songs to Myspace, everything started moving very fast».

What hasn’t changed is that every so often a style comes into fashion and, like mushrooms after rain, a handful of artists appear doing more or less the same thing (each in their own way) who will, almost without fail, deny belonging to any «scene». This season’s flavour is girls doing something folk-adjacent, and who knows how long it will last — but what is clear is that, like almost every «scene» of the last fifteen years, it will leave a good pile of great songs. In the end, the basic unit of all this is what matters most.

Ana López, still very young, has finally seen a tangible result after years of writing songs. «I started composing when I was seven; back then I listened to my older brother’s records — things like John Travolta, Christina Rosenvinge, Radio Futura, Miguel Ríos or Víctor Jara. When I started doing it seriously… whenever I write it feels pretty serious, whether I’m seven or twenty-one». Over time her influences, which she never hides, have changed; like everyone’s. «Lately I’ve had Ben Lee, She & Him, Fiona Apple, Eric Andersen, Betty Hutton, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Feist, Cat Stevens… in mind — very different from before, although the records I remember most fondly from my teens are things like Bee Gees, Etta James, Nina Simone, Pink Floyd, Django Reinhardt, Neneh Cherry… Unlike today, I listened to more jazz, blues and soul».

More or less the same for all of us: we’ve forged a character and a taste. Mine says her debut album holds a number of tracks well above average, and that if the spiral of easy success doesn’t catch her, we’ll be looking at an artist who will give us many good moments. For now, with the album just out, she’ll be playing FIB. «I’ve never been to a festival as an audience member or as a musician. This is big for me and a huge honour that they wanted me there. I’m dying to do it and at the same time I’m really scared, which I suppose will disappear the moment I get on that stage». Not having that fear would be fairly reckless with the album still so hot. «It’s my first time at this; I don’t know what might happen and not knowing is scary. I’m one of those people who think an album is never quite finished».

In any case, it won’t be like the beginning. «My first solo show was at Las Noches Árticas in Fuenlabrada; I remember it very fondly. It was the first time I’d played guitar on a stage. As soon as I started playing there was a deep silence. It was beautiful; I’d love to feel that again».

She must be sick of hearing Russian Red’s name in every interview, so I’ll have the good taste not to bring it up. Even so, she hasn’t minded sharing a producer. «I met Brian Hunt on Myspace. I liked what he had on his page and I needed someone to record a couple of songs I’d written. I liked the result a lot, so I did the album with him too. He’s given me a lot: different points of view, ease, honesty… He’s given the album originality, among many other things».

Eleven songs in English and one in Spanish, as sweet and recommendable as her name. «When I recorded my first demos, my friends said my voice sounded sweet, but the lyrics weren’t so much — hence “Anni be sweet”».

Start, Restart, Undo is released by Subterfuge. Anni B. Sweet will be at FIB Heineken.

Text: J. Batahola · Photo: Haussman · Source: MondoSonoro no. 5, June 2009.