Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
I was born in beautiful Jamaica, but my family moved to the UK when I was very young, so London became my home.
Performance and a desire to be on the stage has always been inherent… so I always had a yearning to be an artist and pursue my dream.
I believe it’s what I have been born to do. Whether singing into a hair dryer or watching all my parents’s Music DVD’s (Tina Turner live,etc), I couldn’t resist the call from the stage.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with your name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Annastasia Baker is my real name, so I would have to thank my Mother and Father for that! lol!!!
It happens to work as a memorable stage name too which is great thing I guess.
The name Annastasia actually has a lot of meaning behind it; it means “resurrected” and that definition is actually true testament to my life story, I always rise up to a situation and push hard over stumbling blocks… Never say Never! It is who I am!
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Music is love and pain and hope and loads of other emotions. As an artist or a creative, you want to be able to reach as many people with your art, but you still need to pay your bills, lol! Just like a builder or a doctor or an astronaut!
It’s amazing how much the industry has changed and how music and data is consumed and shared nowadays. As a creative, we can take those changes as a positive thing so that it pushes us to connect with people in other ways.
I have given my music away for free in the past as I wanted to allow people to hear it in circumstances where they may otherwise not been able to have it… but we all got bills and studio is not free! hahaha!
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Firstly I would say is to BELIEVE in what you do. Be realistic about your talent and potential audience as an artist and set clear goals.
Your friends and your family are your first “Fans” or maybe a better word is “supporters”.
Gigs might not come from promoters who feel that you can’t sell out venues or bring an audience to their already established programme. Airplay might not come because the Playlist controllers feel that you are not a big enough name to go on air, so you need to be creative! Kick the walls of obstacles and decision makers down and do it yourself. Use technology and your talent to be creative and grow your fan base yourself. Remember you are competing with major artists on major labels who have major budgets, but David slay Goliath once before! lol!
Lastly, I would say be consistent, on time, polite always and professional. Present yourself and your work well and be ready for anything. Preparation meets opportunity.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
We all make mistakes during performances. I have come to learn in my short career that as long as you are well rehearsed and you have done your due diligence as an artist. Whatever happens on stage you have to be malleable to all the variables that happen on stage, as best as you can and not dwell on them. For example you might have a technical problem and you in ear monitors might not be working as well, you can’t hear yourself. Yet you are on stage in the middle of the song, you have to work it out! That is part and parcel of live performance, but can also be when the magic moments happen that you never expected.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
My Debut Tour was in 2014, I was on a 4 City US tour going to Dallas, Washington, Boston and Atlanta. It was an amazing experience. In March 2015 I will be back in the USA, performing at a couple of events in Las Vegas around the Stellar Awards. I am really excited actually because my Debut Album “You Turn” is released in May 2015 and I will be on a 20 date UK Tour after that.
Touring is amazing, I love the hotels, planes, tour bus jokes, meeting people, eating at different restaurants, etc. On my last US Tour I got to drive a big truck in Dallas, we dont get trucks that big in London, haha! You can check it out on my YouTube page.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
I get inspiration from real life situations. It has to come from the heart, otherwise there will be no connection.
When I write I sit with my team and we just hang, talk about what the song is about, then we eat pizza or chinese (Ok my Gym trainer would prefer I say salad, lol!) , chill, laugh and basically hang and the song comes.
While writing lyrics, someone picks up a guitar or jumps on the keys and the melody comes with it and then we work on the production around the main structure and melody of the song.
You should come hang in the studio sometime exposed vocals…
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
I do, you can find the home of everything at www.annastasiabaker.co.uk which has music, videos, photos, upcoming shows and news updates of what I have been up to. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Soundcloud as ‘AnnastasiaBaker’. I love interacting online.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Right now it is ‘Let It Go’ taken from the Disney “Frozen” movie! It’s on there for my daughter, but I actually really like that song. I tend to sing it really loudly in the shower!
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
I really love singing and performing so I don’t know if I would actually want to take the time out, I would still like to perform as it doesn’t feel like work.
If I had to in this circumstance, I would spend more time with loved ones, especially my daughter.
Travel Travel Travel! I travel now, I would love to visit more countries and help disadvantaged people around the world.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
I am always in the studio creating, so new material will be coming soon.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Social media is great and you can reach out to anyone around the world. It is very instant and real time it’s amazing. I can create now and it’s out to the world now with the click of a button!
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
There are so many places to choose from but I would love to be on my doorstep, home is where the heart is and The O2 area is one of the world most renowned entertainment venues here in London.
My dream list of collaborations would include: Fantasia, Kirk Franklin, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, John Legend, Robert Glasper and the amazing Alicia Keys.
They all have one thing in common, they make music from the heart.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Yes, it’s exciting times at the moment. Next week, I will be heading to Las Vegas performing at The Stellar Awards events and shooting another video whilst I’m there for my next single “Fly again”.
My album ‘You Turn’ is released in May and I’m really proud of that because it’s a complete body of work, a product of my life experiences touching on emotions of laughter, pain, perseverance and faith.
Throughout the year, I’ll be touring the UK, ending at my biggest solo headline gig yet at The O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London taking place in November.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
If I wasn’t doing anything within music, I would have been in athletics. I used to be an athlete running hurdles. I do miss the track!
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
When I was younger, I remember my Nan buying my first album, it was the “The Spice Girls!”.
Another gift was Destiny’s Child’s debut album, which I still love today.
The album I can remember buying myself was Fantasia’s Barrino’s, ‘Free Yourself’.
I remember hunting for a store to buy it from and when I did, I couldn’t wait to play it because I watched her journey on American Idol.
She inspired me in a big way!
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
I have to have an organised lifestyle.
I keep my priorities balanced between my free time and work and always leave slack to be flexible to make it all fit somehow.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
2015 is about taking my music to the world! I can’t wait to meet them all in a venue on a street corner, somewhere around the world!
