Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with unsigned UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with unsigned London based singer Sansha to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I live in Nunhead, South East London and grew up in Chesham, the last stop North West on the met line.
My mum is a music teacher and dad a drama teacher so the arts were about from an early age. One of my earliest memories is snatching a violin off my sister and breaking it! I played the violin and trumpet, then also classical singing, and was singing opera until 18. I wasn’t a very cool teenager.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
When I decided I didn’t want to be an opera singer I got into jazz instead, the most middle class rebellion anyone’s ever heard, and started singing and playing all the chords out of the Jazz real book. The chord formations really informed how I write songs, and is how I taught myself the piano.
My dad showed me lots of music from the 70s and 80s like The Carpenters, who inspired me to use close clashing harmonies, and Hall & Oates are what inspire my synth sounds.
For the music I’m putting out this year, I’ve been drawing a lot for my soundscapes from 90s dance music. I love how big and cheesy it is.
How would you describe your sound?
Off kilter pop that’s been covered in glue, thrown around in the end of the 20th century and returned. Beats, harmonies and close to the knuckle lyrics.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
It’s called Home Again which I released on the 28th of March. The word home is used in two different ways because it’s about being at home all the time, (lockdown, boring!) but wanting to be at home home, where you grew up, and missing your family. It’s also about wanting a cat.
The influence behind it was cheesy 90s dance music, and also current DJs like DJ Koze and Denis Sulta.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
I’m releasing 5 more singles throughout the year which are all part of my EP ‘Big Time’ which will come out in November. I’ll also be doing some music videos, and will do a launch gig in November for the EP. I’ll be playing live on the 27th of May in East village, the 3rd of June at the Amersham Arms and on the 4th of August at AMP studios in Peckham!
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
If I could pick anyone in the world and if this is totally hypothetical, it would be Dave Brubeck, Kate Tempest or Four Tet.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
One time I performed a rap at a spoken word night about a guy who touched my arse in a club, at an open mic. The guy running the open mic was the guy who did it! Obviously I didn’t care about making him feel awkward. It was quite a liberating 5 minutes!
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
That If you come and see me live you get a bit of comedy as well as the music, as I love to tell a story! I have lots of gigs coming up as mentioned above so do get involved with those.
You can find out more about Sansha via Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, Twitter or YouTube.
Read my interview with Sansha about her album “songs about boys lol” here.
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