Cape Town born singer, song-writer, producer and composer, Ann Jangle has been wowing music fans with her trademark husky vocals since entering the music scene professionally in 2011. She has released two albums, and although moved to Germany to expand her horizons, she is back to rock South Africa at the Littlegig Festival.
Tell me about yourself growing up – music must have been very influential in your life, for you to take it on as a career?
Ann:
“I never planned on music being my career. No one in my family can play an instrument or hit a note to save their lives. (This baffles me) They do however have impeccable taste in music. I grew up listening to Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Black Sabbath and many more. (Thanks to my British father!).”
“I left school at 17, I hated the whole concept of school & knew I would NEVER use anything I learnt there in my life professionally. I promised my family I would do my matric through Intec (which I did) in my own time whilst travelling through Africa.”
“Travelling is and will always be my first love combined with music of course. I lived in Mozambique, Swaziland, Sabi Mpumalanga, Lesotho, Zimbabwe & spent a lot of time on the East Coast, Garden Route up to Transkei, while singing around camp fires but mainly in the shower. I came back to Cape Town to save money to go to the Kibbutz in Israel. I ended up managing a live-music theatre on a wine farm called “Plaasteater”. I then met 2 full time musicians who solely live off music and travel the country doing it. I went on a tour with them and saw that life as a musician IS possible. I decided then and there that this is what I want to do with my life. The rest is history.”
Your style has been described in so many ways, but if you had to describe it to someone who has never heard music before, how would you?
Ann:
“Dark Folk/ Gypsy Blues dipped in some psychedelic, depending on the level of crap I had to deal with that day.”
Why was ‘Acoustic Archive’ so defining for you?
Ann:
“It definitely defined me at the time. I learnt a lot about myself & it played a vital part in my growth as a 
musician. It was my first album, purely rooted in the Blues. I wish I had taken a little more time to find my own unique rhythm & sound though, like I have now.”
“Acoustic Archive came out 7 years ago. It was special. I got to work with an amazing producer, Jo Ellis, and I had fun writing new songs, doing percussion and just experimenting with different styles. It also changed the direction to how the rest of my life would pan out. Man, what a ride it has been so far……”
Why move to Berlin – what does Germany have to offer you as an artist/ musician that South Africa can’t?
Ann:
“A bigger audience & a whole new world filled with learning curves. I have a British Passport and they pay in Euros. Seemed legit. Lee Thomson also hassled me for years to go, so I bought my ticket, sold my car, gave away all my clothes, sold my furniture and gave my mattress to a car guard. I arrived in Berlin with a backpack and a guitar. That was one and a half years ago. To this day it’s pretty much still all I own.”
What sparked the change in sound and the concept behind Kicking Sawdust?
Ann:
“I felt the need to experiment in a bigger sound. I love brass instruments, am hugely influenced by dub music & was craving bigger festival stages. So during the time of writing, recording & performing the songs on ‘Kicking Sawdust’, I was on an experimental-party-war-path. I reached a level of comfort with my first semi permanent band ever and it was time to let my voice break out of its cage.”
As you evolve, gain experience, obviously your sound evolves and changes – How have you evolved as a musician, performer, singer, song writer?
Ann:
“FIRST OF ALL: I DON’T TAKE KAK ANYMORE!
Secondly, My priorities have changed. When I’m not enjoying what I’m doing I stop.
Life is precious and I fall in love with music over and over each day. This was never possible when I HAD to make music to survive, financially. It becomes a job. You can hear it in the songs. Right now I’m bursting with creativity and passion.”
“I can also hear the changes in simple things like my voice; how it has changed/evolved through out the years; my style of writing. My band has changed and I’m more about fewer people and a bigger sound. My attitude has changed. I’m more continuous about my time spent with different people. You become who you hang around with. I do vocal warm ups now and just generally prefer water to wine before shows these days. The wisdom kicked in.”
If you were stuck on a desert island and could only take one album with you, to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Ann:
“That would be the death of me, so instead of 1 album, can I get my guitar? That way I have all the albums I need.”
You will be playing at Wiesenhof Farm in Stellenbosch from 28-29 January 2017, at the Littlegig Festival – what can people expect from your live performance?
Ann:
“I am currently playing my songs with Marco Wielander (Trenton & Free Radical), who was born in Germany and grew up in Ibiza, and Matthew Raven who has been with me musically since the word go and the nicest little metal head you will ever meet in your life. As well as “Mava” the percussion Rastafarian born in Transkei.”
“Together the sound will blow your mind. It’s the combination of deep, powerful vocals dipped in reverb with psychedelic electric licks, kick drum, bass & some African heart pounding percussion.”
What was so appealing for you, to agree to play at this festival?
Ann:
“Pretty much EVERYTHING. The whole concept of glamping in a forest not too far from Cape Town, the previous line ups and unique clothing items. It’s just beautiful and unique in every way.”
Are there any specific artists/ musicians, who you are looking forward to seeing/hearing?
Ann:
“Honestly, all of the artists. Seriously. I’ve been living in Berlin for the last year and a half, and feel quite “out of the loop” with such great South African talent, so many new ones and so much changes happening with the “older more established” artists too.
I’m going to be glued to every stage as well as the gourmet food stalls. :)”
For more details on the Festival – click on link:
http://www.bsharpentertainment.co.za/music/littlegig
