An Essex-born, karate-loving (she’s a triple world champion in shotokan), former West End musical child star (she was in Whistle Down the Wind with Jessie J when she was 12) who’s progressed to pop’s a waiting list.
Anne-Marie has amassed so far, both for collaborations (Rudimental, Clean Bandit and, more lately, Marshmello) and her own tracks, the conclusion would have to be yes, and not to get our thongs in a twist about cultural appropriation.
Perhaps this groundedness is the result of a live apprenticeship in drum’n’bass troupe Rudimental or, before that, years spent in the musical theatre. Whatever it is, the 27-year-old was confidence itself as she strutted around the Brixton stage.
In fairness, having recently supported Ed Sheeran on his recent stadium tour, this 5,000-capacity venue must have felt positively tiny by comparison, and there was every indication that bigger venues beckon once more.
As enjoyable as Anne-Marie is live, she’s unlikely to win any prizes for originality.
Flavors of the tropical house and reggaeton lend some warmth, but combined with the fact she’s pinched her smokey, slightly croaky vocal style from Rihanna, they result in some cold sweat-inducing cultural appropriation too (her pronunciation of “two shots fired” on Alarm is, well, alarming).
Anne-Marie says karate has in some ways helped her as a musician (it even became the inspiration for her song, Karate).
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