ANNA-MARIE JOHNSON is one of UK soul’s best kept secrets but if you’re claim to be a soul lover, you’ll know the voice. You see, for starters, Ms J’s worked with Billy Freeman and the Drizabone Soul Family. Then in 2017 there was her very well-received collaboration with Rhemi, ‘Live Life Free’. Then Anna-Marie kept busy working with a plethora of soulful house dons. You may also remember that Anna-Marie’s collaboration with the Journey Men ( a cover of the 90’s Brandy Track ‘Wanna Be Down’) was a Traxsource No. 1 hit in April 2023.
Then last November, we were treated to a sweet and lovely solo single, ‘Waiting For Your Love’. We were told that the soulful, mid-tempo groove was from an “upcoming” EP … helmed by Ziggy Funk (aka Zaidi Kiggundu).
Well, the good news is that the EP is with us right now – and, you know, the wait’s been well worth it. The mini album’s named for the aforementioned ‘Waiting For Your Love’ and since we first heard it last autumn, the track’s lost none of its soulful charm.
The other tracks are a loose, jazzy ‘Mr Elusive’, a simple, stark ballad ‘All I Needed’ and a building ‘Meant For Me’ . The four tracks prove Ms J’s range and versatility and show why she’s always in demand to front soul projects.
Anna Marie is rightly proud of her debut EP : She says: “To get my solo music out there is fulfilling a lifelong ambition. I have been doing so many other people’s projects that it feels amazing to be finally focussing on and taking my own music forward. I’m so delighted that I managed to bring Ziggy Funk on board as producer as his super cool style is exactly what I wanted for the EP and we work so amazingly together.” She also tells us that the EP’s theme is waiting for love, in different ways while her father’s sad passing in April this year was the inspiration for much of the music.
The ‘Waiting For Your Love EP comes out on world-wide general release on Friday 7th June and is recommended!
