Everyday, We're Shuffling: Anne-Marie

Having performed live at their respective tours in India earlier this year, British pop singer Anne-Marie and Indian-American rapper and singer Raja Kumari get real with Isha Mayer about everything music and beyond

- Isha Mayer

Besides being a successful artist, it’s the fact that Anne-Marie’s so real with her 9.2 million Instagram followers that makes her so loveable. To be honest, she’s the same IRL too. I would know, ‘cause I met her when she was on her first-ever trip to India. When the ‘Alarm’ singer flew down to Mumbai—before heading to Pune to perform live for Vh1 Supersonic this February—she was dressed down in sweatpants and an oversized tee, ready for a casual chat about her life. Who is Anne-Marie beyond music, you wonder? The same person, essentially.

ELLE: WHAT GOT YOU INTO MUSIC?

ANNE-MARIE (AM): I started singing back when I was younger, and in a musical fair. It made me really happy. Whenever I felt sad or angry, I used to sing, and it soothed me. Naturally, I went on to study music and wrote my first song, and that was it—I fell in love with being able to put down my feelings and add a melody and rhyme to them. I wanted to do that forever.

ELLE: YOUR SONGS EMPOWER WOMEN AND INSPIRE THEM TO OWN THEMSELVES. IS CONFIDENCE SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURALLY TO YOU?

AM: It’s been a rollercoaster for me. At some points in my life, I feel confident, and sometimes, I don’t. It’s a journey, for sure. I have always been a fighter for justice. People who cannot speak for themselves want me to speak up for them. Insecurities and confidence are going to go up and down because when you’re on a low, you’ll also be on a high, and it’s a bit of a juggle on that.