Anna B Savage's is the kind of songwriting that feels like it cracks open down the middle, letting you stare right into all the awkward, nasty stuff a person keeps inside. The experimental London-based singer and guitarist, who's about to go on tour with fellow soul-barer Father John Misty, has a way with making you feel like you—and all your contradictions and insecurities—are the one she's singing to; nowhere moreso than on this scruffily virtuosic recording of a new song called "Also Human."
"'Also Human' is all about falling in love with a friend," Savage told The FADER over email. "We'd started talking all the time and were living in different cities. I wrote it one morning after staying up til 5am texting under the covers. I gave it and a backpack to her as birthday presents. I try and seek her out at gigs and sing it to her. Perhaps that's a bit cruel—it'd make anyone squirm—but she deals with it well. She wasn't at [the gig where this track was recorded] though, so I just chose someone with similar hair and sang it to them."
"Also Human" is part of Savage's first physical release: a 12" vinyl with both her debut EP tracks and five tracks recorded live at a gig at London's Cafe Oto. Listen below, and catch her at one of her upcoming tour dates to cop the vinyl yourself.
Tour dates
October:
Thu 22 Ireland, Galway, Roisin Dubh *
Fri 23 UK, Belfast, Mandela Hall *
Sat 24 Ireland, Dublin, Vicar St *
Mon 26 UK, Sheffield, Plug *
Tue 27 UK, Cambridge, The Junction *
Wed 28 UK, London, Shepherds Bush Empire *
Thu 29 UK, London, Shepherds Bush Empire *
November:
Sun 1 Italy, Bologna, Locomotiv *
Mon 2 Germany, Munich Strom *
Tue 3 Germany, Weisbaden, Schlachtof *
Sat 7 Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Airwaves
Mon 9 Netherlands, Amsterdam, Paradiso *
Tue 10 Belgium, Brussels, Ancienne Belgique *
Wed 11 France, Nantes, Stereolux *
Thu 12 France, Lyon, Epicerie Moderne *
Fri 13 Germany, Koln, Luxor
Mon 16 Denmark, Copenhagen, Vega Main Hall *
Tues 17 Denmark, Copenhagen, Vega Main Hall *
Wed 18 Germany, Berlin, ACUD **
* with Father John Misty
** with Ultimate Painting