Annie Tobin

Photo by Denisha Anderson

Name, where are you from?
Annie Tobin, South London.

Describe your style in three words?
Colourful, comfy (and) whatever.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Erykah Badu, Hammersmith 2012. She was amazing, the best person I’ve seen live, she used a Roland SPD at one point and performed without the band, it was sick. Last year, Feb 2020 was a special one as well. Joe Armon-Jones did a full live show at Electric Brixton with Oscar Jerome, Nubya Garcia, Kwake, Jehst, Asheber, everyone on the album, powered by Unit 137 Soundsystem, supported by Hylu, Shumba Youth, Maxwell Owin, Phoebs and loads of other artists. I was photographing the show and it was definitely one of the best live performances I've seen and it was the last one for a while.

If you could collaborate with any artist in history?
Really hard question! Anderson .Paak probably. I love his energy. I would love to meet him and create some crazy portraits together.

If you could put any three bands in history on a lineup?
Bob Marley and The Wailers. The Fugees, it would be amazing to see them live together. Levelz, I love all of them as artists individually, but somehow still not seen them do a show as a collective yet.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Dubstep and Jungle. Dubstep was such a nostalgic part of our years growing up, DMZ nights and FWD then 'Some Night, a dubstep night every Wednesday at The Den in 2009, it was three pounds to get in and the best night and It birthed so many artists from those sessions. That’s where I first saw Phoebs jump on a mic and Wu-lu do his thing, It’s where loads of beautiful friendships were formed. Also as a genre, it has influenced so many and so much of the music we hear today. The Jungle scene has also had a huge influence on me, working with Congo Natty, Tenor Fly, Nanci and Phoebe and documenting the dances all those years was special, so many beautiful memories and I'm grateful for those moments.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would love to chill with Nina Simone for an hour and just listen to her stories (and take her portrait).

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
Brixton Mass, It was closed in 2012 but that venue was a massive part of us growing up and the sound system was sick and sounded wild in that old converted church, or The End / The Den in Tottenham Court Road, as I mentioned before, lots of memories there!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Will Heard. He's a man of many talents, he plays so many instruments and has such an incredible voice. When we were fourteen he jumped on the piano and sang this amazing song he wrote and he's been my hero ever since. I remember I recorded it on an old brick flip phone and used to replay the song constantly... until I lost it, I'm still hoping he'll record it for me one day! He's got a new album coming out soon, so I'm looking forward to that!

Annie Tobin is a photographer based in South London. To see more of her work visit www.annietobinphotography.com or follow her on Instagram at @annietobinphoto.