Singer-songwriter.  Ana Mae hates this phrase.  “I write songs, I sing them, but I’m definitely not a singer-songwriter!” she explains.  Are the first signs of insanity beginning to show?  Definitely not.

“I grew up listening to my dad’s Blondie and Pretenders albums” adds Ana, “Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry are great songwriters, they sing great songs, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them being referred to as singer-songwriters.”   We know what she means. 

Not afraid to pin her pop sensibilities to the wall, Ana Mae writes powerful pop songs with an emotional edge. Obvious comparisons can be drawn from her above-mentioned childhood influences but she names Kim Wilde, Annie Lennox and even Sheryl Crow as female artists who have influenced her writing.  Modern comparisons are often made with The Cardigans.   

“I’ve always loved catchy songs.  Songs performed with real instruments and real bands mean so much more.  I’ve never wanted to perform on my own, playing live with other musicians is what it’s all about.” 

This brings us on to the The 442s.  Her brother John Gillespie (bass guitar) and Darrell Nelson (drums) are the chosen ones. 

“We’re all from the same small border town (Castlederg, N.Ireland), we all went to the same primary school, there wasn’t really anything we didn’t know about each other.” Says Ana.

"They're really good musicians, and they add energy to the songs. The world has enough twee females making depressing music."



"Songs such as Marry Me and Stay are ready-made radio hits" - AU Magazine

"They are a great looking band with Ana Mae looking for all the world like a young Chrissie Hynde" - BBC Northern Ireland

"Lazy beats, countrified hooks, and memorable melodies beautifully sung by the equally beautiful Ana Mae" - AU Magazine

"this band could produce something worthwhile"
- BBC Northern Ireland

"Ana Mae & 442s were first up and quickly proved their worth. Being session virgins they showed no nerves as Ana regaled us with tales of love and crappy society in equal measure. She may profess to being more than a singer/songwriter and she's not far wrong. She holds onto the best qualities of a songwriter but wraps her work up in a whole different kind of packaging"
- Niall Kerr, Mid Ulster Mail.