Yamaha artist Hannah Vasanth gives us first hand insight into life on the road as a gigging musician, in preparation of performing with Anastacia on her European summer tour.

With the touring season well and truly under way, fantastic Yamaha artists are currently playing all around the world and at every major music festival providing the live music to the big names. The lovely and multi-talented Hannah Vasanth gives us an amazing insight to the ins and outs of life on the road and of her travels whilst she is on Anastacia’s European summer tour, providing the keys on her Yamaha MOTIFXS6 and MOTIFXS8 synths.

“It was several months ago, while working in the band for TVs ’Don’t Forget The Lyrics’, when I got a call from Mike Stevens, the esteemed MD for acts such as Take That, Annie Lennox etc. We got talking and he asked me what my schedule was like for the summer, as he was putting a band together for Anastacia’s European summer tour. He wanted to know if I would like to play Keys 2. I was really excited and of course immediately said I was up for it! Rehearsals were due to start in a couple of weeks so I wasted no time in getting to know the material and working with Keys 1 player Marcus Byrne to figure out exactly which parts I would be playing.

The first day of rehearsal was spent setting up and meeting the other musicians on the gig – a couple of whom I had worked with in the past, the fantastic Elizabeth Troy (backing vocals) and guitarist Dave Ital. Mike had really put together a great bunch of people for the Anastasia show such as drummer Steve Barney and bassist Orefo Orakwe, both who I recognized from the Sugababes band. Also joining Elizabeth on Backing Vocals was the very talented Maria Q. Everyone was really up for the experience and keen to start playing which is of course what it’s all about!

After a few days running through the tracks Anastasia joined us. After her warm welcome the first thing that struck me was how cool and down-to-earth she was. The moment she stated singing on the chorus of “One Day In Your Life” that famous voice filled every corner of the room, The band began to gel and was sounding great - it was clear this was really going to be something special!!

The intensive 10 hour a day rehearsal schedule was certainly demanding but was made a whole lot easier by the great staff at Ritz Rehearsal Studios who really made us feel at home - after 3 weeks we decamped to Elstree Studios for the start of production rehearsals. Before I knew it was time for a rare day off - the next day we were to catch a flight to Russia for our first gig in St Petersburg with Duran Duran. This was it - we were finally on the road and ready to roll!!”