Samantha Marie Sprackling (born June 1968), known professionally as Saffron, is an English singer, songwriter and actress. The lead singer of pop-rock band Republica, she also performs solo and appeared in London stage musical Starlight Express for two years.
Early life and career
Samantha Sprackling was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to an English father and a Portuguese mother of part-Chinese ancestry and grew up in Brixton, south London, England. When she was 18, Sprackling successfully auditioned for Arlene Phillips, which got her a part in the musical Starlight Express.
Saffron was the live on-stage vocalist of N-Joi's 1990 hit Anthem. She appeared in the music video for the Chesney Hawkes 1991 hit "The One and Only", and as a dancer in the video for N-Joi's single "Mindflux". Saffron then had a brief career as a solo artist. One of her singles, a cover of Atlantic Starr's "Circles", charted at #60 in the UK in 1993.
Republica
Sprackling had met Republica keyboard players Tim Dorney and Andy Todd by 1994, and they started writing songs after recruiting a guitarist and drummer. Republica released two albums and disbanded in 2001 after their record label, Deconstruction Records, collapsed.
Saffron now works as a mental-health nurse as well as continuing to perform with Republica and as a solo artist.
Discography
Solo singles
- "Solitaire" (1992)
- "Losing Control" (1992)
- "One Love" (1992)
- "Circles" (1993) - No.60 (UK)
- "World of You" (1993)
- "Fluffy Toy" (1993)
- "Mantra" (1993)