IN the 90s few bands were as notable as Republica – but you might struggle to recognise its star these days.
The rock group, made up of Saffron, Tim Dorney and Johnny Male, formed in 1994.
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Republica went on to have a number of smash hits including Ready to Go, Drop Dead Gorgeous and From Rush Hour With Love.
They split in 2001 and reunited in 2008.
Vocalist Saffron, 55, real name Samantha Marie Sprackling, still performs with the band, as well as a solo artist.
Not only that but she’s also juggling her music career while being a mental health nurse.
Saffron decided to change careers when she had to look after her mum who was dying of cancer.
Previously speaking to The Mirror about her job as a nurse, Saffron said: “I’m just absolutely shattered, but that’s nothing new.
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“We all knew the healthcare system was in trouble before the pandemic but this is now a state of emergency. I was working 290 hours a month at one point.
“So many colleagues here and in the NHS, ambulance crew, A&E and intensive care have got complete burnout… people might think COVID has gone away with the government talking about ending restrictions but we are still getting high infection cases of Omicron.
“It is still very much of our life day-to-day.
“There is a mental health epidemic coming. We have all been living through this trauma, there is backlog for cancer appointments, domestic abuse is on the rise, kids have lost two crucial years of their lives, this will all be played out in the next few years and the people who should help deal with it will not be there.”
Despite being so busy, Saffron wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It doesn’t matter how busy I am, I have to find the time for my music,” Saffron continued.
“It is vital for my mental health and is everything to me, it has been since I was a young girl at stage school and going to gigs in Brighton.
“I did a stadium tour of Japan and Australia with Starlight Express when I was 18 and when it came back to the West End I’d go to gay and acid house clubs with my mates after the show, some of them went on to form The Prodigy.
“I stormed into Deconstruction Records and demanded they give me a record deal.”
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