In this episode of Electric Friends: A Gary Numan Podcast, I’m joined by a very special guest — Saffron, frontwoman of Republica, lifelong Gary Numan fan, collaborator, and close friend of the Numan family.

We talk through Saffron’s incredible journey in music — from her early influences and theatre work, to becoming a songwriter and eventually forming Republica in the mid-90s. She shares the story behind their breakthrough hits like ‘Ready to Go’ and ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’, how the band carved out their electronic rock sound, and what it was really like navigating success during that era.

Of course, a huge part of our conversation is her connection with Gary Numan. Saffron explains how discovering Replicas at a young age completely changed her life, why Gary’s music resonated so deeply, and how that influence shaped her own artistic identity.

We also dive into the iconic Random tribute album, where Saffron and Republica covered ‘Are Friends Electric?’ — and how that led to her first meeting with Gary and Gemma. What followed was not just a collaboration, but a lasting friendship that continues to this day.

Beyond music, Saffron opens up about her work in mental health, her experiences during the pandemic as a frontline worker, and how those experiences have shaped her perspective.

It’s a warm, honest and wide-ranging conversation about creativity, fandom, resilience and the lasting impact of Gary Numan’s music.

Electric Friends, a Gary Newman podcast.

The songs and stories of a music icon.

I just don't understand.

My name is Ruan.

My name is Van John.

Hello, I'm Tom.

And for this episode of Electric Friends, it's another interview special and a unique guest.

It's someone who can say they are a fan, a collaborator and a genuine close friend of Gary Newman.

It's with Republica frontwoman Saffron.

You'll probably know Saffron and Republica best for their 90s hit singles ready to Go and Drop Dead Gorgeous.

But let's be honest, you guys will know them best for their cover of Our Friends Electric from the Random tribute album, one of the first CDs I ever bought.

Back in 97.

Saffron and Republica are still performing with a new album on the way and a 30th anniversary tour later this year.

Saffron met Gary for that Random album and she is still great friends with Gary, Gemma and the Newman family and team all these years later.

So it was really great to hear her stories and just about her life and career as well.

So enjoy this and I'll speak to you at the end.

Well, obviously get onto your connection with Gary later and throughout, I'm sure, but I thought it'd be really great to take listeners through your music and career in general, really.

So just firstly, growing up, what, what music were you like listening to?

And was there a particular moment that kind of made you want to become involved in, I guess, performing arts and music in general?

Well, I think it was hearing replicas when I was about, when I was under, I wasn't a teenager yet that way.

And yeah, it kind of changed my life really.

Also, Simple Minds were a big influence to me as well as Newman.

I was into kind of post punk bands as well, like the Cure, I like the Clash, I was a big fan of the Jam.

I love Paul Weller.

And every Saturday I used to go down to Brighton.

I used to save up my pocket money and the job I had at the bakery.

I used to go down to Brighton and buy all my.

All the 7 inch and 4 vinyl, 12 inch vinyl.

So I've got quite a big collection.

Yeah.

And I used to go to lots of gigs as well.

Yeah.

And I just always wanted to be involved in music and singing.

I wanted to be in a hot gossip, actually, or a pop star.

So I kind of managed both because Arlene Phillips is the choreographer of Starlight Express and the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical of Rosegate.

And so they put me in a military Boot Camp after I managed to pass the audition.

And yeah, it was.

I loved it because it was very dark and it was kind of like that field rollerball.

It's based really kind of around that.

The Grease Ball Gang and the Diesel Engine.

And I was in the Electric Train.

I was the Electric carriage.

So I was very pleased about that.

Yeah.

And I toured Japan and Australia and the West End production.

And then I got into a show and I played the lead role in the Rocky Horror Show.

How long was it before you went from that to recording as a solo artist?

For a while first, wasn't it?

Yeah, I did.

My very close friend, producer Neil McLellan.

Me and him were a writing duo and I got signed as a songwriter first to Warner Chapel Music, publish by John Bryce.

And, yeah, Robin Godfrey, Cass and Sass.

And at the same time, it's tricky, actually.

And we.

Yeah, so I learned my craft kind of writing songs and stuff.

And then later on I would introduce Neil to Liam Howlett of the Prodigy.

He went on to produce Frat of the Land, which I'm on as well.

Circles go round and round Circles go round Circles that's where I'm going Trying so hard to be with you it's not so easy Trying to bear these J O boy pull me through in my head is a ball of confusion.

How.

How did you meet them and.

And how did that sort of gig come about?

Well, I. I had a deal with Warner Chapel.

Sorry, with Warner Records and solo artist.

And I just felt that I wanted to be in a band situation and I wanted to try and meld electronic music, you know, with songs.

And so, yeah, I kind of.

I kind of barged in deconstruction offices one day and told them they had to give me a record with this amazing new band I had and we were going to be really successful and we were great.

They didn't know it was all in my head.

So, yeah.

And they said, yeah.

So I had to go find a good band.

So luck should have it, I managed.

I found Tim from Flowered up and a couple of other people, Andy and Johnny Glove, guitar player.

So.

And yeah, I just told them, this is it.

I think I've got a recording of it.

I really need a couple of demos, you know, in two weeks or they're gonna unveil my master plan.

And, yeah, we sort of wrote this like eight minute long, like, techno kind of electronica track.

And yeah, I went back in Two weeks time and they gave me a deal thinking it was a whole album on cg, but it wasn't.

I give one track, but that was track called out of this World and the, the Chemical Brothers that when they first started out were called the Dust Brothers and the Dust Brothers and.

And they have to change their name because there was another band in America that had the name.

So yeah, so I've got one of the very few.

We're very lucky to have one of the very few chemical crap as the Dust Brothers remixes on our first ever white label vinyl, which is fantastic.

And the other side is DJ Justin Robertson of Lion Rock and Hacienda fame.

So yes, so then.

And Drake made it so.

Yay.

Sam.

So how did the band I guess find its like sonic identity I guess in the mid-90s, like when everything felt so exciting in that period as well?

I think that because we were from the acid house scene, we'd come up from like the rave underground music scene with electronica.

But we also had grown up as children and you know, liking luminance obviously for Simple Minds and the associates craft work and yeah, we were just really into electronica so you know, we would collect like mini MOOC synthesizers and yeah, just work with new tech, new technology as well.

8008909 And TBC 03.

And yeah, we, yeah, we saved up our money and bought our whole studio, we built our whole recording studio with that and, and so we could, you know, write and record and produce our own music.

And then I mean the big, the big year I guess was like 96, 97, that was the big breakthrough with the self titled album and particularly of course Ready to Go.

I mean, was it quite obvious to you guys or is it never really obvious when you kind of feel like now this is, this is something, this is going to go somewhere or was it, did it take you by surprise?

Well, we definitely knew we were onto something.

We knew it was something catchy and yeah, we thought.

But my first thought, as I think a lot of people's thoughts are the first, your first thought is I've got, we've got to come up with a follow up.

And yeah, so I wrote Drop Dead Gorgeous out of a dream.

Oh really?

How did that come about?

What was the dream?

We come up with a few like chords and you know, it was just like, you know, it's just like this fuel of kind of intensity.

Like I've got to write a forum, I've got to.

We have to write something as good as this.

You Know as this catchy.

You're weird in tears Too near, too far away he's sad so bad when hiding that old girl it takes your fish done Always love the one you hurt.

It's a quiet I'm back, yeah.

I'm standing on the rooftop shouting out Baby, I'm ready to go.

I'm quiet, I'm ready to go from the rooftop Shout it out, Shout it out.

I was genuinely shocked because I thought.

Because I remember vividly how big Ready To Go and dropped it Gorgeous was.

I was shocked that Ready To Go is only hit number 13 because it's such a.

Such an iconic song.

90S what.

What was it at that time that people.

A lot of people don't know is that Woolworths was right.

The main percentage of the Gallup charts now, Woolworths only would stop the top 20, that someone's already been in the top 20.

So of every week there was only a couple of slots that they would actually even.

Even stop your record, let alone if you were a girl.

That line is your.

And yes, they didn't stock us.

They didn't go.

No, that's right.

But we were lucky because it got number one in lots of other countries as well.

So, you know, and obviously so pleased to be on top of the plots and dropped it.

Gorgeous to be able to.

Yeah.

And what is it about those two songs in particular that kind of perfectly encapsulated that era and you still hear it today?

Yeah, well, it's.

I've talked to Gary about this and the thing is he's like, you just never know Gary and Gemma.

It's just you never know if how long your song's life will be.

I think all songs are immortal anyway, so they just carry on in the ether, you know, but you don't know that they will have an effect on people or be played, you know, on the radio or people can hear it on the TV or films and stuff.

And so, yeah, we are blessed that in sports and cars and, you know, films and stuff and Captain Marvel and this.

That.

Yeah, people and I just.

We wanted them to be anesthemic, though.

We wanted them to be electronic, we wanted them to have guitars.

We wanted them to obviously suit.

To suit my voice, my delivery, my lyrics.

But to be anthemic, you know, and hopefully we achieve that.

Absolutely.

Fatwood words.

He got em.

Shut up, I'm talking.

This time you'll listen.

But when I look at you, you're forgiven.

You drive too fast and I smoke too much and my heart is broke but when I look at you, you're forgiven, you're forgiven.

I know my ex boyfriend lies oh, he does it every time.

It's just his common disguise yeah, yeah.

But he's rock dead torture don't go changing every time not for me to compromise.

You're still a friend of Min yeah, yeah.

And you drop dead gorgeous.

In 97.

Then one of the first CDs I ever bought was the Gary Newman tribute album Random.

And one of my favorite songs on it was Republica's cover of Our Friends Electric.

So at this point, had you already met Gary and Gemma?

Is this how you met them?

No, that's how I met them.

And we.

We were very.

I mean, I just remember being invited and we were like, oh my God, we can't trap any of new stuff.

It's sacred.

Be sacrilege.

And we can't do it.

You know, we couldn't make our mind up and by the time we'd like, messed about and every, you know, other.

Other bands and artists had chosen all the songs we wanted to do now.

Well, maybe I could try me.

I'll just connect to you.

Oh, no, we can't go near Dallas.

Can't do that.

And.

Oh, no.

And it's that.

Then we got a phone call and it was Gary himself, not my voice, but I'm about five books here.

And we went around and I met him in Gemma and it was just like such lovely people.

I mean, you know, you could, you know, look, they're wonderful, wonderful.

And.

And I just remember Gary being there and he'd written the lyrics down and then he's like, hang on, sorry, what?

You're going to sing it with me.

Oh, my God, this is.

I really nervous.

I'm a bit nervous, actually.

And he said, oh, so am I.

And I. Yeah, but you're Gary.

You're Gary Newman.

And it was just this.

I didn't realize it was going to be a kind of a duet thing.

And it was great and.

But, you know, I mean, what a task, you know, to me.

Oh, you know, but it was extraordinary experience and just so wonderful.

And they're friends of mine to today, so I really hold that dear, you know, and all the Newman fans and everything, just their family, just so wonderful.

Yeah, really lovely.

It's cold outside and the pain's peeling up on my walls.

There's a man.

Outside in a long coat gray hat.

Smoking a cigarette.

Ho ho ho ho H oh oh, oh, oh.

Now the light fades out.

I know what I want I'm doing In a.

Room like this, there's a knock on the door.

And just for a second.

I thought I remembered you,.

You know, and.

And yeah, and Gary was very much.

I introduced him to my friend Andy Gray and he did quite a few productions with him.

Well, I say you've obviously remained good friends and I'd read his book and it's a lovely bit where he goes that you've helped him in so many ways.

I'm hugely grateful.

So that must feel lovely to read such words from a legend.

Yeah, yeah.

So going back when you were a kid, do you remember the first time you heard Gary's music and what impact it had on you?

Yeah, I mean, well, as I say, I mean, I used to listen to the radio all the time and I mean, I was pre teen when Replicas came out in 79.

Right.

And I think I was about 10.

So, yeah, 10 or 11.

And it was just.

It.

I've just.

What's the word?

Mesmerized, I think would be the term.

Just awestruck with this, you know, it's like the electronics kind of cut through.

They're like razor sharp, aren't they, in the production and just otherworldly, but very powerful at the same time.

But this extraordinary voice, but also it's got feeling of it's flawn and you know, pain and, you know, you could feel it almost, you know, you could feel that through it.

And I've always, like, I'm a big fan of Blade Brother, a big fan of.

And things like that, thought maybe he's a part replicant like me in my head, I think I am.

But yeah, it's.

Oh, it's just extraordinary.

So, yeah, I mean, and then just seeing those kind of breakthrough moments on TV of this extraordinary guy, you know, with his cheekbones and the makeup, but just his.

This very still stance and very regal, I found it captivating.

And the point about it was that he was his own, not isolation, but you felt that his world, it reached out to you if you yourself might feel isolated in yourself and at all at times.

And obviously I was only 10, so a collie I was running about, but I just.

It really hit.

Hit home.

And just the sound of it, the sound of those electronics and the sound of the voice and electronic.

And I thought, oh, you know, and I think that kind of was basically this amount of the foundation scones of my house as well, you know, and.

Yeah, just extraordinary.

And to see the live shows and as well when, you know, like growing up and going into teenage years and you Know, not.

Not being able to go.

And then I did go and I was, oh, God, it's changed my life.

This is great.

I want to be going in with, you know, but not, you know, on to be my own.

But I always wanted to be Toya as well.

So me and Gemma, we were really big, massive and we still are massive toy fans as well, that we're now friends with her as well.

Well, I was thinking back to the random album in particular.

I feel like Gary had obviously gone through a bit of a tricky period, but that was, if anything, that was the album in that year that kind of helped turn a corner.

So I feel like your involvement and everyone on the album was that period of seeing Gary finally people understanding and understand his importance and all that kind of thing.

So that must be.

Feel good to be a part of that.

Oh, well, of course.

The thing is, Tom, that Gary is such a lovely soul is the fact that he doesn't realize it still and that, you know, he did take a bit of telling and coaxing and Gemma obviously gets it.

But I think me and Gemma, you know, it was like just for him to understand.

No, no, no.

You know, people love you, you know, your fans love you, but the world really respects you.

And I think that, you know, you know, out of any of British artists, Gary Newman really, really has shown up everybody, you know, and he really has stood the test of time and, you know, album for album, album.

The stuff he's done with Lady Fern has been just superb production on that and, you know, and, you know, Persia, Raven and Echo, you know, are just so happy for all of them.

Yeah, it just consistently is.

Is prodigious, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

What do you think Gary's got, right, about, say, taking on like, reinvention that others haven't from his era?

Because he's.

One of the things I love about him so much is his.

Not only his longevity, but his.

There's not many artists from his era who are just still.

When it brings out new music or touring, it still sounds so good, you know, not, you know, so it's.

It's.

What do you think he'.

He's got about him that other artists perhaps might not?

Well, I think as I've mentioned before, like with Gary Skills, Andy Gray, a different.

He's always had his eye on.

Focus on the sonics, on the sound, on the electronic production, but also the sonics of the whole piece of the whole album or the whole theme, the lyrical parts.

But also he's thinking live because it's Just such a forced life that.

And it's just wonderful, you know, that his fans just, you know, it's.

You know, I feel, you know, that I'm blessed to be involved and be part of that army, you know, fans.

And I just think that he's kept that modern eye on having.

Making sure that the production and the sonics are superb.

But also he's carried on songwriting, he's prodigiously in songwriting.

But you know what?

He's gone with what he loves his gut instinct, which is, you know, the heavy industrial electronica sound, you know, which kind of is what he invented.

Kind of, you know, you know, even Nine Inch Nelson, Billy Corgan and he.

They all said it and they've invited him, you know, to collaborate.

And I think maybe that finally, you know, made him sort of, you know, see that.

Oh yeah, maybe, you know, they do know who I am and they do like my work because he.

He's so, you know.

Yeah, he's such.

Such a lovely person.

He's very modest and.

And I think what I'm saying you also introduced him to.

Was it Junkie xl and both featured on that album as well.

Did he.

My work with Tom Hulkenberg of Junkie XL in Amsterdam.

And also I introduced Robert Smith to Jon Kurzo as well, because I don't know if you followed his musical career, but he had like number one albums and singles and I was very lucky to have number one with the track called Beauty Never Fades.

And he's now gone on to be like one of the main Hollywood movie soundtrack composers.

He done some extraordinary work.

I don't know if you've heard some of his movie soundtrack.

They're like beyond really fierce, you know, kind of your Dark Knight Rises with Hand Zimmer, your Inception, A Divergent Sorry, and Elite Essential, Mad Max.

Just, you know, it goes on and on and on, you know, for re.

And stuff.

See a glimpse inside the poet's hollow Come to know the time when he will haunt you Snapping at my heels make me laugh Someone take me back to the angel realm.

It's interesting to see certain, certain artists, how they morph over time and where they, they.

Where they end up.

It's really good to see.

I just love these people that are really superb and.

And get the same things.

I mean, but I didn't know Janketta when he asked me and I was just like, wow, this guy's genius.

You know, he's really like, really talented and he's something else.

You know, there's doing something and there's something else, you know, and Newman is something and someone else, you know, it's not, you know, it's like you can learn to play good guitar, anybody could do that.

But to be a great guitarist, you have to be something else.

You know, it is.

You should always go with who you are and, and put yourself into it.

Which I feel is going back to your question about what, what, you know, what you think is his, you know, due to his success.

And I think it's being himself and being someone and something else.

Yeah.

Than other people.

Not.

Not blending in, standing out.

Yeah, I agree.

And just thinking back to Republica then, very exciting news obviously that back on tour later this year.

Celebrate 30 years of ready to go.

Yeah.

How's the prep going for.

For the tour?

It's.

And yeah, we, we're very excited because fingers crossed that the vinyl manufacturer like we're going up the waiting list, you know, because it's taken, you know, it takes sometimes over a year to get your vinyl manufactured now because there's only so many lathes in production anymore.

But thank everyone that because vinyl is getting popular again, which is great, you know, so.

And Sony are going to re release a debut album, hopefully as a, as a.

As a bonus CD as well of an unreleased live recording, Fingers Horse.

And also we're going to have a colored vinyl that's not a color that's been out before because they've been quite a few colors out.

And yeah, and also fingers crossed the new album Damage got coming out as well.

So really looking forward to the tour.

So any surprises in store for fans or anything?

Yeah, you never know, it might be surprise guests.

Yeah, let's see.

Nice.

And I know some of us.

Well, I look forward to all of that and, and I know alongside your music you've also had a career in like mental health.

And, and for those who.

Who may not know, how did that come about and how.

How has that sort of shaped you in recent years?

I've always been fascinated with mental health, forensic mental health.

Like your cracker.

You sound a profiler sort of thing.

But I think just having social skills or communication skills.

My mom worked in a place called Charlie Heritage and she used to care for Alison Lapo, who is a little mad lady who hasn't got flags and she was the big Clint person statue was made of her.

Yeah.

And so she.

My mum used to care for disabled children physically.

So I'm not sure.

I might find that really hard but I'm debating whether to go and do a few Shifts there.

I don't know, I really miss it, but I just haven't got time with my music.

But anyway, so I went and studied and yeah, I did lots of exams and yeah, I kind of of just started care in the community, did volunteering and then I kind of moved up and then, yeah, I got into complex and severe mental disorders and learning disabilities and yeah, and then Covid happened.

So I was sent to the front line as a critical key worker in a pandemic, which was really, really hard.

It was horrific.

But I was honored at the end to be able to have been there and cared for people that had no one else and the vulnerable in our society.

And I learned Mathon sign language, some swear words, which we learned from the people we looked after.

I hastened trap and yeah, and.

And just being someone's advocate, being a safeguarder and.

And just generally being a voice to the voices.

Well, that's really inspiring to hear and it's amazing to have two, you know, two very different lives parallel.

That's really interesting to see.

Well, just finally then, I'm time to put you on the spot a little bit.

So if you had to pick three Gary Newman songs and just one album, what would they do?

Oh, no Replicas, obviously.

That's my favorite.

And obviously down in the park, our Friends Electric and.

Oh, it'll be a disconnect from you.

Nice.

All three absolute classics.

But you did, you did perform.

Did you perform it live with Gary at one point as well?

Yeah.

Genpai.

Yeah.

I was like, hey, that was a day of my life.

It was wonderful.

If anyone's listening or watching, that's got any video photos that please send them in or post them for me and tag me.

Thank you.

Yeah, I'd love to see that.

Absolutely.

Well, thanks so much for your time delay, Saffron.

It's been amazing talking to you and for being on Electric Friends.

Much appreciated.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Cheers for that.

Lovely to speak to Saffron, an underrated legend of 90s British rock and pop, and I look forward to seeing their tour later this year.

So thanks for listening as ever.

If you'd like to get in touch either to tell me your Newmanoid story or to suggest future episodes or interviews, please do email me newmanpodcastmail.com you can find me at Newman Podcast on all the socials or head to neumannpodcast.com for more.

And remember, if you'd like to support me and the show, please do.

You can get your hands on some Electric Friends merch T shirts.

Hoodies, stickers, mugs, all that kind of thing.

Head to the show notes of this episode for where to get them.

Or head to Electric Friends dot printify me.

That's it for now, though.

Thanks for listening and see you again soon.

Sam.

Electric Friends A Gary Newman podcast The songs are stories of a music icon.