In Conversation with Annabel Karmel

1.    How did you come to study at the Royal College of Music and what led you to the harp?

My mother actually made the decision about the harp when she visited a fabric exhibition. She saw this harp holding up a piece of fabric, so she bought the harp and started giving me lessons! I went to St Paul's School which is well known for music and our Music Master, John Gardner who was an amazing composer, really encouraged me. I then went to study the harp at The Hague for about a year and half, and then came back to the UK and found a teacher at the RCM.

Whilst I was studying at the College, I wanted a summer job, so I wrote to various hotels in London and I got an interview with the manager at the Hotel Inn on the Park; he told me to start the next Sunday. I had only ever played classical music on the harp, however, he wanted me to play more popular music like Gershwin. So, I went to Chapels that day and bought as much popular music as possible and started to practise it. And then the Intercontinental was looking for someone to play during their cocktail hour, so I interviewed for that too and started to play there as well. I would change my dress between the two places, and one time someone said to me ‘oh you’re so much better than the woman who plays across the road’. Of course, it was me at both places!

2.    Since leaving the College, what have been some of your career highlights?

I’ve played with some amazing people. I played with Boy George in one of his videos and with Bruce Forsyth on television. I did a lot of TV and made a double album, which featured Julian Lloyd Webber and was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. I also did a lot of travelling and used to play at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club. I started playing lighter music and experimenting with music for the harp. I started a group called Harp Attack which incorporated bass guitar, drums, an electric synthesizer and the harp – it was really fun.

3.    What led you to make the transition from performance to nutrition and cooking for babies and children?

I got married and it took me two years to have a baby. When Natasha was born, she unfortunately contracted a viral infection and she sadly died. That really changed my outlook on life and I realised that music wasn’t something I wanted to do in the long term. All I wanted to do was have another child and I was lucky enough to get pregnant within four months and have another child, Nicholas, who was the world’s worst eater. I was so focused on making sure he was eating properly and keeping him safe; I always worried something would happen to him after losing Natasha.

At that point, I was running a playgroup in St John’s Wood and I started giving out recipes to all the mothers. They would come back to me asking for more recipes and because they had had so much success in feeding their children, they said I should write a children’s cookbook. I thought it would be a great legacy to Natasha and good therapy for me to come to terms with her death. I wrote the book in 1989 and got it published in 1991. The book went on to sell 5 million copies and launched my career. This year is actually the 30th anniversary of that book.

I wrote other books after that and eventually, in the year 2000, M&S rung me up and asked if I’d help them develop their food range. I later worked with Boots and after that, I thought I should probably pursue my own range, which I did and launched it in Sainsbury's in 2006. We’re now in Australia and have quite a good presence in their supermarkets there.

4.    How have your studies at the RCM helped you in your career?

Music gave me discipline and confidence. I now do a lot of Instagram lives and talks and performing on the harp has given me the confidence to talk on these platforms. I wanted my children to play the violin – I was always jealous of how small and easy it was to carry! I thought if I could start them young learning the Suzuki method they would learn to love it. They all became very good violinists. The Suzuki experience encourages children to perform before they can really play anything, which gives them a lot of confidence in life to stand up in front of people and talk. It was very good training, even if my children weren’t going to become musicians. Suzuki was also very sociable, for mothers and children alike.

5.    What is your fondest memory of your time at the RCM?

Mixing with other students who were musicians. I had just come from Holland where everybody spoke Dutch, which I wasn’t yet fluent in; I also had a lot of individual lessons, returning home to a single studio flat. It was hard and not very sociable, so I was thrilled when I came back to England so I could be around students and musicians playing various different instruments.

6.    Do you have any advice for our students and recent alumni?

You do give up much of your life for music, but sometimes it’s good to have two professions.

7.    You’ve written multiple books on nutrition for babies and children, you run a global food company, you are the incredible foodie godmother! Do we dare ask what your plans are for the future?

I have two books coming out this year: The 30th Anniversary of the Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner, and a new book which is all about teaching your children to cook in a fun way. I am designing a children's restaurant in Qatar, which will be open in time for the World Cup, and I’m working on all the children’s food menus for the Jumeirah Hotel Group, as well as the Sani resort in Greece. We’re also doing a campaign with British Lion Eggs and Warburtons. Lastly, I’m looking into opening a nursery school. There’s a lot going on!

We do a lot online as well. I have the number one British food and drink app and we have around 335,000 Instagram followers. I don’t really sleep, and I work hard, but it’s fun and I like it. I also have a great team: my daughter works with me. I’m grateful to have found a career for her and spend time with someone whom I love.

8.    In true Desert Island Disc style, what piece of music has had the greatest impact on you, and why?

That’s difficult as I have so many that I absolutely love but I do love the Max Bruch Violin Concerto, and when my son played it at St Paul’s that was like a dream for me. It’s funny because Bruch actually sold that piece for very little money and I don’t think he ever wrote anything else that was as good. I think he must’ve kicked himself because if he hadn’t have sold it, he would have received fantastic royalties for that piece!

9.    What is your favourite recipe?

At the moment we’ve been eating it every other day throughout lockdown! It is a seared tuna salad. You marinate the tuna and cover it with sesame seeds, then cook it for one minute so it’s raw in the middle. You then mix it with some oak lettuce, mooli (Japanese radish), cherry tomatoes, toasted seeds and deep fried shallots. Then, for the amazing dressing, I use soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, mirin, sesame oil, some fresh ginger and mayonnaise. You can find the recipe here.

10. What do you do to wind down and relax?

I have four very lovely dogs whom I love spending time with, and I go for long walks in the park with them. I’ve actually written a dog cookbook. It’s called The Happy Dog Cookbook, and all the proceeds went to support street vets. I love socialising with my friends, watching TV series and just collapsing on the sofa.

I also spend a lot of time with my kids. My son had Covid and then pneumonia so he moved back in and I love being with him; I don’t think he will move out anytime soon with all the free meals he’s getting!