Mary Sandeman, a respected traditional vocalist from Scotland, gained fame with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra and taught herself to sing in Gaelic. Despite her success in traditional music, she attempted a pop career by recording 'Japanese Boy' under the name Aneka, adopting a Japanese persona for the promotion. The novelty number reached number 1 in the UK and topped European charts in 1981. After a brief success with 'Little Lady', subsequent singles and an album failed to make an impact. Sandeman eventually returned to performing her Gaelic music at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe after the Aneka act faded.