Anna Calvi
Encyclopedia
Anna Calvi is an English
musician who plays in the band of the same name. On 6 December 2010, Calvi was announced as a nominee for the BBC
's Sound of 2011 poll. Her self-titled debut album was released in the UK on 17 January 2011, where it debuted at number 40 on 23 January. The album was subsequently nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in 2011.
father. Calvi first picked up the violin at 6, and guitar at 8. After leaving school, she originally intended to study art, but instead opted for a degree in music. Calvi formed several bands including "Cheap Hotel", which released one download-only single, "New York", which did not chart. Calvi then went on to meet multi-instrumentalist Mally Harpaz and drummer Daniel Maiden-Wood, who now form her intimate band set-up.
At an early gig, Calvi caught the attention of Bill Ryder-Jones
who urged Laurence Bell of Domino Records to sign her. Early support also came from renowned music legend Brian Eno
, who heard about Calvi through a friend. He has since become her unofficial mentor describing her during a BBC6 Music interview as, "the biggest thing since Patti Smith
."
In the autumn of 2009, Calvi recorded a series of filmed 'Attic Sessions' that were uploaded onto YouTube
including a cover of Leonard Cohen
's 'Joan of Arc', Elvis Presley
's 'Surrender', TV on the Radio
's 'Wolf Like Me' and David Bowie
's 'Sound & Vision'.
Calvi played guitar on the track "The Prizefighter and the Heiress" on Johnny Flynn
's album 'Been Listening'. In October 2009, she also supported Flynn on tour.
In 2010, Calvi supported Interpol
on their UK tour and label-mates the Arctic Monkeys
at the Royal Albert Hall
. Nick Cave
also invited her to support Grinderman
across Europe in October 2010.
", a 1951 song originally written by Wayne Shanklin and made famous by Frankie Laine
and French chanteuse Edith Piaf
. Both "Jezebel" and the B-side "Moulinette" were recorded by Rob Ellis, and released on limited edition 7" and digital download.
Live versions of both "Jezebel" and "Moulinette" were filmed at The Luminaire
venue in London by Emma Nathan, who also created the vinyl artwork, and used as promo for the single.
collaborator Rob Ellis.
NME
gave the album 9 out of 10 stating, "this self-titled collection of 10 songs is perhaps the first great record of 2011." NME
described it as "sumptuous, seductive and a bit scary, this velvety debut will stalk your dreams." Uncut magazine said, "This isn't just a great debut. It's a fearless rejection of current pop trends, fashioning a benchmark of intensity and originality that the rest of this year's albums will struggle to match." The Observer
described it as a “gutsy and sonorous start” and The Fly
magazine called it an “arresting, sparse and darkly captivating listen.” The Evening Standard said “the raw talent is undeniable: 2011 is Calvi’s for the taking” while the Independent on Sunday claimed that for “serious lovers of music, Calvi is one to watch.” The album was Rough Trade
's album of the month in January, described as an “astonishingly confident, expressive and powerful record.”
Brian Eno
sang backing vocals on 'Desire' and 'Suzanne & I'. Dave Okumu from the band The Invisible sang backing vocals on the song 'No More Words'.
Calvi launched the album to sold out show at the intimate Hoxton Hall
in London on 27 January 2011.
As part of the album promotion, Calvi performed several times on French TV including a performance of "Desire" on Le Grand Journal
, and "Blackout" and "Desire" on ARTE
.
The artwork for the album was created by long-term collaborator Emma Nathan.
The album was released in USA, Australia, and Japan on 1 March 2011. Calvi performed on the first show of Series 38 of Later... with Jools Holland that was broadcast on 5 and 9 April 2011. She performed "Blackout" and "Desire". Calvi performed 5 songs on the TV show "Live From Abbey Road
" broadcast on Channel 4 on 22 June 2011. Calvi also performed on 'Late Night With David Letterman'
on July 27th 2011.
Domino Records released "Blackout" as the first single taken from the album on 21st March 2011 : it featured a cover of Elvis Presley's "Surrender" as the B-side. 'Blackout' was debuted on Pitchfork
in the US.
"Desire" was released as the second single from the album on June 20th 2011. The single featured a cover of Leonard Cohen
's 'Joan of Arc' as the B-side.
"Suzanne & I" was the third single from the album and was released on 12th September 2011. The B-side was Baby It's You.
The album was shortlisted for the 2011 Mercury Prize
.
.
Following her album release show at Hoxton Hall
in London
, Calvi won over critics with her "performance of superb self-possession and dramatic timing. The Independent
called her a "strumming seductress" who was "born to be heard in person" playing "with every ounce of passion."
Visually, Calvi nods to the world of flamenco in her stage outfits. However, rather than wearing the traditional frilly dress, she opts for the high trousers and blouse of a male dancer.
A European tour took place from February. She also first visited the USA in March.
Calvi's show at Le Trianon in Paris on 22 April was broadcast live on the website of ARTE. She headlined the NME
tour in May. Calvi was chosen by Ray Davies
of The Kinks
to co-headline the Meltdown Festival
2011.
Calvi has a full European and UK tour scheduled for Autumn 2011.
guitar and uses a red Vox AC30
amp both live and in the studio.
and Siouxsie
.
Calvi's style has been described as dark, romantic, atmospheric pop. The singer has stated that the powers of lust are an inspiration and her performances are deliberately sexually charged. Calvi has cited Nina Simone
, Maria Callas
, the rock of Jimi Hendrix
and the Rolling Stones, the blues of Captain Beefheart
, the stage performances of Nick Cave
, David Bowie
and Scott Walker
as well as classical composers Carlo Gesualdo
, Messiaen, Ravel and Debussy as among her influences.
Calvi has stated that the films of Gus Van Sant
and Wong Kar-Wai
and David Lynch
have also influenced her music. She has admiration for "people that make beautiful films where the cinematography tells the story" and tries to do the same in her own work.
showcase in Paris as part of The Room Of Curiosities exhibition by Thomas Erber.
Calvi was invited to play at the Gucci
dinner, hosted by Vogue
during 2011 Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.
Since then Frida Giannini
, creative director at Gucci
has chosen outfits for Calvi to wear during the May 2011 US tour.
The fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld
has said he is a fan of her music, and has photographed Calvi for the Maison Michel Fall Winter 2011 lookbook.
Sir Paul Smith
photographed Calvi for the cover of L'Express Styles.
Calvi was invited on the Chanel
table for the Amfar charity event at Cannes Film Festival 2011.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician who plays in the band of the same name. On 6 December 2010, Calvi was announced as a nominee for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Sound of 2011 poll. Her self-titled debut album was released in the UK on 17 January 2011, where it debuted at number 40 on 23 January. The album was subsequently nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in 2011.
Formation and early years
Anna Calvi grew up being exposed to a multitude of genres of music by her music-loving ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
father. Calvi first picked up the violin at 6, and guitar at 8. After leaving school, she originally intended to study art, but instead opted for a degree in music. Calvi formed several bands including "Cheap Hotel", which released one download-only single, "New York", which did not chart. Calvi then went on to meet multi-instrumentalist Mally Harpaz and drummer Daniel Maiden-Wood, who now form her intimate band set-up.
At an early gig, Calvi caught the attention of Bill Ryder-Jones
Bill Ryder-Jones
Bill Ryder-Jones is an English musician and film score composer from West Kirby, Merseyside. He was originally the lead guitarist with The Coral from 1996 until 2008 before leaving the band to pursue a solo career...
who urged Laurence Bell of Domino Records to sign her. Early support also came from renowned music legend Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, who heard about Calvi through a friend. He has since become her unofficial mentor describing her during a BBC6 Music interview as, "the biggest thing since Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
."
In the autumn of 2009, Calvi recorded a series of filmed 'Attic Sessions' that were uploaded onto YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
including a cover of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's 'Joan of Arc', Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's 'Surrender', TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
's 'Wolf Like Me' and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's 'Sound & Vision'.
Calvi played guitar on the track "The Prizefighter and the Heiress" on Johnny Flynn
Johnny Flynn
Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit are an English folk rock band signed to Transgressive Records. They are fronted by Johnny Flynn , an actor, poet and songwriter who cites W.B. Yeats and Shakespeare among his influences...
's album 'Been Listening'. In October 2009, she also supported Flynn on tour.
In 2010, Calvi supported Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
on their UK tour and label-mates the Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
also invited her to support Grinderman
Grinderman
Grinderman is an alternative rock band formed by Nick Cave , Warren Ellis , Martyn P. Casey and Jim Sclavunos in London, United Kingdom in 2006...
across Europe in October 2010.
Jezebel / Moulinette single
On 11 October 2010, Calvi released debut single "JezebelJezebel (song)
"Jezebel" is a 1951 popular song written by Wayne Shanklin. It was recorded by Frankie Laine with the Norman Luboff Choir and Mitch Miller and his orchestra on April 4, 1951 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39367...
", a 1951 song originally written by Wayne Shanklin and made famous by Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
and French chanteuse Edith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
. Both "Jezebel" and the B-side "Moulinette" were recorded by Rob Ellis, and released on limited edition 7" and digital download.
Live versions of both "Jezebel" and "Moulinette" were filmed at The Luminaire
The Luminaire
The Luminaire was a live music venue on Kilburn High Road in north west London, UK. It opened on 1 March 2005 in what was a nightclub called Late, above McGovern's Pub and The Kilburn Bar...
venue in London by Emma Nathan, who also created the vinyl artwork, and used as promo for the single.
Anna Calvi album
Her self-titled debut album was released in the UK and Europe through Domino Records to critical acclaim on 17 January 2011. It entered the official UK charts at number 40. The album achieved success across Europe, charting at 17 in France, 33 in Austria, 40 in Switzerland, 55 in Sweden and 70 in Germany. Calvi co-produced the album with long-term PJ HarveyPJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
collaborator Rob Ellis.
NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
gave the album 9 out of 10 stating, "this self-titled collection of 10 songs is perhaps the first great record of 2011." NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
described it as "sumptuous, seductive and a bit scary, this velvety debut will stalk your dreams." Uncut magazine said, "This isn't just a great debut. It's a fearless rejection of current pop trends, fashioning a benchmark of intensity and originality that the rest of this year's albums will struggle to match." The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
described it as a “gutsy and sonorous start” and The Fly
The Fly (magazine)
The Fly is a free music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. The magazine is published by the HMV owned MAMA Group.The magazine started as a listings leaflet in Camden, north London, for the Barfly music venue on Chalk Farm Road...
magazine called it an “arresting, sparse and darkly captivating listen.” The Evening Standard said “the raw talent is undeniable: 2011 is Calvi’s for the taking” while the Independent on Sunday claimed that for “serious lovers of music, Calvi is one to watch.” The album was Rough Trade
Rough Trade
Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!...
's album of the month in January, described as an “astonishingly confident, expressive and powerful record.”
Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
sang backing vocals on 'Desire' and 'Suzanne & I'. Dave Okumu from the band The Invisible sang backing vocals on the song 'No More Words'.
Calvi launched the album to sold out show at the intimate Hoxton Hall
Hoxton Hall
Hoxton Hall is a community centre and performance space in Hoxton, at 130 Hoxton Street, in the London Borough of Hackney.A grade II* listed building, the theatre was first built as a Music hall in 1863, as MacDonald's Music hall. It is an unrestored example of the saloon-style...
in London on 27 January 2011.
As part of the album promotion, Calvi performed several times on French TV including a performance of "Desire" on Le Grand Journal
Le Grand Journal (Canal+)
Le Grand Journal is a French nightly news and talk show airing every weekday evening on Canal+. Debuting on August 30, 2004, it was created and hosted by Michel Denisot. Originally a one-hour program, it expanded to two hours in 2005. Even though the show is broadcast on the premium channel Canal+,...
, and "Blackout" and "Desire" on ARTE
Arte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
.
The artwork for the album was created by long-term collaborator Emma Nathan.
The album was released in USA, Australia, and Japan on 1 March 2011. Calvi performed on the first show of Series 38 of Later... with Jools Holland that was broadcast on 5 and 9 April 2011. She performed "Blackout" and "Desire". Calvi performed 5 songs on the TV show "Live From Abbey Road
Live from Abbey Road
Live from Abbey Road is a 12-part, one-hour performance series/documentary that began filming its first season during 2006 at Abbey Road Studios in London. Season 2 was filmed between 2007 and 2008, season 3 was filmed in 2009 and Season 4 was filmed in 2011...
" broadcast on Channel 4 on 22 June 2011. Calvi also performed on 'Late Night With David Letterman'
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
on July 27th 2011.
Domino Records released "Blackout" as the first single taken from the album on 21st March 2011 : it featured a cover of Elvis Presley's "Surrender" as the B-side. 'Blackout' was debuted on Pitchfork
Pitchfork
A pitchfork is an agricultural tool with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tines used to lift and pitch loose material, such as hay, leaves, grapes, dung or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have two or three tines...
in the US.
"Desire" was released as the second single from the album on June 20th 2011. The single featured a cover of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's 'Joan of Arc' as the B-side.
"Suzanne & I" was the third single from the album and was released on 12th September 2011. The B-side was Baby It's You.
The album was shortlisted for the 2011 Mercury Prize
Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
.
Live shows
Calvi is known for her intense guitar playing and seductive live performance. She has said that she tries to create the sounds of other instruments through her guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
Following her album release show at Hoxton Hall
Hoxton Hall
Hoxton Hall is a community centre and performance space in Hoxton, at 130 Hoxton Street, in the London Borough of Hackney.A grade II* listed building, the theatre was first built as a Music hall in 1863, as MacDonald's Music hall. It is an unrestored example of the saloon-style...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Calvi won over critics with her "performance of superb self-possession and dramatic timing. The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
called her a "strumming seductress" who was "born to be heard in person" playing "with every ounce of passion."
Visually, Calvi nods to the world of flamenco in her stage outfits. However, rather than wearing the traditional frilly dress, she opts for the high trousers and blouse of a male dancer.
A European tour took place from February. She also first visited the USA in March.
Calvi's show at Le Trianon in Paris on 22 April was broadcast live on the website of ARTE. She headlined the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
tour in May. Calvi was chosen by Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
of The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
to co-headline the Meltdown Festival
Meltdown (festival)
Meltdown is an annual, English festival, held in London, featuring a mix of music, art, performance and film. Meltdown is held in June at Southbank Centre, the arts complex covering and including the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward...
2011.
Calvi has a full European and UK tour scheduled for Autumn 2011.
Musical equipment
Calvi is always seen performing with a Fender TelecasterFender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
guitar and uses a red Vox AC30
Vox AC30
The Vox AC30 is a guitar amplifier manufactured by Vox and known for its "jangly" high-end sound. First introduced in 1958 due to the growing demand for higher-wattage amplifiers, it became an iconic amplifier for British musicians and soon for others....
amp both live and in the studio.
Guitar playing
Calvi is a virtuoso guitarist - although her first instrument is the violin of which she has a university degree in. Calvi also imagines playing guitar as an orchestra and is noted for her particular style of playing which involves hitting the strings in a circular motion, rather than strumming up and down.Style and influences
Calvi has been compared to other female singers PJ HarveyPJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
and Siouxsie
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
.
Calvi's style has been described as dark, romantic, atmospheric pop. The singer has stated that the powers of lust are an inspiration and her performances are deliberately sexually charged. Calvi has cited Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
, Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
, the rock of Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and the Rolling Stones, the blues of Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
, the stage performances of Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
as well as classical composers Carlo Gesualdo
Carlo Gesualdo
Carlo Gesualdo, known as Gesualdo di Venosa or Gesualdo da Venosa , Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, was an Italian nobleman, lutenist, composer, and murderer....
, Messiaen, Ravel and Debussy as among her influences.
Calvi has stated that the films of Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
and Wong Kar-Wai
Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
and David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
have also influenced her music. She has admiration for "people that make beautiful films where the cinematography tells the story" and tries to do the same in her own work.
Fashion
On December 1, 2010, Calvi performed at the ColetteColette (boutique)
Colette is a concept store and the preeminent Parisian fashion and style boutique founded in March 1997 by Colette Roussaux and her daughter, Sarah Lerfel. It is located at no...
showcase in Paris as part of The Room Of Curiosities exhibition by Thomas Erber.
Calvi was invited to play at the Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
dinner, hosted by Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
during 2011 Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.
Since then Frida Giannini
Frida Giannini
Frida Giannini is an Italian fashion designer and currently the Creative Director of the Italian fashion house Gucci.Giannini studied fashion design at Rome's Fashion Academy. In 1997, she worked for Fendi to design ready-to-wear. After three seasons, she was promoted to designer of leather goods...
, creative director at Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
has chosen outfits for Calvi to wear during the May 2011 US tour.
The fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
has said he is a fan of her music, and has photographed Calvi for the Maison Michel Fall Winter 2011 lookbook.
Sir Paul Smith
Paul Smith (fashion designer)
Sir Paul Smith jr, RDI, is an English fashion designer, whose business and reputation is founded upon his menswear. He is both commercially successful and highly respected within the fashion industry....
photographed Calvi for the cover of L'Express Styles.
Calvi was invited on the Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
table for the Amfar charity event at Cannes Film Festival 2011.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
BEL (FLA) Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... |
BEL (WAL) Ultratop 40 Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization... |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
IRL Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
NL MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
GRE IFPI Greece International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Greece or IFPI Greece is the Greek branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and is the official charts provider and recording sales certification body for Greece. Currently two charts are compiled, one for sales of... |
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| 2011 | Anna Calvi Anna Calvi (album) -Chart performance:...
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40 | 33 | 9 | 36 | 17 | 72 | 68 | 55 | 40 | 93 | 30 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Jezebel Jezebel (song) "Jezebel" is a 1951 popular song written by Wayne Shanklin. It was recorded by Frankie Laine with the Norman Luboff Choir and Mitch Miller and his orchestra on April 4, 1951 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39367... / Moulinette"
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non-album track |
| 2011 | "Blackout / Surrender Surrender (Elvis Presley song) "Surrender" is a #1 song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It is an adaptation by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman of the music of a 1902 Neapolitan ballad by Giambattista and Ernesto de Curtis entitled "Torna a Surriento" . It hit number one in the US and UK in 1961... " |
Anna Calvi |
| "Desire / Joan of Arc Joan of Arc (Leonard Cohen song) "Joan of Arc" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. It was released as a single in March 1971 from his third album, Songs of Love and Hate... " |
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| "Suzanne and I" / Baby It's You Baby It's You "Baby It's You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach , and Luther Dixon and Mack David . It was recorded by The Shirelles and The Beatles, and became hits for both... " |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organisation | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | BBC Sound of 2011 Sound of... (BBC poll) Sound of... is an annual poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. It was first conducted by the BBC News website in 2003. A top 10 list is published each January.-Winners:-Sound of 2009:... |
Anna Calvi | Sound of 2011 | |
| 2011 | Mercury Prize Mercury Prize The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British... |
Anna Calvi | Best Album | |
| 2011 | UK Festival Awards UK Festival Awards The UK Festival Awards are awarded annually, with various categories for all aspects of festivals that have taken place in the UK, and one category for European festivals. The Awards were first established in 2004, and are produced by Virtual Festivals.com. They are voted for by the public via the... |
Anna Calvi | Best Breakthrough Artist | |
| 2012 | Eurosonic Noorderslag Eurosonic Noorderslag In 2011 Eurosonic Noorderslag presented Eurosonic Air, a free stage at the market square in Groningen, to celebrate its 25th birthday. The line-up consisted of amongst others Caro Emerald, Racoon and Kraak & Smaak. Every year the organization chooses one country as focus country highlighted during... |
Anna Calvi | European Border Breaker Award (UK) |