Anne Lilia Berge Strand
Encyclopedia
Anne Lilia Berge Strand (born 21 November 1978), better known by her stage name
Annie, is a Norwegian recording artist and DJ
. Annie began her recording career in 1999 with the underground hit single "The Greatest Hit
" and gained international acclaim, particularly from music bloggers, for her debut album Anniemal
(2004).
After completing secondary school, Annie started DJing in Bergen
, where she met house producer and future boyfriend Tore Kroknes. In 1999, Annie and Kroknes released the single "The Greatest Hit", which sold out in two days and became popular in Norwegian and British nightclubs. Before Annie and Kroknes could release an album, Kroknes died from a congenital heart defect in 2001. Annie went on to sign a record deal with Britain's 679 Recordings in 2003, releasing her debut album Anniemal in 2004, for which she received widespread critical acclaim and several Norwegian music awards.
Annie has been praised for her unique, "indie" style of electropop and synthpop
music and has been described as "a pop singer with credibility, an indie artist with one eye on the dancefloor", and "the Kylie
it's cool to like". Annie describes her music as "pop with strange edges."
Annie released her second studio album, Don't Stop
, on the Smalltown Supersound
label on 19 October 2009. Annie currently lives in Berlin
.
, Norway and was raised in the coastal town of Kristiansand
. Annie's father, a church organ player, died of cancer when Annie was 7. After a series of moves, Annie and her mother, a teacher of English and religion, moved to Norway's second largest city Bergen
when Annie was 13. By this time, Annie sang in choirs.
At age 16, Annie and a group of friends formed Suitcase, an indie rock
band. Suitcase only performed once, before a panel of judges for a music competition where they did not reach the finals. A few years after Suitcase's inception, Annie left the band when "the other members wanted to make trip hop."
Annie attended secondary school until around 1997, when she began to DJ
around Bergen, getting acquainted with members of the Bergen music scene. During this time she met producer Mikal Tellé, owner of the Bergen-based Tellé record label
, and Norwegian house
producer Tore Andreas Kroknes, known professionally as DJ Erot.
's song "Everybody" for Kroknes, who was experiencing a creative block at the time. Kroknes sampled the song, and Annie started to sing a melody to it. They recorded and released the song under the Tellé label. The song saw a limited release of 500 7-inch singles, which sold out in two days. "Greatest Hit" became an underground club hit in Norway and Britain, and Annie received offers for record contracts. Annie reflects that she and Kroknes had recorded the song "for fun", but with the success of the single, Annie says, "I realized that I could actually make a living out of this."
Annie and Kroknes made plans to release an album and began recording "I Will Get On" in 2000. However, Kroknes, who was born with a degenerative heart condition, fell ill near the end of 2000 and was hospitalized repeatedly. In April 2001, Kroknes died of complications from his heart condition at the age of 23.
After a hiatus from music, Annie returned to DJing and songwriting in late 2001, running a club night called Pop Till You Drop at the Agora nightclub in Bergen with DJ friend Fröken Blytt. Among the music acts booked for Pop Till You Drop were Peaches, DJ Adam Mac, and Finnish DJ Timo Kaukolampi of Op:l Bastards
. Annie later DJed at Kaukolampi's own night club in Helsinki
and lent her vocals to some Op:l Bastards tracks.
to record vocals for the track "Just Friends" on Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
, released in August 2003. In return, he and Hannah Robinson
co-wrote "Chewing Gum" and "Me Plus One" for Annie. Annie and Richard X continued to work together, releasing the single "Chewing Gum" in Annie's name in September 2004. The track was named single of the week by NME
soon after its release, and charted in the UK at number 25.
Later that year, Annie released her debut CD Anniemal
, collaborating with Timo Kaukolampi, Richard X, and fellow Norwegians Röyksopp
. The album featured "The Greatest Hit", "Chewing Gum", and the album's second single "Heartbeat
". The song, produced by Röyksopp, was voted number one in Pitchfork Media
's Top 50 Singles of 2004 list, before the song was officially released. "Chewing Gum" took the number 11 spot on that same list. "Heartbeat" was remixed by Canadian electronic duo MSTRKRFT
in 2005.
In 2005, Annie won several awards for her work, including Best Pop Album and Best Newcomer at the Norwegian Alarm Awards. "Chewing Gum" had also been nominated for Song of the Year. In addition, Annie won the Best Newcomer award at the prestigious Spellemannprisen
. Annie's February 5 performance at the Alarm Awards was one of the first live performances of her solo career.
Annie toured around the world in 2005 to promote Anniemal, including a brief stint opening for Saint Etienne
, to whom she had sent a demo tape
while still in Suitcase in 1996. Annie performed at sold out club venues in the United States in 2005, and returned to the US later that year.
In 2005, Annie released a DJ mix album as part of !K7
's DJ-Kicks
series. Around this time, she began a record label called Totally, with Timo Kaukolampi, and planned to release a 12" single with Datarock. She also provided vocals for the Teddybears track "Yours to Keep" as well as the Ercola track "Follow Me", and re-recorded her songs "Chewing Gum" and "Heartbeat" in Simlish
for The Sims 2: Nightlife
s Danish and Norwegian localizations.
, owned by Universal Music Group
. She had planned to release her second album, Don't Stop
, in September 2008, preceded by the Richard X-produced single "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me
", after she finished touring on the Popjustice Wonky Pop Tour. In November 2008, Annie announced that due to internal problems within the label, she had decided to part ways with Island Records; in interviews following the eventual release of Don't Stop, Annie explained that her original A&R agent at the label, Nick Gatfield, left to join EMI UK, and Annie left the label because her new agent was not enthusiastic about her work. Although this left her second album's future uncertain, she retained legal control over the songs she recorded during her contracted period with the label. Verdens Gang
suggested that the split with the label was precipitated by the poor chart performance of "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me", which charted at number fifty-four in the UK. Don't Stop leaked in its original incarnation in 2008.
After her departure from Island Records, Annie released a new single, "Anthonio
", via producer Richard X's Pleasure Masters label in May 2009. The song tells the story of a holiday affair between Annie and the title character; Annie described the song as "the ultimate summer track".
In August 2009, Pitchfork announced that Don't Stop would be released via independent label
Smalltown Supersound
and Annie's own label Totally Records. It came out in the UK on 19 October 2009 and in the U.S. on 17 November. Don't Stop includes collaborations with former collaborators Richard X and Timo Kaukolampi, as well as British producers Xenomania
and Paul Epworth
. The album's release was preceded by two digital singles: "Songs Remind Me of You
", a Richard X production, and "My Love Is Better
", which was produced by Xenomania and features guitar from Alex Kapranos
of Franz Ferdinand
. The latter initially featured backing vocals by British pop group Girls Aloud
, but their record label intervened.
Annie co-wrote Mini Viva
's debut single "Left My Heart in Tokyo
", released in September 2009 and produced by Xenomania.
at Xenomania's studios in Kent
, England
. As of late 2010, she had had sessions with Australian producer Donnie Sloan (who has worked as a bassist for Sneaky Sound System
and written/produced the bulk of Empire of the Sun
's Walking on a Dream
) and contributed vocals to a track by Designer Drugs, "Crazy for You" for their debut album Hardcore/Softcore, released on February 2011. The duo had previously remixed her track "Anthonio". As of the first half of 2011, according to her personal facebook, she has had sessions with Timo Kaukolampi, German techno producers ND Baumecker and Sam Barker and Norwegian DJ and producer Skatebard. She contributed vocals to the track "Alien Summer" by French electro producer the Toxic Avenger, featured in their album Angst which was released on May 16. She also announced via her personal twitter that she had been working on music for a film called The Night Within, in which she is also set to act and sing.
and Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block
. Joey died on 29 January 2010. Annie is an avid reader and follows global politics. She is friends with musician Peaches
. Her musical influences include Madonna
, Saint Etienne
, the Pet Shop Boys
, and Kate Bush
. She has a green belt in karate.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Annie, is a Norwegian recording artist and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
. Annie began her recording career in 1999 with the underground hit single "The Greatest Hit
Greatest Hit (Annie song)
In 1999, Mikal Tellé, Annie's friend and neighbour, issued a limited edition 7-inch single of "The Greatest Hit" under his label Tellé Records. The release sold out in two days, and track became an underground hit in nightclubs in Norway and Britain, resulting in offers for record deals...
" and gained international acclaim, particularly from music bloggers, for her debut album Anniemal
Anniemal
Anniemal is the debut album of Norwegian electropop singer Annie. It was first released by 679 Recordings in September 2004. Annie began recording music in 1999 with her boyfriend, Tore Kroknes, who died in 2001...
(2004).
After completing secondary school, Annie started DJing in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, where she met house producer and future boyfriend Tore Kroknes. In 1999, Annie and Kroknes released the single "The Greatest Hit", which sold out in two days and became popular in Norwegian and British nightclubs. Before Annie and Kroknes could release an album, Kroknes died from a congenital heart defect in 2001. Annie went on to sign a record deal with Britain's 679 Recordings in 2003, releasing her debut album Anniemal in 2004, for which she received widespread critical acclaim and several Norwegian music awards.
Annie has been praised for her unique, "indie" style of electropop and synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
music and has been described as "a pop singer with credibility, an indie artist with one eye on the dancefloor", and "the Kylie
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
it's cool to like". Annie describes her music as "pop with strange edges."
Annie released her second studio album, Don't Stop
Don't Stop (Annie album)
Don't Stop is the second studio album by Norwegian recording artist Annie. Originally intended for a 2008 release on UK-based Island Records, the planned release date was pushed back...
, on the Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound is an independent record label based in Oslo, Norway, and dedicated to new forms of jazz, rock and electronic music.Their catalog features albums by Annie, Jaga Jazzist, 120 Days, Mental Overdrive, Bjørn Torske, Mats Gustafsson and Sonic Youth, amongst others.In 2004, the...
label on 19 October 2009. Annie currently lives in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Early life
Annie was born in 1978 TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Norway and was raised in the coastal town of Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
. Annie's father, a church organ player, died of cancer when Annie was 7. After a series of moves, Annie and her mother, a teacher of English and religion, moved to Norway's second largest city Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
when Annie was 13. By this time, Annie sang in choirs.
At age 16, Annie and a group of friends formed Suitcase, an indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band. Suitcase only performed once, before a panel of judges for a music competition where they did not reach the finals. A few years after Suitcase's inception, Annie left the band when "the other members wanted to make trip hop."
Annie attended secondary school until around 1997, when she began to DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
around Bergen, getting acquainted with members of the Bergen music scene. During this time she met producer Mikal Tellé, owner of the Bergen-based Tellé record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, and Norwegian house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
producer Tore Andreas Kroknes, known professionally as DJ Erot.
1999–2002: Greatest Hit
Annie and Kroknes became romantically involved, and began to collaborate musically. Annie's talent for writing melodies and vocals worked well with Kroknes's production skills. Annie launched her solo singing career in 1999 with the single "Greatest Hit". The song was recorded after Annie played MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's song "Everybody" for Kroknes, who was experiencing a creative block at the time. Kroknes sampled the song, and Annie started to sing a melody to it. They recorded and released the song under the Tellé label. The song saw a limited release of 500 7-inch singles, which sold out in two days. "Greatest Hit" became an underground club hit in Norway and Britain, and Annie received offers for record contracts. Annie reflects that she and Kroknes had recorded the song "for fun", but with the success of the single, Annie says, "I realized that I could actually make a living out of this."
Annie and Kroknes made plans to release an album and began recording "I Will Get On" in 2000. However, Kroknes, who was born with a degenerative heart condition, fell ill near the end of 2000 and was hospitalized repeatedly. In April 2001, Kroknes died of complications from his heart condition at the age of 23.
After a hiatus from music, Annie returned to DJing and songwriting in late 2001, running a club night called Pop Till You Drop at the Agora nightclub in Bergen with DJ friend Fröken Blytt. Among the music acts booked for Pop Till You Drop were Peaches, DJ Adam Mac, and Finnish DJ Timo Kaukolampi of Op:l Bastards
Op:l Bastards
Op:l Bastards was formed by Timo Kaukolampi , Vilunki 3000 and Tuomo Puranen from Helsinki, Finland. Kaukolampi and Vilunki had earlier on played in the garage rock band Larry and the Lefthanded...
. Annie later DJed at Kaukolampi's own night club in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and lent her vocals to some Op:l Bastards tracks.
2003-2005: Anniemal
Annie was signed to Britain's 679 Recordings label in March 2003. Annie recorded the track "Kiss Me" with Kaukolampi, and was approached by Richard XRichard X
Richard Philips, best known by his stage name Richard X, is a British songwriter and music producer. Gaining attention as a pioneer of the bootleg craze, Richard X has earned success as a producer and remixer. He has helmed hit singles for artists including Annie, Kelis, Liberty X, Rachel Stevens...
to record vocals for the track "Just Friends" on Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1 is the debut compilation album by British pop producer Richard X. The album features 15 tracks all produced by Richard X, most of which feature guest vocals....
, released in August 2003. In return, he and Hannah Robinson
Hannah Robinson
Hannah Robinson is a British songwriter. Her best known compositions include the "Some Girls", a UK #2 for British pop star Rachel Stevens and Ladyhawke's "My Delirium". She also a vocalist and in 2006 achieved a #1 on the U.S...
co-wrote "Chewing Gum" and "Me Plus One" for Annie. Annie and Richard X continued to work together, releasing the single "Chewing Gum" in Annie's name in September 2004. The track was named single of the week by 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...
soon after its release, and charted in the UK at number 25.
Anniemal
Anniemal is the debut album of Norwegian electropop singer Annie. It was first released by 679 Recordings in September 2004. Annie began recording music in 1999 with her boyfriend, Tore Kroknes, who died in 2001...
, collaborating with Timo Kaukolampi, Richard X, and fellow Norwegians Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
. The album featured "The Greatest Hit", "Chewing Gum", and the album's second single "Heartbeat
Heartbeat (Annie song)
"Heartbeat" is a pop song written by Röyksopp and Norwegian singer Annie for Annie's 2004 debut album Anniemal. It was released with the title "My Heart Beat" as the album's second single in November 2004 . The lyrics of "Heartbeat" describe finding new love at a nightclub, surrounded by close...
". The song, produced by Röyksopp, was voted number one in Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's Top 50 Singles of 2004 list, before the song was officially released. "Chewing Gum" took the number 11 spot on that same list. "Heartbeat" was remixed by Canadian electronic duo MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto, Ontario. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P formerly of the Mississauga, Ontario electropop group Girlsareshort...
in 2005.
In 2005, Annie won several awards for her work, including Best Pop Album and Best Newcomer at the Norwegian Alarm Awards. "Chewing Gum" had also been nominated for Song of the Year. In addition, Annie won the Best Newcomer award at the prestigious Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen is an award presented to Norwegian musicians for their contributions.-Operation:The award was established on the initiative of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide...
. Annie's February 5 performance at the Alarm Awards was one of the first live performances of her solo career.
Annie toured around the world in 2005 to promote Anniemal, including a brief stint opening for Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne (band)
Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...
, to whom she had sent a demo tape
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
while still in Suitcase in 1996. Annie performed at sold out club venues in the United States in 2005, and returned to the US later that year.
In 2005, Annie released a DJ mix album as part of !K7
Studio !K7
Studio !K7 is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany that focuses mostly on electronic music. The name is an abbreviation of the company's original Berlin address, Kaiserdamm 7 . !K7 has since opened branch offices in New York City, Hamburg, London, and Tokyo.It has four independent...
's DJ-Kicks
DJ-Kicks
DJ-Kicks is a series of DJ mix albums, mixed by various artists for the independent record label !K7 Records.-History:...
series. Around this time, she began a record label called Totally, with Timo Kaukolampi, and planned to release a 12" single with Datarock. She also provided vocals for the Teddybears track "Yours to Keep" as well as the Ercola track "Follow Me", and re-recorded her songs "Chewing Gum" and "Heartbeat" in Simlish
Simlish
Simlish is a fictional language featured in EA Games' Sim series of games. It debuted in SimCopter, and has been especially prominent in The Sims, The Sims 2 and The Sims 3. The Sims development team created the unique Simlish language by experimenting with fractured Ukrainian, French, Latin,...
for The Sims 2: Nightlife
The Sims 2: Nightlife
The Sims 2: Nightlife is the second expansion pack for The Sims 2, which was released on September 13, 2005 and September 16, 2005 . It was released for Mac OS X on March 27, 2006...
s Danish and Norwegian localizations.
2006–2010: Don't Stop
In January 2007, Annie signed an international deal with Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, owned by Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. She had planned to release her second album, Don't Stop
Don't Stop (Annie album)
Don't Stop is the second studio album by Norwegian recording artist Annie. Originally intended for a 2008 release on UK-based Island Records, the planned release date was pushed back...
, in September 2008, preceded by the Richard X-produced single "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me
I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me
"I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" is an electropop song performed by Norwegian pop singer Annie. It was released on 14 July 2008 as the lead single from her second studio album Don't Stop...
", after she finished touring on the Popjustice Wonky Pop Tour. In November 2008, Annie announced that due to internal problems within the label, she had decided to part ways with Island Records; in interviews following the eventual release of Don't Stop, Annie explained that her original A&R agent at the label, Nick Gatfield, left to join EMI UK, and Annie left the label because her new agent was not enthusiastic about her work. Although this left her second album's future uncertain, she retained legal control over the songs she recorded during her contracted period with the label. Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
suggested that the split with the label was precipitated by the poor chart performance of "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me", which charted at number fifty-four in the UK. Don't Stop leaked in its original incarnation in 2008.
After her departure from Island Records, Annie released a new single, "Anthonio
Anthonio
"Anthonio" is a song by Norwegian recording artist Annie from the special edition bonus disc of her second studio album, Don't Stop . The track was released as a single on 4 May 2009, and marked Annie's debut on the Pleasure Masters label...
", via producer Richard X's Pleasure Masters label in May 2009. The song tells the story of a holiday affair between Annie and the title character; Annie described the song as "the ultimate summer track".
In August 2009, Pitchfork announced that Don't Stop would be released via independent label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound is an independent record label based in Oslo, Norway, and dedicated to new forms of jazz, rock and electronic music.Their catalog features albums by Annie, Jaga Jazzist, 120 Days, Mental Overdrive, Bjørn Torske, Mats Gustafsson and Sonic Youth, amongst others.In 2004, the...
and Annie's own label Totally Records. It came out in the UK on 19 October 2009 and in the U.S. on 17 November. Don't Stop includes collaborations with former collaborators Richard X and Timo Kaukolampi, as well as British producers Xenomania
Xenomania
Xenomania is a British songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins and based in Kent, England. Formed after Higgins met Miranda Cooper, Xenomania has written and produced for renowned artists such as Cher, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, and Sugababes...
and Paul Epworth
Paul Epworth
Paul Epworth is an award-winning British music producer, musician, and songwriter. His production credits include Adele, Cee Lo Green, Florence and the Machine, Plan B, Friendly Fires, Bloc Party, Primal Scream, The Rapture, Jack Peñate, Kate Nash and Maxïmo Park.-Lomax:From 2002-2004 Paul provided...
. The album's release was preceded by two digital singles: "Songs Remind Me of You
Songs Remind Me of You
"Songs Remind Me of You" is a song by Norwegian recording artist Annie from her second studio album, Don't Stop. Written by Richard X and Hannah Robinson, the track was released digitally on 17 August 2009 as the album's lead single.-Background:...
", a Richard X production, and "My Love Is Better
My Love Is Better
"My Love Is Better" is a song by Norwegian singer–songwriter Annie from her second studio album, Don't Stop . Released as the album's second single on 9 October 2009, the track originally had featured backing vocals by Girls Aloud....
", which was produced by Xenomania and features guitar from Alex Kapranos
Alex Kapranos
Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
of Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
. The latter initially featured backing vocals by British pop group Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
, but their record label intervened.
Annie co-wrote Mini Viva
Mini Viva
Mini Viva were an English pop duo formed in 2008 by British songwriting and production team Xenomania. They were managed by 19 Entertainment and signed to Geffen and Polydor Records. Consisting of Frankee Connolly and Britt Love, the duo were due to release their debut album in 2010...
's debut single "Left My Heart in Tokyo
Left My Heart in Tokyo
"Left My Heart in Tokyo" is a song by British girl group Mini Viva, co-written by Norwegian singer Annie and remixer Fred Falke and produced by Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania. The song was released as Mini Viva's debut single in September 2009...
", released in September 2009 and produced by Xenomania.
2010–present: New Album
In October 2010, Xenomania's News Blog reported that Annie was back in the studio recording her follow up to 2009's "Don't Stop". Annie started recording in August 2010 with Brian HigginsBrian Higgins
Brian Higgins is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the southern two-thirds of Buffalo proper, most of that city's eastern and southern suburbs, and all of Chautauqua County.-Early life, education and career:A native of...
at Xenomania's studios in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As of late 2010, she had had sessions with Australian producer Donnie Sloan (who has worked as a bassist for Sneaky Sound System
Sneaky Sound System
Sneaky Sound System are a Sydney-based Australian dance music group consisting of guitarist and producer Black Angus and vocalist Connie Mitchell.-Early Years:...
and written/produced the bulk of Empire of the Sun
Empire of the Sun (band)
Empire of the Sun is an Australian electronic music duo that formed in 2008. The duo is composed of Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau. The two met in 2000 after both being signed to the same record label. Luke and Nick knew that they instantly had a chemistry like no other...
's Walking on a Dream
Walking on a Dream
Walking on a Dream is the debut album by Australian electronic duo Empire of the Sun, released in Australia on 4 October 2008 by EMI. The album was produced by band members Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore along with Peter Mayes....
) and contributed vocals to a track by Designer Drugs, "Crazy for You" for their debut album Hardcore/Softcore, released on February 2011. The duo had previously remixed her track "Anthonio". As of the first half of 2011, according to her personal facebook, she has had sessions with Timo Kaukolampi, German techno producers ND Baumecker and Sam Barker and Norwegian DJ and producer Skatebard. She contributed vocals to the track "Alien Summer" by French electro producer the Toxic Avenger, featured in their album Angst which was released on May 16. She also announced via her personal twitter that she had been working on music for a film called The Night Within, in which she is also set to act and sing.
Personal life
Annie currently lives in Berlin. She owned a cat named Joey, whom she named after both Joey RamoneJoey Ramone
Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
and Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
. Joey died on 29 January 2010. Annie is an avid reader and follows global politics. She is friends with musician Peaches
Peaches (musician)
Merrill Beth Nisker , better known by her stage name Peaches, is a Canadian electronic musician and performance artist who lives in Berlin, Germany. Her songs are noted for disregarding traditional gender norms and their use of sexually explicit lyrics...
. Her musical influences include Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne (band)
Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...
, the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
, and Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
. She has a green belt in karate.
Discography
Studio albums- AnniemalAnniemalAnniemal is the debut album of Norwegian electropop singer Annie. It was first released by 679 Recordings in September 2004. Annie began recording music in 1999 with her boyfriend, Tore Kroknes, who died in 2001...
(2004) - Don't StopDon't Stop (Annie album)Don't Stop is the second studio album by Norwegian recording artist Annie. Originally intended for a 2008 release on UK-based Island Records, the planned release date was pushed back...
(2009)