ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: ANNALÉ

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: ANNALÉ

Finding a sultry Neo-Soul songstress who looks up to the likes of Erykah Badu and Lalah Hathaway is about as difficult as finding a palm tree in Los Angeles – they’re everywhere you look. But a Korean-American Neo-Soul songstress who’s classically trained and has already performed with R&B legends before her debut album has even been released is truly something special.

Meet Annalé…

Born to classical musicians in South Korea, Annalé grew up in homes in New Jersey and Los Angeles that were filled with music. “My parents really helped me develop a classical music theory foundation,” she said.  “But when I went to Berklee, I discovered artists like Musiq Soulchild, Lalah Hathaway and Erykah Badu. That’s when everything changed.”

For five years, Annalé braved the harsh Boston winters honing her skills as a songwriter, arranger and producer at the prestigious Berkelee College of Music. And while pursuing a double major in production and performance, she developed her signature singing style: an eclectic blend of R&B and soul mixed with elements of pop.

“I’m not a strictly Neo-Soul artist. I love mixing an Old School vibe with contemporary styles,” she said.

Armed with a formal education and experience in all facets of making music, the obvious next step was straight to the studio.  But featuring one of the most recognizable and beloved voices in R&B history on her debut project was a move that even Annalé didn’t see coming.

“I have a very low alto, and he has a pretty high voice, so my team thought it would be a good match,” Annalé told us.

The “match” she was referring to resulted into a collaboration with R&B veteran singer and producer Stokley Williams of the award-winning band Mint Condition.  As Mint Condition’s lead vocalist and percussionist, Stokley Williams has been behind the scenes, and front and center, on some of the most beloved ballads of the 1990’s.  The magic he brought to Annalé’s debut album is clearly evident on their duet “Back of My Hand” which he produced and performed with Annalé onstage in LA at the 43rd Annual Korean Festival.

“It was so much fun and I was really honored to work with him,” Annalé shared. “I’m really grateful that Stokley liked my voice and was willing to perform with me.  We had a really good vibe and I even taught him some Korean!”

Annalé is set to release her self-titled debut album featuring the cut with Stokley Williams in early 2017, and fans in the Washington, D.C. area have gotten to see her perform live  throughout the month of February.

Check out the video for her current single, “Roses,” which is making all kinds of beautiful noise on MTV.com, Billboard.com and iTunes here: http://smarturl.it/Roses-Single-iTunes.

And to keep up with Annalé online, please visit:

www.annalemusic.com

https://twitter.com/annalemusic

https://www.facebook.com/Officialannalemusic

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