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Born in Praia, Santiago, the capital of the unspoiled islands off the
coast of West Africa, the songstress’ Cape Verde prides itself on its African, Portuguese, Mediterranean, and Latin-American customs and
traditions. It is no wonder that Anané has been blessed with a deep
connection with her own rich history and an immeasurable global understanding
of music. “My aunts and uncles were known as the Xalinos [their family
name.] They made most of the musical instruments on the island, such as
guitars, violins, and the uncommon Cavaqinho, a small four-string guitar”,
explains Anané. On the weekends, her family would host the traditional
Serenada, a gathering of people who sang and danced to the music of the
island. It was during this time in her childhood that Anané realized the
beginnings of her extraordinary vocal prowess.
After immigrating to Rhode Island with her family, Anané was able to expand on
her musical interests from the island sounds of Cape Verde to the truly diverse and soulful sounds of America. She has been musically influenced by the artists
she grew up listening to, including a wide range of classic and contemporary
vocalists such as: Gal Costa, Tito Paris, Sade, and Jill Scott. “Jill
Scott is my greatest inspiration, musically and lyrically. She is just an all around real woman,” professes
the singer/songwriter. As a result, she has been able to enjoy an
eclectic legacy of performers who continually not only impact their listeners
but other artists as well, over time.
Taking her cues from these
individuals, Anané began singing in her own musical group, 2 Each Her Own, by
the time she was a teen. “I was in a girl group and we performed in the Rhode Island and Boston area”, she happily reminisces. “I had
always wanted to be involved in the entertainment business, whether it was in
modeling, dancing, or singing.” Anané represented the United States and
won the Miss Cape Verde pageant and later won the Miss Portugal title,
representing her home state of Rhode Island. Anané has also taken the modeling world
by storm, being featured in such magazines as Latina, Mode, and Ulla Popkens,
along with featuring in a major campaign for Revlon. However, Anané’s
multifaceted talents do not simply end with modeling. She has been designing and sewing her own clothing
and coordinating various fashion shows, for years. Her vast involvement
in the entertainment industry has also catapulted her into the music video
realm, being featured as a dancer for such artists as: Redman, Erik Sermon,
Byron Stingily, and Keith Murray. Indeed, her experiences as a young
world ambassador and performer provided her with the opportunity to travel and
begin sharing her extraordinary talents with the world.
DJ/Producer Louie Vega
confesses that “for the past six years, Anané has been my secret weapon
muse.” It is no surprise that Anané’s inclusion in Louie Vega’s new
ground-breaking musical project, Elements of Life, was a natural fit and
obvious choice. Utilizing various sounds and instruments, along with her sultry
lyrics in Cape Verdian, Portuguese, and French, the music on Elements
of Life has been seamlessly blended to truly elevate, enlighten, and even
surprise you. Sharing from her thoughts on this project, Anané
says, “It has been one of the most incredible experiences in my life.
Working with Louie Vega…he has this acoustic vision, which is hard to
explain…but as each day passed and as we collaborated, little by little, a song
came together, like a painting or a poem. We just let it flow
freely. In the end, we created something that came from deep within our
souls…a story that explains what we are feeling at this moment in time, love,
and life.”
Anticipation is building on
her future projects as she begins yet another chapter in her musical journey
with the upcoming release of her first solo album in 2005. Anané will
undoubtedly impact all audiences with her lasting impression and in turn,
influence the direction of tomorrow’s music, its artists, and the entertainment
industry as a whole. She is humbly blessed with a beautiful gift of
song with an uncommon versatility to create fresh and timeless music stemming
from the beats, sounds and emotions of her heart and soul. Anané is a
true musical entrepreneur, who will continue to bring the joy of song to us for
many years to come. |
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