|
|
|
|
Born in Praia, Santiago--the capital of
the unspoiled islands off the
coast of West Africa-- this
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 to 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. |
|
|
