 |
||
Born in the Cape Verdean capital, Praia on the island Santiago, Anané has been blessed with a deep connection with her own rich history and an immeasurable understanding of music. The unspoiled island chain off the coast of West Africa, prides itself on its African, Portuguese, Mediterranean, and Latin-American customs and traditions. “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 her homeland to the truly diverse and soulful sounds of America. In her early teens she began singing in her own musical group 2 Each Her Own. Few years after, approached by a pageant scout, Anané was invited to participate in the “Miss Portugal” contest, where she won the crown representing her home state, RI. That was only the beginning; she later won the title “Miss Cape Verde USA”. Both these triumphant wins, brought Anané back to her countries she once called “home”. As a result, she had the opportunity to perform for over 10,000 people, at “Baia Das Gatas”, Cape Verde’s biggest yearly music festival. Her vast involvement in worldly pageants, dance, music and theatre, catapulted her in a successful modeling career in which she appeared in magazines from the likes of Latina, Mode, and Ulla Popkens along with a major feature for Revlon. But the music appeal was too strong, and Anané worked hard until she finally met latin house master Louie Vega who introduced her in the prestigious Elements Of Life project. Ananè soon became the natural solo voice of EOL band and nothing would ever be the same, as she explains: Since 2003 Anané along with Louie Vega and its accompanying EOL band continue to showcase live on the most prestigious stages and festivals on all ends of the world. From Japan’s own magnificent and jazz world renowned Blue Note to Europe’s most accredited Montreux Jazz festival - Switzerland, Pori Jazz – Finland, North Sea Jazz Festival-Holland and Womad Festival- UK owned by Peter Gabriel. Back in the States Anané and the EOL band performed for the grand opening of Cirque Du Soleil’s KA in Las Vegas as well as LA’s famous House of Blues not forgetting the recent performance at Superbowl mentioned earlier. And we are back to the present... With a series of successful 12” Ananè built up a cult fan-base that established her as one of the most meaningful voices in soulful and latin house. Thanks to her ability to play with music genres Anané is always able to donate a special feeling to every track she works on, even when she is dealing with cover versions. Just think about the fresh reworking of the 70's disco classic by Bunny Mack’s “Let Me Love You”, her personal revision of “Stand in Line”, the underground hidden classic by all female garage band ESG, or her intense version of "Walking On Thin Ice" by Yoko Ono. Not just simple cover versions, no shortcuts but a genuine new approach, guided by a recognizable artistic need. Anané has been very busy in the last few years recording her debut album “Selections” with a lot of ground breaking producers and artists such as Masters at Work, Mr. V, Blaze, Dimitri From Paris, Louie “Lou” Gorbea, Bob Sinclar, Dennis Ferrer, Duane Harden and Da Groove Doctors and of course EOL amazing musicians like Luisito Quintero (percussion), Mike Ciro (guitar) Gerard Snell (drums) and Gene Perez (bass). |
||