Annie: DJ and Pop Star
Norway's Version of Kylie Minogue Transforms Pop Music
Anne Lilia Berge-Strand was born in Tronheim, Norway on November 21, 1978. She is now known professionally as Annie. A bonafide star in Norway, her music has slowly but surely been winning over audiences all over the world.
On the verge of releasing her second album, Annie presents a distinctive and difficult challenge for herself and for her fans. She is a pop star but she is also a DJ, so she makes fluffy, sweet, charming music that is also cool. In fact, much of her success has been critical and her fanbase is made up of people who typically shun pop stars. So just who is this "dynamic new presence" as some in the music industry have termed Annie?
Annie and DJ Erot
After finishing high school, Annie moved to Bergen, Norway's second largest city. Bergen has a high student population and a virbant music scene ( Kings of Convenience, Sondre Lerche, Royskopp and Datarock all originated in Bergen) and here Annie began to DJ and become involved in the music scene.
One night, Annie met legendary local DJ/producer Tore Andreas Kroknes (DJ Erot) and both creative and romantic sparks flew. In 1999, Annie and DJ Erot released a song they had written and recorded together. The single was called 'Greatest Hit' and featured a sample of Madonna's 1982 debut single 'Everybody'. Limited pressings of 'Greatest Hit' sold out quickly and the track soon became an underground club hit.
The success of 'Greatest Hit' drew the attention of record labels, and Annie was offered a number of contracts. She set to work on the album, recording with Tore until he begame extremely ill. Born with a degenerative heart condition, he began to fade quickly and died in April 2001. He was 23.
Anniemal
Annie struggled after Tore's death but in it also found the strength and inspiration to return to DJing and in time finished her album, knowing he'd want her to.
Anniemal was released in 2003 on the UK's 679 Recordings and the critical buzz around it was immediate. The first single was NME Single of the Week 'Chewing Gum' which reached #25 in the UK. The album's second single 'Heartbeat' was named as the influential music website Pitchfork Media's #1 single of 2004 ('Chewing Gum' ranked #11).
Pitchfork's Scott Plagenhoef said this about 'Heartbeat': "a deceptively simple and surprisingly beautiful articulation of basic human need, beautifully encapsulating every element of human excitement-- guilt, nerves, excitement, hope."
Annie's electro-pop sound is a blend of 80s-references and in contrast to the lighthearted danceability it carries a simplicity and melancholy. Her voice is delicate and sweet and her lyrics carry a genuine weight, despite the lightness of the music.
Anniemal was embraced by mainstream music publications such as Pitchfork and NME and its singles were played on dancefloors around the world. Comparison were made between Annie and another reigning dancefloor diva; Annie became known as the Scandinavian Kylie Minogue or "the Kylie Minogue it's cool to like".
Norway's Cool-Pop Poster Girl
In the years following the release of Anniemal, Annie toured as both a performer and a DJ excessively. A shy performer, she finds comfort in being in a DJ booth, a stark contrast from many flashy pop stars but this trait only endears her more to her fans.
But mainstream success has proven to be elusive. Today's pop charts are saturated with a lot of flash and little substance, it's no wonder many music fans have written pop music off. Annie and her music stand apart; she's a pop singer with indie credibility.
I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me
In July 2008, the first single from Annie's second album will be released. Entitled 'I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me' it is a glimpse at what can be expected from Don't Stop, which will be released in September of 2008.
From the sounds of it, Annie is determined to continue to challenge what it means to be a pop star. In a recent interview with a british newspaper, she had this to say: ""The album works against itself. I like there to be two things happening at once; pop and cool, happy and sad."
