Just me most of the time, on piano and vocals. On this recording of Lonesome, Brad Albetta plays the double bass.
Influences
People, places, love and loss, my amazing family, and so many wonderful musicians including Brad Albetta, Joni Mitchel, Tori Amos, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor, Iron and Wine, Bob Dylan, Nerina Pallot, Shawn Colvin, Kate Bush, Imogen Heap, Hem, Teddy Thompson, Johnny Cash, Sarah McLachlan, Lindsay West, Jewel, Alana Sweetwater, Tom Petty, Beth Orton, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, The Rolling Stones, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Kate Bush, Bonnie Raitt, Ludovico Einaudi, Frederic Chopin, Rob St. John, Amy Duncan, Emiliana Torrini, The Beatles, The Travelling Wilburies, Belle and Sebastian, Frightened Rabbit, Jenny Lewis and so many more!
Anna has been playing the piano and experimenting with music for as long as she can remember, and she loves it more than anything. From growing up in the small town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders, and then studying music at Edinburgh University where she became established on the live music scene, she has come a long way both with her music and also geographically - currently living in Brooklyn, NYC where she moved in June 08 primarily to record her second album with local producer Brad Albetta. (Husband and current producer of Martha Wainwright, as well as owner and producer at Monkeyboy Studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn).
Her music is heavily piano based, as she has been playing the piano since she was 7 years old, and is influenced by many things. She writes about anything that moves her or that she strongly believes in, as well as all those feelings and thoughts on life and love. Her music encompasses a fusion of various genres including early jazz, folk and acoustic, with many of her own stylistic features thrown into the mix! Comparisons have been drawn to such recording artists as Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Tori Amos and Regina Spektor which illustrates the diversity and rich influential mix which emanates from her musical spirit.”
.
A
4 track EP, titled Call Signs, it provides the perfect introduction to
the band prior to the release of their debut album, Grappling Hooks, in
early 2010.
See you're busy gigging. This is good. I'm about to enter my fourth year (!) with Blue Wednesday at the Forest Cafe and I'm booked through to March next year with some amazing acts. If you're ever back in Scotland let me know as I'd love to have you play BW again. Brings a tear to my eye to think about it. All the best.
i'm hitting the states early next year for some gigs if all goes to plan. are you still gonna be in NYC? we can hook up for deli subs and cwaffee and other american type things :-)
Thank you for the note, of course I'll have you do a circle. It's actually New York Songwriter's Circle - Philly, World Cafe Live. And yes, I'll help you out however I can. You have a wonderful voice.
North Atlantic Oscillation's "Hollywood Has Ended", from the forthcoming album Grappling Hooks, is featured in this month's Police Box compilation from TenTracks. It's here:
In case you haven't heard, TenTracks is a new music delivery service where you can buy exclusive 10-track compilations for £1, i.e. a mere 10p per track.
This month NAO are in the illustrious company of the excellent Found, Orkestra Del Sol, Fence Collective luminaries James Yorkston and King Creosote and exactly 5 others. Once again, that's £1 for ALL TEN TRACKS. Not bad, really.
Also I run The Great Edinburgh Run to help send Finola Forman to college as the government in Scotland unlike the rest of the UK wont help disabled people with complex needs when they want to go into further education, check out her site at
Good luck at the Cafe Vivaldi gig on Wednesday. It's a lovely wee place. Good coffee, too. If I'm not mistaken, I think the street Cafe Vivaldi is on was the street that was used for the cover of Bob Dylan's 'Freewheelin' album.