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Hailing from Woking in Surrey comes a sensual, playful and feisty young singer songwriter, Anna Neale. Anna has performed her unique acoustic rock (or ‘sex folk’ as dubbed by the national Canadian press!) with gutsy vocals across the UK, Canada, USA and Ireland, attracting the attention of an increasing number of fans with her live, TV and radio appearances.
After touring as a member of the Dublin soul band The Commitments Anna’s move to become a performer in her own right has seen her take her career to a new level, showcasing at Manchester’s renowned In The City, and has become a regular main stage performer at the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
In 2005 Anna continued to expand her horizons with a Borders Bookstore and UK tour, a radio showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and a showcase at NEMO Music Festival in Boston USA. Anna’s Boston appearances resulted in her track All For Nothing topping the NEMO Starbucks download charts across the whole of New England.
2006 saw Anna performing the sell out BPI showcase as part of Canada’s NXNE festival where she was the highest rated solo artist. Part of her Canadian tour saw her writing and recording with Justin Gray (Joss Stone, Emma Bunton) and John Wozniak (Marcy's Playground).
Anna is one of twenty-four acts through to the finals of MTV’s 2008 ‘Get Seen, Get Heard’ competition where her interview and song (recently filmed live at 'Bed' in her home town) ‘Soul Momma’ will be receiving regular play on various MTV channels across the UK over the next few months. Anna will also be re-visiting Toronto to headline the world renowned Canadian Music Week festival (CMW).
Her new EP ‘Handle With Care', released in June 2007, is a taster from her forthcoming album currently in production with engineer/programmer/producer Jez Larder (Estelle, Amy MacDonald, The Flamming Monkeys) and Dean James (Nitin Sawhney, Sugababes, Duran Duran).
"Unlike the typical fare of thin, airy-voiced female folksters, Neale surprises by breaking away from the pack with a gutsy vocal style that’s both sensual and soulful." Metro, Toronto, CA
" A sassy songstress with a shrewd observational eye which she uses to great effect in her melodic tales of life and love."Linda Serck, BBC Berkshire
"At certain points Neale looked like what Christina Aguilera would look like if she could write songs and play the guitar." Chart Attack, Canada
www.youtube.com/annaneale
www.myspace.com/annanealeacousticrock
www.annaneale.net
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The Mag Review: Anna Neale - Handle With Care
8/10 - A must-listen.
Anna Neale has been perfecting her acoustic rock sound for a while now and this EP suggests it's a job well done!
'Not Made For This' is such a firey pop-rock track, it can't fail to impress. It's got a massive chorus and the whole song is washed in Anna's luscious voice. If you didn't check your details, you might think she was just the good looks and special vocal in front of a writing team and session band, but you're actually dealing with a genuine artistic songwriting talent, not a conveyor-belt package.
Things are softer and more vulnerable for 'Handle With Care', a teary-eyed break-up song. It maintains enough of a beat to avoid intraverted agony and the vocal is so sweet it transforms the entire song.
'Soul Mamma' picks things up with lounge-pop grooves before 'Life Is Good' supplies some total positive chillout.
This is a great record. It's got a radio edit of 'Not Made...', without the naughty words and a remix of 'Soul Mamma' and it hits all the right spots. It has some instant hooks and some growers to catch you later on.
Written By: Saur
Date: 03/11/2007
www.the-mag.me.uk
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