Annabel Fay has always known she’s wanted to sing. She describes it as her ‘full time love’. Now her rich dulcet tones and original brand of soul-pop and ‘R&B’ fusion are out there for the world to hear on her first single “Lovin You Baby”.
This stand out artist has been itching to perform since she can remember. “My entire life, I’ve wanted to sing. It’s been in my blood since I can remember. When I was little my parents enrolled me in the ‘Mary Poppins’ musical at my school. I was a six year old bird-woman and everyone else in the production was 16!’
This is the kind of characteristic determination that has seen Annabel unleash her vocal gusto and propel the young aspiring singer into a talented songstress who has just finished recording her debut single ‘Lovin You Baby’ and subsequent album.
Annabel describes her first single as “one of the more pop infused tracks on the album, but with an uplifting reggae feel.”
Her sultry voice and vocal maturity made Annabel a natural stand out. She caught the ear of A&R stalwart Tracy Magan, from Siren Records (Goldenhorse, Opshop) who immediately spotted something special about Annabel. This came as a shock to Fay, who had returned home to Auckland to spend time with her family and take a break before attending music school in Chicago. The plans to take up study in September were put on hold indefinitely when she was made an offer that she couldn’t refuse.
Annabel was offered a record deal that would see her working with one of the world’s top producers. Brady Blade is an American who lives in Sweden who can cite Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, Emily Lou Harris and Jewel amongst his colleagues and collaborators.
The decision for Annabel to put her study on hold was not a difficult one. She emits her throaty laugh. “It was pretty simple, I was into it.” We went into the studio (the Lab in Auckland) and recorded the album from February to March It was amazing bunch of people I got to work with. Nick Manders engineered and mixed the second half of the record, and I was able to work with a raft of super talented musician’s. Wherever I’ve gone, people have helped out. At first I found the recording process intimidating, but the more I’ve learnt, the more I love it. It’s fun, and I enjoy it.”
So who influences the girl with a magical voice that sounds well beyond her years”?
“The people whom I love musically are not people that I necessarily sound like! I’m into a whole bunch of different artists. The Notorious BIG is my favourite rapper. I love ‘The Who’. There is no doubt that Diana Ross is a big influence. I grew up with Tina Turner, and I love the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, so yeah, there’s nobody specific that I’m trying to sound like or emulate!
So what makes Fay’s different from other female artists in the market?
“The album is hard to put into a genre. It houses everything from ‘R&B to some soul and pop. There are lots of old samples, including one featuring Winston Churchill. Depending on the track, the general gist of the album is that it’s extremely optimistic, not ‘happy’ but every song has a good message in it, and it’s not, well, it doesn’t aim to depress! I want people to listen to the songs, and really think. I wrote quite a few of the songs, but where I didn’t, I’ve been involved in other ways like helping out with the production. I didn’t want it to be an album where everything was done for me, so what I didn’t know, I learnt. When I went into the studio, it happened really naturally, now I love the process and it’s a great creative outlet for me.
So what now for this star on the rise?
Annabel’s enthusiastic about the amount of time she has been spending in her old home-town. “I’m really happy here, with my friends, hanging out, and most importantly, making music.’
Friends and family are slowly adjusting to having the public know the girl whose been singing in private for her entire life. She smiles. “Everyone I know that I’m close to is excited, and so supportive. I think my flatmates must hate living with me because I have music going all the time. I go to sleep with music. I wake up with music. I listen to everything, which some people don’t understand but I have a genuine appreciation of most stuff. I love doing what I’m doing at the moment as it enables me to live my dream.”
“I can’t wait to see how people respond. That’s the whole point. It’s not about getting on TV and shaking my ass, I hope I can do for people what music does to me.”
Information from www.virginmusic.co.nz
Source: http://artists.letssingit.com/annabel-fay-3kj8n/biography
