Anna O.
Born in a small farm town in the northern plains of North Dakota, Anna O. started piano lessons at age nine. These first tentative plinks and plunks would eventually unearth a rich musical vein running through her heart and life.
Though her eclectic musical tastes run from folk to blues to alternative to all points in between, the trinity of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Patti Smith have remained Anna’s constant musical touchstones. Eventually landing in Tampa, Florida, she quickly established herself among the “who’s who” of the Bay Area scene.
With one foot in folk-rock and the other in alternative pop, Anna knew she had some work to do to integrate her folk roots with her more progressive leanings. After a feverish stretch of woodshedding, Anna emerged in 2002-2003 with 33 songs released on three discs: “Pink Heart, Blue Tattoo”, “Horses, God, and The Perfect Kiss” and a 3-song EP, “SugarPop.” This outpouring of work garnered her multiple “Best of the Bay” Awards; a Nashville publishing contract; a coveted showcase at Austin’s famed SXSW music festival; a song in an Indie film; and an avid and quickly growing fan base.
Seemingly poised for the next big step, Anna O. was close to signing a record deal with a Nashville indie label when the unthinkable caused her to change course once again. “A tsunami,” relates Anna, “nearly wiped me off the planet, interrupting everything.” The tsunami was her husband’s suicide, which led in turn to a long period of struggling and searching. Ensuing health problems landed her in a state of physical rehab for the next 3-1/2 years, and Anna pulled up her Tampa roots to head back to the healing deserts of New Mexico.
After two years in New Mexico, her heartland roots called her back home to North Dakota. There she began to unearth the 11 songs that she had shelved in Tampa six years prior. With her health and energy back in full swing, Anna worked with producer/guitarist guru Steve Connelly to put the finishing touches on the cycle of songs that would become her most purely personal to date. The result is a coalescence of bracing honesty and haunting beauty that suffuses the 11 songs on “Comin’ Home,” her most cohesive and affecting CD to date.
Sunshine Drenchy is proud to present “Comin’ Home” (release date July 12, 2011). For more information, song samples, photos and all things Anna, please visit: www.annaomusic.com.
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