Anika is the recording name of Annika Henderson, a British singer-songwriter, poet, DJ, photographer and filmmaker. She is born in Woking and is associated with Germany. Her work sits within dub, electronic and post-punk, and she is also described in connection with lo-fi, avant-garde and experimental music.

Career

Henderson works as a political journalist before meeting Geoff Barrow while living between Berlin and Bristol. Barrow is looking for a singer for his band Beak>, and they quickly share an interest in punk, dub and 1960s girl groups. A week later, Anika and Beak> begin recording together.

The resulting album is recorded live in the studio over twelve days, with the four performers in one room and no overdubs. The line-up is Geoff Barrow, Billy Fuller, Matt Williams and Anika. The record is issued by Invada in Europe and by Stones Throw in the United States and Japan.

Style and repertoire

Anika’s material combines political themes with dub, punk, funk and experimental rock. The songs on the album include “Yang Yang”, “Officer Officer”, “Masters of War”, “Terry” and “I Go to Sleep”. The recording also uses reverb-heavy drum machine rhythms and draws on the approach associated with 1980s New York no wave and 99 Records.

Related projects

She is a member of The Liftmen and Exploded View.