Anna Neale

Anna Neale is a singer-songwriter from Guildford and Woking whose work sits across folk and pop, with a broader acoustic and rock edge. She builds her reputation as a vocalist, performer and writer through live dates, television and radio appearances, and she performs both as a solo artist and with other bands.

Career

Neale begins her professional career touring as a vocalist with the Dublin soul band from The Commitments. She later develops a solo career and performs internationally across the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Along the way she supports artists including Dave McPherson of InMe and Edwin Starr.

Her profile grows through a series of competition and showcase appearances. In 2008 she reaches the finals of London Metro’s online and touring competition, and also the finals of MTV’s Get Seen, Get Heard competition. That same year she appears at the O2 in Greenwich as part of O2 Undiscovered. Her interview and live performance of “Soul Momma”, filmed in Woking, receives regular play on MTV channels in the UK.

Earlier credits include a sell-out BPI showcase at Canada’s NXNE festival in 2006, where she is the highest-rated solo artist. She also showcases at Manchester’s In The City, performs regularly on the main stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and appears at Brighton’s Great Escape in 2010 with Recharged Radio. Internationally, she headlines Canadian Music Week in Toronto in 2009, performs at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and appears at the NEMO Music Festival in Boston in 2005. Her Boston performances lead to “All For Nothing” topping the NEMO Starbucks download charts across New England.

Recordings

Her 2010 album Touch, released with independent label Somebody’s Music, receives strong reviews for its organic approach and lyric writing. The record includes 12 tracks of folk-pop material, and “Emotional Baggage” is highlighted as a standout. She later releases River Man, an album that marks a shift in musical direction and draws on Roman history, including the life, times, loves and legacy of Pompeii. The songs address themes of love, knowledge, human identity and the human spirit.

River Man features guest appearances from Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, Patch Hannan of The Sundays and The Audience, and Senegalese virtuoso Jali Fily Cissokho. It is produced by Jez Larder, who has worked with David Bowie, Estelle, One Eskimo and Amy Macdonald. The album is noted by R2 (Rock’n’Reel) Magazine as one of its albums of 2012.

Awards and recognition

Neale wins the Guildford Music Award for Best Female Solo Artist in 2009. Her work also draws praise from press in Canada and the UK, with comments focusing on her strong vocal style and songwriting.