Anneke van Giersbergen & Agua de Annique

ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN & AGUA DE ANNIQUE November 2009
The solo career of Anneke van Giersbergen got off to a flying start. After 13 proud years with The Gathering she also found her way into the charts by herself with her albums Air and Pure Air. Both albums received overwhelmingly positive reviews around the world. For two years Anneke toured with Agua de Annique throughout The Netherlands and abroad. She was beginning to prove herself as a very talented songwriter in her own right.

Acoustic treat Pure Air was released earlier this year, on which Anneke collaborated with a variety of artists, including Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation), Dutch Singer songwriter Marike Jager, John Wetton (King Crimson/Asia), Danny Cavanagh (Anathema) and Trumpet player Colin Benders (Kyteman).
In their review for Pure Air, Dutch renowned magazine HP/De Tijd named Anneke as 'Hollands most credible pop singer'

In the first two years of Agua de Annique, Anneke has already experienced many highlights. These highlights include, in her own words: "Playing abroad again right from the beginning of the new band.. The release of my first solo album, not to mention the shows in South America, which were so very special... Walking barefoot into my own studio in the morning. Visiting new places... The continuous change."

Without doubt, another major highlight for Anneke was her debut as a solo performer. In 2008 she sang with Dutch A-list bands Racoon and Bløf under the name; Artists For Tibet. The song 'Als je ooit nog eens terug kan' (If You Ever Can Go Back Again) shot straight to #1 in the charts. They also played this song in 2009 before H.H. the Dalai Lama shared his wisdom to a sold out Melkweg venue in Amsterdam.

We can also hear Anneke perform in the trailer of Spiderman 3 (2007) in which a song of U.S. band Globus has been used. She also played a big vocal part on the new album of Canadian musician Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad).

About her decision to start her solo career she states: "Everything I aimed for when I started, I am doing now, and that gives me peace of mind." With this great start behind her, Anneke now looks forward. The new album In Your Room is released on October 30. Anneke says that this one will probably be more accessible than what we are used to hearing from her. She is in a 'lighter' place in her life right now and that shows through her music, she states. A little melancholy we will always be able to detect, but the songs are certainly more direct than before. It's Indiepop with an edge. With In Your Room Anneke aims for an album that sounds tight and as a whole. Producer Michel Schoots, former drummer of Urban Dance Squad, is also known for his productions on albums of Kane, Ilse de Lange and Racoon.

Anneke keeps her audience frequently posted on the recording process of the new album. Via a specially designed VIP area on her website and through Twitter she posts quotes, pictures and films of the recording progress.
About the recordings she says: The guys in the band are fast thinkers and come up with great new ideas rapidly. That's really great. Everybody is so enthusiastic. That vibe, that feeling, can be sensed throughout the new album. It permeates everything we have recorded and everything we do together."