Ana Free

Ana Free is a singer-songwriter from Portugal, although she currently lives in the United Kingdom.

She originally rose to fame via Youtube several years ago, performing covers of many classic songs: her most popular, Nickelback’s ‘Savin’ Me’, has had over 1,000,000 views to date.

Ana made her first live TV performance in the summer of 2007 on TVI in Portugal, where she sang ‘Crazy’, a song she had composed herself. She is currently recording her debut album following the success of her first single, which was released on 23 May 2008, entitled ‘In My Place’.

Alternative Magazine Online is therefore proud to present a recent chat we had with Ana about her past, present and (of course) future! Enjoy!

Hey Ana, thank you for your time. Could you tell us a bit about yourself please?

Sure! I was born in Portugal to a British mother and Portuguese father, and attended an international school until I was 18. When I finished high school, I moved to the UK to study Economics for 3 years. I love music, it’s my greatest passion and I see it as my calling, but I give education a very large emphasis! I finished my degree in 2008 and moved to London where I’m currently based, recording my debut album and travelling for tour!

You have a very distinctive accent! I also hear you can speak five different languages?

People almost always comment on my accent because it has an American twinge, which is odd to them given where I was born and raised! I grew up around so many different cultures, accents and influences at school, that when all of it was combined, I ended up with this hybrid accent! I do speak quite an array of languages, Portuguese and English being the most fluent of the lot. Apart from those I also speak Spanish, French and Greek!

You studied economics in the UK… is this something that has always interested you? Would you seek a career in this field, or is music always going to be your true passion?

I put a huge emphasis on education. I think it’s important, and I believe everyone has the right to a good one. I realised I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to University and thought about alternatives to music, should I ever need any. I picked a subject I felt I really liked and decided to take a degree in it! Economics was the best fit for me, and I loved my course. I’d like to do a Masters eventually, but we’ll see whether I have the time!

Will Portugal always be home? Or did studying/ performing in London start to make you feel like a Brit?

Naturally, Portugal will always be home to me because it was where I was born and where my life took on a lot of important shapes and values. I do feel a wonderful affinity with Britain though, I also feel very comfortable in London. I think speaking the language in the country you’re based in really helps a lot. I learned a lot about the British culture when I moved to the UK, but I’ve always been quite good at adapting.

It wasn’t easy learning to be on my own more than I was ever used to, and independence is earned by working hard and believing in your capacity to positively juggle situations and decisions alone. It all comes down to how you approach your life and your surroundings. I think I’ve found a wonderful balance for myself, and so I feel I could be almost anywhere in the world and be alright!

What relationship do you have with your fans?

I share a really healthy relationship with them! In terms of communication, I have as many social platforms in place as possible to allow for communication and banter. I love hearing what they have to say and the crazy ideas they come up with.

There’s a large age range too, so I get a little bit of everything! I keep in touch as much as I can, mainly over Twitter and Facebook because they’re very dynamic! I try and get them as much music and information as possible over the official website (www.anafree.com) – I want them to be as much a part of my music as I am!

You obviously feel comfortable with leaving outtakes after some songs? Do you find it easy to make fun of yourself?

I love making fun of situations that clearly lend themselves to it, as long as it makes other people smile! I used to find it harder to make fun of myself, but I think everyone finds that difficult when they’re growing up and trying to make a mark on the world and the people in their lives.

I live much more comfortably now that I realise what my goals are, and how to go about achieving them! I’m happy with who I am and how far I’ve come, so I think it’s nice to be able to laugh at myself. I leave the outtakes in after some of my songs because I think the fans will have a laugh with me and appreciate the crazier, more quirky side of who I am and what I do!

Do you find it easy to write music, or do you get writer’s block? What inspires you?

I usually find it very easy to write songs! I have over 300 since I was about 11 or 12 years old. Inspiration comes to me in different ways. Sometimes i - Alternative Magazine Online

Ana Free is a singer-songwriter from Portugal, although she currently lives in the United Kingdom.

She originally rose to fame via Youtube several years ago, performing covers of many classic songs: her most popular, Nickelback’s ‘Savin’ Me’, has had over 1,000,000 views to date.

Ana made her first live TV performance in the summer of 2007 on TVI in Portugal, where she sang ‘Crazy’, a song she had composed herself. She is currently recording her debut album following the success of her first single, which was released on 23 May 2008, entitled ‘In My Place’.

Alternative Magazine Online is therefore proud to present a recent chat we had with Ana about her past, present and (of course) future! Enjoy!

Hey Ana, thank you for your time. Could you tell us a bit about yourself please?

Sure! I was born in Portugal to a British mother and Portuguese father, and attended an international school until I was 18. When I finished high school, I moved to the UK to study Economics for 3 years. I love music, it’s my greatest passion and I see it as my calling, but I give education a very large emphasis! I finished my degree in 2008 and moved to London where I’m currently based, recording my debut album and travelling for tour!

You have a very distinctive accent! I also hear you can speak five different languages?

People almost always comment on my accent because it has an American twinge, which is odd to them given where I was born and raised! I grew up around so many different cultures, accents and influences at school, that when all of it was combined, I ended up with this hybrid accent! I do speak quite an array of languages, Portuguese and English being the most fluent of the lot. Apart from those I also speak Spanish, French and Greek!

You studied economics in the UK… is this something that has always interested you? Would you seek a career in this field, or is music always going to be your true passion?

I put a huge emphasis on education. I think it’s important, and I believe everyone has the right to a good one. I realised I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to University and thought about alternatives to music, should I ever need any. I picked a subject I felt I really liked and decided to take a degree in it! Economics was the best fit for me, and I loved my course. I’d like to do a Masters eventually, but we’ll see whether I have the time!

Will Portugal always be home? Or did studying/ performing in London start to make you feel like a Brit?

Naturally, Portugal will always be home to me because it was where I was born and where my life took on a lot of important shapes and values. I do feel a wonderful affinity with Britain though, I also feel very comfortable in London. I think speaking the language in the country you’re based in really helps a lot. I learned a lot about the British culture when I moved to the UK, but I’ve always been quite good at adapting.

It wasn’t easy learning to be on my own more than I was ever used to, and independence is earned by working hard and believing in your capacity to positively juggle situations and decisions alone. It all comes down to how you approach your life and your surroundings. I think I’ve found a wonderful balance for myself, and so I feel I could be almost anywhere in the world and be alright!

What relationship do you have with your fans?

I share a really healthy relationship with them! In terms of communication, I have as many social platforms in place as possible to allow for communication and banter. I love hearing what they have to say and the crazy ideas they come up with.

There’s a large age range too, so I get a little bit of everything! I keep in touch as much as I can, mainly over Twitter and Facebook because they’re very dynamic! I try and get them as much music and information as possible over the official website (www.anafree.com) – I want them to be as much a part of my music as I am!

You obviously feel comfortable with leaving outtakes after some songs? Do you find it easy to make fun of yourself?

I love making fun of situations that clearly lend themselves to it, as long as it makes other people smile! I used to find it harder to make fun of myself, but I think everyone finds that difficult when they’re growing up and trying to make a mark on the world and the people in their lives.

I live much more comfortably now that I realise what my goals are, and how to go about achieving them! I’m happy with who I am and how far I’ve come, so I think it’s nice to be able to laugh at myself. I leave the outtakes in after some of my songs because I think the fans will have a laugh with me and appreciate the crazier, more quirky side of who I am and what I do!

Do you find it easy to write music, or do you get writer’s block? What inspires you?

I usually find it very easy to write songs! I have over 300 since I was about 11 or 12 years old. Inspiration comes to me in different ways. Sometimes i - Alternative Magazine Online

Revista americana publicou artigo sobre a cantora MTV Linked, que atua no Palco Sunset do festival no dia 2 de junho.
Ana Free vai atuar no Rock In Rio Lisboa. A cantora MTV Linked tem concerto marcado para dia 2 de junho, no Palco Sunset.

A voz de ‘Girlfriend’ deverá apresentar alguns temas a incluir no álbum de estreia, a editar na Primavera. A cantora tem estado a preparar o registo na Argentina, com o produtor Rodrigo Crespo, conhecido pelos seus trabalhos com Shakira e The Glammers, entre outros. Ana está a trabalhar neste álbum desde o final de 2010.

«O álbum tem sido algo díficil porque quando estive em tourneé foi complicado gravá-lo como queria. Desisti das músicas que andei a pensar em gravar porque nessa altura já estava noutro lugar em termos musicais e sentimento», afirmou Ana Free, em declarações à MTV. «É uma fase muito emocionante na minha vida. As coisas estão a mudar e a minha carreira está a crescer rapidamente. Tenho todas as pessoas certas à minha volta, a química está presente e está tudo concentrado em ter o álbum pronto para os fãs», referiu a cantora, em comunicado.

Entretanto, Ana Free acaba de ver o seu talento reconhecido pela revista norte-americana Billboard. Aquela que é considerada uma das publicações mais conceituadas do mundo da música acaba de publicar um artigo extensivo dedicado à artista MTV Linked, no qual é descrito o percurso da cantora e anunciado também o concerto na edição deste ano do Rock In Rio Lisboa, no dia 2 de Junho.

A atuação de Ana Free no RIR será em conjunto com a banda The Monomes, no mesmo dia e no mesmo palco em que se apresentam os Amor Electro, que vão atuar com o brasileiro Paulinho Moska.

A edição deste ano do Rock In Rio Lisboa acontece no Parque da Bela Vista, em Lisboa, nos dias 25, 26 de maio e 1, 2 e 3 de junho. Já confirmados estão os espetáculos dos Metallica, Evanescence, Mastodon, Sepultura, Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, Expensive Soul, Bruce Springsteen e Xutos & Pontapés, entre outros.

Lê aqui o artigo sobre Ana Free na revista Billboard.
- MTV PORTUGAL

Revista americana publicou artigo sobre a cantora MTV Linked, que atua no Palco Sunset do festival no dia 2 de junho.
Ana Free vai atuar no Rock In Rio Lisboa. A cantora MTV Linked tem concerto marcado para dia 2 de junho, no Palco Sunset.

A voz de ‘Girlfriend’ deverá apresentar alguns temas a incluir no álbum de estreia, a editar na Primavera. A cantora tem estado a preparar o registo na Argentina, com o produtor Rodrigo Crespo, conhecido pelos seus trabalhos com Shakira e The Glammers, entre outros. Ana está a trabalhar neste álbum desde o final de 2010.

«O álbum tem sido algo díficil porque quando estive em tourneé foi complicado gravá-lo como queria. Desisti das músicas que andei a pensar em gravar porque nessa altura já estava noutro lugar em termos musicais e sentimento», afirmou Ana Free, em declarações à MTV. «É uma fase muito emocionante na minha vida. As coisas estão a mudar e a minha carreira está a crescer rapidamente. Tenho todas as pessoas certas à minha volta, a química está presente e está tudo concentrado em ter o álbum pronto para os fãs», referiu a cantora, em comunicado.

Entretanto, Ana Free acaba de ver o seu talento reconhecido pela revista norte-americana Billboard. Aquela que é considerada uma das publicações mais conceituadas do mundo da música acaba de publicar um artigo extensivo dedicado à artista MTV Linked, no qual é descrito o percurso da cantora e anunciado também o concerto na edição deste ano do Rock In Rio Lisboa, no dia 2 de Junho.

A atuação de Ana Free no RIR será em conjunto com a banda The Monomes, no mesmo dia e no mesmo palco em que se apresentam os Amor Electro, que vão atuar com o brasileiro Paulinho Moska.

A edição deste ano do Rock In Rio Lisboa acontece no Parque da Bela Vista, em Lisboa, nos dias 25, 26 de maio e 1, 2 e 3 de junho. Já confirmados estão os espetáculos dos Metallica, Evanescence, Mastodon, Sepultura, Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, Expensive Soul, Bruce Springsteen e Xutos & Pontapés, entre outros.

Lê aqui o artigo sobre Ana Free na revista Billboard.
- MTV PORTUGAL

The YouTube singer shows why she is making waves outside of the video-sharing site through her latest release

The gloomy weather these days makes it easy for us to enjoy Portuguese singer-songwriter Ana Free’s latest album To.Get.Her. In case you’re wondering just who Ana is, this YouTube star performed on our sunny island last year with other singers from the video-sharing platform.

The 26-year-old croons in her husky and emotional voice as she reminisces about a past love in ‘Beautiful Goodbye’. The acoustic song, when played on a rainy day, will have you staring out at the window, watching puddles form as the rain fall.

You are sure to bop along to the strong rhythm of the R&B track ‘Surrender’, which Ana balances with the minimal use of instruments. The simplicity in the musical arrangement enhances the singer’s talented vocals and the emotions it encompasses.

While love (or break-up) may be a recurring theme in the album, Ana expresses them differently through various musical genres, such as the fast-tempo ‘Sugar Rush’ and ‘I Want Your Rush’ which show a huge contrast from the previous love ballads.

Like all musicians, Ana may have shared a little bit of herself in her songs, making it easy for listeners to resonate.

Overall, To.Get.Her is an autobiographical album that is written beautifully and delivered thoroughly emotionally. There is definitely more we can expect from Ana Free.

Recommended tracks: ‘Sugar Rush’, ‘Renegade’, ‘Surrender’

Rating: 4/5 - MSN.COM

The YouTube singer shows why she is making waves outside of the video-sharing site through her latest release

The gloomy weather these days makes it easy for us to enjoy Portuguese singer-songwriter Ana Free’s latest album To.Get.Her. In case you’re wondering just who Ana is, this YouTube star performed on our sunny island last year with other singers from the video-sharing platform.

The 26-year-old croons in her husky and emotional voice as she reminisces about a past love in ‘Beautiful Goodbye’. The acoustic song, when played on a rainy day, will have you staring out at the window, watching puddles form as the rain fall.

You are sure to bop along to the strong rhythm of the R&B track ‘Surrender’, which Ana balances with the minimal use of instruments. The simplicity in the musical arrangement enhances the singer’s talented vocals and the emotions it encompasses.

While love (or break-up) may be a recurring theme in the album, Ana expresses them differently through various musical genres, such as the fast-tempo ‘Sugar Rush’ and ‘I Want Your Rush’ which show a huge contrast from the previous love ballads.

Like all musicians, Ana may have shared a little bit of herself in her songs, making it easy for listeners to resonate.

Overall, To.Get.Her is an autobiographical album that is written beautifully and delivered thoroughly emotionally. There is definitely more we can expect from Ana Free.

Recommended tracks: ‘Sugar Rush’, ‘Renegade’, ‘Surrender’

Rating: 4/5 - MSN.COM

Ana Free is a YouTube phenomenon. Her video channel has recorded 82,000-plus registered subscribers,nearly 3 million channel views, and her videos have more than 31 million views.

Without label, manager, booking agent or publisher, this young Anglo-Portuguese artist's YouTube performances have led to collaborations and gigs with international stars, chart-topping singles, sold out gigs and an enviable global following. And now, four years since she posted her first video, Ana Free is nearly ready to release her debut album.

"I have been writing material during the last year," the 24-year-old Free, who normally resides in London, said by phone from Lisbon. "Although my fans have wanted a full album, I didn't want to make one just for the sake of it. First impressions count, so I took my time because I want this to be good."

For the album, scheduled to be released this Spring, her independent spirit once again prompted her to link her YouTube channel to the crowd-sourcing website PledgeMusic to raise the required cash. And it's worked.

By Feb. 13, with 79 days still left, Free had garnered more than 157% of the estimated £7,000 ($11,006) needed to record and release her as-yet-untitled debut album in April. Her Facebook page for the campaign has more than 62,000 likes. And she's started the pre-production process in Argentina with producer Rodrigo Crespo, who has worked with Columbian pop star Shakira.

"It is unusual for an act to develop when their only marketing platform is YouTube," says Will Blake, a promoter at London-based SJM Concerts. "But that is what she did - through YouTube, social media and her fans. It shows YouTube can translate into a real live audience."

YouTube phenomenon Ana Free has racked up 31 million page views
and opened up for Shakira without any label or management help.

Guitar-strumming Free, who is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Greek, started uploading videos of her numerous compositions and cover versions in January 2007 while studying Economics at the U.K.'s University of Kent. Without any marketing, she had 700,000 views by the first year's end.

"The downfall of social media is that so many artists can access it, that only the cream rises to the top," says Blake, who booked Free at London's Barfly in 2010. In addition to hearing her songs on YouTube, he notes, the video-sharing platform enables people to see her effortless charm and easy-going manner. "She uses YouTube to talk to her fans and they feel they know her. At her shows, people were flying from other countries to see her."

Free has also been able to exploit her dual nationalities, especially her Portuguese heritage, to build her international career. Portuguese telecoms group Zon discovered her singing her composition "In My Place" on YouTube and used the track in a 2008 TV commercial. Public demand led to the song, sold through Apple's iTunes, topping the Portuguese sales chart for three months.

"The Portuguese market is small," Free explains, "so if you make a splash, everyone notices. One way of starting a career here is to get attention online with the traditional media covering it."

By promoting her talent online in the smaller Portuguese market, Free has found doors opening to other countries. The attention was strong enough to attract a wealthy U.S. investor, whom Free declines to identify, to fund her first EP. The five-track "Radian" was released in 2010, promoted at sold-out gigs in Miami and New York, and supported by a massive billboard image of Free in New York's Times Square (see below).

It did not lead to a Billboard hit, but she highlighted the achievement next to her videos on her YouTube channel and soon international stars were calling. It began with an invitation to open up for Shakira at Lisbon's 20,000-capacity Pavilhao Atlantico in November 2010, and soon included performing at gigs with U.K. soul act James Morrison and performing at festivals with Linkin Park.

In 2011, she had the stage to herself at London's famous Borderline club and Ronnie Scott's. This May, Free will be playing the new YouTube Stars Festival in Singapore -- her first foray into Asia and, in June, she makes her debut at the Lisbon edition of Rock in Rio, the Brazil-originated mega festival, with headliners that include Metallica, Maroon 5, and Lenny Kravitz.

These singular multi-territory achievements have made other independent acts take note. When Portuguese DJ Diego Miranda, a 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards nominee, recorded a dance track "Girlfriend" (Vidisco) with Free in October, it reached No. 1 in Portugal for nine weeks. "I had already thought of inviting Ana on to my projects," Miranda says, "but I didn't think she would accept. She is international."

Indeed, Free rece - BILLBOARD.COM

Ana Free is a YouTube phenomenon. Her video channel has recorded 82,000-plus registered subscribers,nearly 3 million channel views, and her videos have more than 31 million views.

Without label, manager, booking agent or publisher, this young Anglo-Portuguese artist's YouTube performances have led to collaborations and gigs with international stars, chart-topping singles, sold out gigs and an enviable global following. And now, four years since she posted her first video, Ana Free is nearly ready to release her debut album.

"I have been writing material during the last year," the 24-year-old Free, who normally resides in London, said by phone from Lisbon. "Although my fans have wanted a full album, I didn't want to make one just for the sake of it. First impressions count, so I took my time because I want this to be good."

For the album, scheduled to be released this Spring, her independent spirit once again prompted her to link her YouTube channel to the crowd-sourcing website PledgeMusic to raise the required cash. And it's worked.

By Feb. 13, with 79 days still left, Free had garnered more than 157% of the estimated £7,000 ($11,006) needed to record and release her as-yet-untitled debut album in April. Her Facebook page for the campaign has more than 62,000 likes. And she's started the pre-production process in Argentina with producer Rodrigo Crespo, who has worked with Columbian pop star Shakira.

"It is unusual for an act to develop when their only marketing platform is YouTube," says Will Blake, a promoter at London-based SJM Concerts. "But that is what she did - through YouTube, social media and her fans. It shows YouTube can translate into a real live audience."

YouTube phenomenon Ana Free has racked up 31 million page views
and opened up for Shakira without any label or management help.

Guitar-strumming Free, who is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Greek, started uploading videos of her numerous compositions and cover versions in January 2007 while studying Economics at the U.K.'s University of Kent. Without any marketing, she had 700,000 views by the first year's end.

"The downfall of social media is that so many artists can access it, that only the cream rises to the top," says Blake, who booked Free at London's Barfly in 2010. In addition to hearing her songs on YouTube, he notes, the video-sharing platform enables people to see her effortless charm and easy-going manner. "She uses YouTube to talk to her fans and they feel they know her. At her shows, people were flying from other countries to see her."

Free has also been able to exploit her dual nationalities, especially her Portuguese heritage, to build her international career. Portuguese telecoms group Zon discovered her singing her composition "In My Place" on YouTube and used the track in a 2008 TV commercial. Public demand led to the song, sold through Apple's iTunes, topping the Portuguese sales chart for three months.

"The Portuguese market is small," Free explains, "so if you make a splash, everyone notices. One way of starting a career here is to get attention online with the traditional media covering it."

By promoting her talent online in the smaller Portuguese market, Free has found doors opening to other countries. The attention was strong enough to attract a wealthy U.S. investor, whom Free declines to identify, to fund her first EP. The five-track "Radian" was released in 2010, promoted at sold-out gigs in Miami and New York, and supported by a massive billboard image of Free in New York's Times Square (see below).

It did not lead to a Billboard hit, but she highlighted the achievement next to her videos on her YouTube channel and soon international stars were calling. It began with an invitation to open up for Shakira at Lisbon's 20,000-capacity Pavilhao Atlantico in November 2010, and soon included performing at gigs with U.K. soul act James Morrison and performing at festivals with Linkin Park.

In 2011, she had the stage to herself at London's famous Borderline club and Ronnie Scott's. This May, Free will be playing the new YouTube Stars Festival in Singapore -- her first foray into Asia and, in June, she makes her debut at the Lisbon edition of Rock in Rio, the Brazil-originated mega festival, with headliners that include Metallica, Maroon 5, and Lenny Kravitz.

These singular multi-territory achievements have made other independent acts take note. When Portuguese DJ Diego Miranda, a 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards nominee, recorded a dance track "Girlfriend" (Vidisco) with Free in October, it reached No. 1 in Portugal for nine weeks. "I had already thought of inviting Ana on to my projects," Miranda says, "but I didn't think she would accept. She is international."

Indeed, Free rece - BILLBOARD.COM