Music
Press
Rachel Heisler
The Alibi, Albuquerque
Oct 2002
Singers can sing all day long but what is the point if their voices have no sense of illustration, no personality, no realness?
Like Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynde and even Jewel, all of whom know the value in singing with feeling, local singer/songwriter Anna Wolfe follows tradition with the same boldness of voice. Wolfe’s anger, love, passion and desperation are so clearly expressed in her tone that you don’t even really need to know what she’s saying.
So, where did Wolfe learn this valuable sense of sound? It may have started at age three at her first public performance at day care. Or maybe it was in fifth grade when she picked up her first guitar and started writing songs. Whenever it was, Wolfe has taken her muse off the playground and into bars and recording studios.
Wolfe’s second CD, I Never Was Cool (1999), is a collection of genre-mixing songs that offer everything from early ‘20s-flapper-jazz on “Titanic James” to jam band on “God is my Drug.” And, since moving to New Mexico in 1996, Wolfe has gathered the talents of local musicians Greg Overman, Steve Whitman, Michael Flemming and Darrin Hargis, otherwise known as the Hounds of Carlisle, to back up her ready-to-play compositions. All the boys will be at this gig, so even though Wolfe tends to lean toward the mellow side of song, there will be no loss of rock Monday night.
- The Alibi, Albuquerque
I am not a qualified music critic who is up to date on current recorded music. But here are some thoughts on Anna’s music from some who are:
“Like Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynde and even Jewel, all of whom know the value of singing with feeling, local singer/songwriter Anna Wolfe follows tradition with the same boldness of voice. Wolfe’s anger, love, passion and desperation are so clearly expressed in her tone that you don’t even need to know what she’s saying.” (Rachel Heisler, The Alibi, Alb. NM. Oct 2002)
“Anna Wolfe’s music seems to come from a very pure and supremely original place. In a world of cookie cutters and franchises, her evolving journey as a songwriter should be wonderful to watch.” (Beth Neilsen Chapman)
“Anna Wolfe is one of the most gifted young songwriters I’ve met in many, many years. She has this remarkable ability to weave a story. Anna is a real original with a totally unique voice.” (Paul Reisler of Trapezoid)
My own very personal impression is that Anna’s compositions speak to me more deeply than anything I have heard for a long, long time. Is it because I have known and worked with her personally, or know some of the people and events (and even houses) that she sings about? I don’t think so. I have never met the Great Master Joni Mitchell (whom Anna cites as an important influence). But Joni’s song about the “Constant Stranger” (aka guardian angel) still brings tears to my eyes. And in that same song are those most terrifying words of all: “LOVE IS GONE.” Anna’s songs about her grandmother or great, great uncle or the ghost in that house make us all part of the same family. And the mystery that is Christopher, her “treasure” strikes very deep indeed.
The music itself is simply elegant. Besides Anna’s singing and guitar and piano, there are strings, a pennywhistle and other instruments on selected songs. But the instrumentation is sparse. Every note shines like the shooting stars she is singing about.
My favorite example is the exquisite cello passage (played by Emily Wright) on the title song. Just a few notes, a few seconds long, so perfectly placed and played so simply and sensitively, they touch our very hearts.
That is what I think sets this music apart: It is completely unpretentious. No cop-out fade-out endings, no breathy girlie stuff. A true treasure in these seemingly mindless, fearful, superficial times.
Which brings me to mention the wonderfully uplifting concluding song:
“Goodbye Pirates!
You are sailors now
And the deserts much too far from the sea.
Raise up your sails
And the wind will know,
How to carry you along to your dreams,
To your dreams.”
- Rappahannock News
/Magnus Eriksson
"In front of Anna Wolfe's music, every effort of trying to genre-deciding falls flat on it's face. Her music stands above all such aspirations, whether it's a oldtime-song, a song in the female singer-songwriter-tradition, a folktune in the spirit of The McGarrigle's, a close to Weillsian cabaret-song, or a more rhytmic, slow, rock n'roll-song.
"My Treasure" is Anna's fifth album. I haven't heard the earlier ones, but
according to Peter Holmstedt, who runs the A&R-company "Hemifrеn",
these were mainly sold as show-souvenirs.
It was at courses in songwriting at the Colorado University in 2001-2003,
that Anna really found a way to both the craft, as well as a commercial
aspect, when meeting singer-songwriter and producer Wendy Waldman.
It is Waldman who has produced "My Treasure", and as usual she shows great understanding for the artist she's working with - She manages to put forward the very best in both Wolfe's songs and voice. The backing is quite gentle, but both Kenny Edward's guitar, as well as Wolfe's own piano, really moves the songs forward.
All of the material is by Anna Wolfe herself. They've got strong and quite
profiled melodies, and the lyrics fits the music like a glove. Not an
un-neccessary word, not an over-saggurated tone - It's deeply touching, beautiful and moving music."
- Magnus Eriksson, Rootsy Music, Scandanavia
Discography
My Treasure 2005 Produced by Wendy Waldman
I Never was Cool 1999 Self Produced
Photos
Bio
BIO:
Anna Wolfe is simply unforgettable. Maybe it’s her intriguing, yet innocent voice, belying an ancient, simple wisdom in her lyrics that leaves a lasting impression. It could be the combined experience of a young heart and old soul, resulting in songs that earn her praise with her peers and with an ever increasing legion of fans. Or perhaps it’s the combination of softness, laced with brilliance, in her blonde hair and blue eyes that gives no hint at first meeting of her inner strength and fortitude. Whatever it is, Anna seems to leave a profound piece of herself with everyone who hears her music.
Growing up in Ohio, in a 150 year old “haunted” farm house, set the stage for Anna’s intuitive and observational abilities to emerge, translating later into a significant advantage for the future songwriter. At home, communing with horses, the vastness of nature and being sensitive to and aware of the energies around her, Anna developed an intuitive and keen ability to delve into and identify what’s been buried below the surface.
Anna subliminally was influenced toward the arts by her family. Her paternal grandfather was a playwright, director, and classical musician. Her father is a sculptor and Anna dabbled when she could on his treasured antique grand piano and old nylon-stringed guitar. And her other four siblings also followed in artistic pursuits. But it was in Anna’s subconscious innocence, that she corralled the childlike freedom of casually and freely composing her own songs as a young girl. This all came to fruition for her in high school when Anna won her school’s scholarship program to record what was to become her first album. However, Anna was also becoming a budding actress as well, garnering many leading roles along the way.
Encouraged by her success as a thespian, Anna decided to attend college in Boston as a theater major. But moving to a big city was initially a shock for this rural teenager. The comfort she had sought from her childhood farmland was replaced by densely-packed spaces and an overload of people to interact with, compared to her youth. Deciding to leave her studies behind before graduation, Anna embarked on her own life’s journey, eventually leading her back to her music and into successfully integrating her intuitive abilities into her art and life.
It was that journey that laid the groundwork for Anna to earn her reputation with other noted songwriters. Anna had four albums under her belt, performed over the years solo and with her own duos and bands, logging countless performances and successes locally behind her. But, it was when she attended Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Songwriting School in the summers from 2001-2003, that veteran teacher Paul Reisler knew Anna’s songwriting prowess was undeniable. Introducing her to other well-known writers, they also encouraged and supported Anna’s path.
Anna’s career took a definitive leap forward in 2003 as well while attending a folk conference in Nashville. Beth Nielsen Chapman, who had met Anna through Rocky Mountain, introduced her to Wendy Waldman. Upon hearing one of Anna’s earlier performances, Waldman was single mindedly determined to catch every subsequent showcase that Anna was playing until the wee hours of the morning.
Impressed and moved, Wendy offered to produce her now current CD, “My Treasure,” (2005). Recorded in 2003/2004 at Waldman’s own California studio, Wendy’s production brings out every nuance of Anna’s writing, with a strong supporting cast of musicians and backing vocals, contributed by both Wendy and Beth Nielsen Chapman. Recently relocating to Nashville with her husband Philip, Anna and her new CD are set to make an indelible stamp on the acoustic music world.
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