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Steel City inspiration for singer Annie's new album
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Published Date: 03 November 2009
By Martin Dawes
NEWS from LA where Sheffield-born singer songwriter Annie McQueen is looking forward to launching her new album and coming home for Christmas.
"It's out next spring and I have spent the summer writing and recording. Most of my inspiration comes from the fact that I miss Sheffield and my family so much. There are lots of songs about home and how it makes me feel," she says.
Annie, who has been called America's First British Country Artist - "which I'm enjoying" - says the new album will have plenty of fiddle and banjo.
The former King Ecgbert's schoolgirl followed her actor boyfriend TJ Ramini, who played rogue cop DC Zain Nadir in The Bill, out to California almost two years ago.
Her parents are Fran and John Stocks, from Ranmoor, well known in local folk circles.
Annie is fiercely supportive of TJ's career and reports that he will be a regular in next season's series of 24 with Keifer Sutherland and appears on NCIS on the FX channel on November 6.
She's also keeping in touch with home and has heard of the death of singer Maurice Malone, a bastion of the Celtic folk scene at the Dog and Partridge on Trippett Lane for over 30 years.
"He always used to get me up singing whenever I was was with my parents on a Sunday afternoon when they all used to play.
"He was the first person to make me realize my talents outside my family," says Annie.
Apart from recording Annie has also been busy writing for other artistes.
Her publicity describes her as "a girl's girl with her bunny girl looks" and her singing has been described as Carrie Underwood meets Celine Dio, with The Corrs and Dixie Chicks thrown in!
She's performed and recorded everywhere from Nashville to the Royal Festival Hall but she hasn't sung in her home town since was a teenager. That could change next year.
"I plan to tour the UK at the end of 2010 with Sheffield being my last stop," she tells the Diary. "I'm also coming home for Christmas and I might do a few impromptu gigs while I'm here."
- Martin Dawes at Sheffield Newspapers, UK
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Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Annie McQueen was raised in the steel city of Sheffield in the North of England. Her childhood was heavily influenced by Country, Celtic and Folk Music as both parents are accomplished Musicians; often playing in and around Yorkshire at various venues including local bars, pubs and jam sessions in the country.
It was these performances which lead Annie to sing along with her parents and sisters, often being asked to perform solo accapella with her sisters providing beautiful, melancholic harmonies. This was the start of the young, 14 year old captivating vocalist cutting her chops on the live circuit, singing with professional musicians, without realizing the effect and draw she had on the general public.
After graduating from University of the Arts, London, she dedicated her life to Music by session singing, singing in various bands, writing her own material and recording demo's for various producers.
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