Annika Brown

What makes Annika Brown's music refreshingly different to what's being played on the radio?
It could her skillful storytelling, venturing into the dark, the funny, the emotional; and her intelligent lyrics, in many cases inspired by literature (which is no surprise, since she studied literature before she turned to music). Or it could be her simple arrangements of just voice and guitar with the occasional harmonica, which places her in the tradition of troubadours and folk singers, without, however, making her too folky. It could be because she doesn't stick to pop formulas, in spite of writing catchy melodies. It could be the raw, aching beauty of her soaring vocals that inspires and haunts you. As if by magic, Annika Brown's songs seem to appeal to people of (almost) all backgrounds, ages and musical tastes.
Some of her influences are Nick Cave,Tori Amos, Regina Spektor,Tom Waits, Alanis Morissette, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Billy Joel, Joanna Newsome, Janis Joplin, Carol King, Amos Lee, Ani Difranco, Jewel, Supertramp, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Reinhard Mey, Kurt Weil, Rufus Wainwright,Patti Smith, Tracy Chapman, Beatles, John Lennon, K's Choice, ... and so many more.

Annika Brown was born in Germany and moved to the UK in 2003 after studying literature (among other things) and writing poetry and fiction. What followed was a period that she likes to describes as her "Gypsy phase" : she did temporary jobs, ran some workshops, and busked Shakespeare love scenes with her now husband while living in a tent. When she realized it was time to settle down she also returned to her greatest passion: music. After a period of training and songwriting she finally emerged to tell her original blend of soulful stories.