Somewhere between chill and meltdown.
Bio
A lifetime ago, Anne-Lise earned her bona fide musician stripes from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. But even then, there was a restless soul beneath the serious persona of the professional cellist. After years of freelancing and teaching cello, the desire to "sing and be free" was overwhelming. With no reason to stay in Brisbane, and wanting a fresh start with a new musical life, Anne-Lise took the leap and moved to Sydney.
Sydney projects have included the A-L Larsen Duo (with Andy Manessis - now an aspiring Perth based soundtrack composer) who performed regularly for Club Acoustica 2000-2003, and her band, Ayelle.
A solo career is the latest phase of Anne-Lise's musical journey. Her debut solo release, I'm Alive [2006 EP], was an affirmation of arrival and survival in the music world. The EP was entirely written, composed, arranged and performed by Anne-Lise, and recorded and produced in her studio. Belying its one-woman origins, I'm Alive appeals to a wider, shared experience, exploring tales of love, loneliness, the pursuit of dreams and the seduction of envy.
"Back Where She Began" from I'm Alive was selected for inclusion on the Sounds Like Cafe compilation album, Volume 17. Other artists on the CD include Eran James, Hayley Jensen and Cass Eager.
In May 2008, Anne-Lise performed a ground breaking acoustic set of her original music by accompanying herself with her cello at Amanda Easton's PopTarts. This led to a support for Sophie Serafino at The Basement in October. [read fan review]. Two songs from that concert became the "b-sides" to Anne-Lise's 2009 limited release single, "Could You Be The One (I've Been Looking For").
The next one-woman production, the album Planets Aligned, was released in late October 2009. "I learned a lot from the process of making and releasing I'm Alive. This abum has better production than I'm Alive, is slightly more experimental and I have brought my cello into the mix to complement my sentimental groove. Anne-Lise says that "Making music as a solo performer isn't exactly what I had planned, but now, I couldn't imagine doing my music any other way"—although Anne-Lise is keen to point out that she is always open to collaborations on others' works.
Planets Aligned explores themes of personal reflection, dissecting relationships, shattered illusions and the resolution of such with the discovery of new lust, love and finally contentment.
Planets Aligned is full of silky, sensitive and powerful masterly lead vocals and backing vocals with a rich layering, reminiscent of 70s soul and disco. Anne-Lise has made full use sound textures, with sweeping string synthesizers, traditional Fender Rhodes inspired sounds, exotic percussion, beat driven melodic bass lines and a mixture of traditional pop funk style drumming and dance drum loops. Planets Aligned is an album for those who crave passion, human emotion, musicianship, melody and power in their music with a bit more substance than pop, and more accessibility than jazz.
Digital downloads of Planets Aligned are available worldwide and the CD can be ordered from any record store, if it's not in stock.
The latest release is an extended remix of "The Weather" which was originally found on the Planets Aligned album. Entitled "The Weather, Mad Mad Mad Remix", it's an uptempo club dance version of Anne-Lise's most danceable track from Planets Aligned. With a deliberate limited digital release, it is available only on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.
As 2011 begins, Anne-Lise too has just begun working on her third multiple track release. At this early stage, the new album is expected to contain twelve new tracks.
Anne-Lise has recently begun producing her own podcast, The Anne-Lise Larsen Podcast [this link will open iTunes and take you directly to the podcast], available as a free download via iTunes.