Anais Mitchell

Infobox musical artist
Name = Anaïs Mitchell


Img_capt = Anais performing at the 2006 Great Hudson River Clearwater Revival
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = flagicon|US
Montpelier, Vermont
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Folk
Occupation =
Years_active = 2004 - Present
Label = Righteous Babe Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://anaismitchell.com/index.html Official Website]
Current_members = Anaïs Mitchell
Michael Chorney
Austin Nevins
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Anaïs Mitchell (pronounced 'uh-nay-is') is an American singer-songwriter from Montpelier, Vermont.

History

Anaïs Mitchell attended Middlebury College, where her father is a professor in the English department. Despite her journalistic leanings, Mitchell started writing songs at age 17 and eventually started performing them live during her school days, which were punctuated by a remarkable amount of traveling. In a short period of time, Anaïs made several trips to the Middle East and also spent time in Europe and Latin America, studying languages and world politics. This troubadour-like experience seeped into her music, and she became adept at fusing her passion for literature and journalism in her lyrics. [ [http://www.anaismitchell.com/press.html Official Website] ]

Recordings

In 2002, Ms. Mitchell released "The Song They Sang When Rome Fell". Her second album, "Hymns for the Exiled", was released on the Waterbug Records label in 2004. The record eventually reached the ears of Ani DiFranco, a songwriter whose fusion of personal and political themes was a formative influence on a teen-aged Anaïs. After seeing a few of Anaïs’ captivating concerts, Ms. DiFranco signed the artist to her label, Righteous Babe Records. Ms. Mitchell told a Vermont reporter after signing:

On December 8, 2006, folk opera "Hadestown" debuted, written and produced by Mitchell in collaboration with composer Michael Chorney and director Ben T. Matchstick. [ [http://www.addisonindependent.com/?q=node/344 "Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell"] December 7, 2006 by Megan James Addison County Independent.] Mitchell's third album, "The Brightness" was released February 13, 2007 by Righteous Babe Records. [ [http://www.righteousbabe.com/press/anais/thebrightness/RBR053_PressRelease.pdf "oh, the places she's gone! anaïs mitchell's righteous babe records' debut the brightness is poetry in motion. in stores february 13, 2007."] press release Righteous Babe Records.]

Sound and style

Distinctions and awards

* She was nominated in the Contemporary Artist category of the third annual Folk Alliance awards show broadcast February 20, 2008 from Memphis, Tennessee (simulcast on XM). [ [http://www.nodepression.net/blogs/news/2008/02/eilen_jewell_uncle_earl_lead_f.html "Ellen Jewell, Uncle Earl highlight Folk Alliance award nominees"] "News You Should Note" posted February 4, 2008 No Depression.]
* In 2003 she was among the winners of the New Folk Competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival. [ [http://www.happenstance-music.com/KFF_History.asp " New Folk Finalist History"] Kerrville Folk Festival.]

Discography

* "The Song They Sang... When Rome Fell" (2002) – ASIN: B000N4917Q 2002
* "Hymns for the Exiled" (2004) Waterbug Records – ASIN: B0016BUVTC
* "The Brightness" (2007) Righteous Babe Records – ASIN: B000LP4O2E

Articles, reviews, interviews

* [http://www.addisonindependent.com/?q=node/344 Addison County Independent] "Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell" December 7, 2006 by Megan James.
* [http://www.acousticguitar.com/ "Family politics, love, and music infuse the stunning Hymns for the Exiled. Vermont-based singer-songwriter details her new album."] by Anand Nayak "Songcraft: Anais Mitchell" Acoustic Guitar April 2005, No. 148.
* [http://www.nodepression.net/ No Depression] review by Russell Hall March – April 2007.
* [http://www.allmusic.com/ Allmusic] review by Margaret Reges.
* [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ Boston Globe] music review
* [http://www.singout.org/ Sing Out!] sound recording review of "The Brightness" by Rich Warren June 22, 2007.

References

External links

* [http://www.anaismitchell.com Official Website] Anaïs Mitchell
* [http://www.myspace.com/anaismitchell MySpace page] Anaïs Mitchell
* [http://www.righteousbabe.com/artists/anaismitchell/index.asp Righteous Babe Records] Anaïs Mitchell
* [http://waterbug.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Anais+Mitchell&osCsid=89ef536f108780df329b756464859c78&x=0&y=0 Waterbug Records] Anaïs Mitchell
* [http://www.happenstance-music.com/KFF_History.asp Kerrville Folk Festival] New Folk Finalist History