Anna Mielniczuk aka Aneym [Enim] is an established vocalist, songwriter and DJ from Poland. She has been influenced by many different genres of music, being particularly interested in uplifting and progressive trance, funky and vocal house, ambient, Chillout, lounge, Breakbeat etc. With every song Aneym reveals another face of her voice, showing versatility in singing styles.
She recently released her debut album ‘Young and Proud’ at Afterglow records which includes great collaborations with the finest talent in the EDM scene. Her album reached the #1 spot on Beatport top 100 trance releases sales chart!
The album is an enlightening and inspirational music experience that any EDM lover should listen to. I requested an interview from Aneym to talk about her upbringing, musical background, influences and of course the background of the recording of ‘Young & Proud’. She accepted the challenge, and here we go with a long but very absorbing interview. Press play on ‘Young & Proud’ and find out what Aneym answered in our questions.
Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Music Journalist, DJ / Radio
Dimitri: Hi Anna, first of all congratulations for your marvellous album. Let’s go back in time and ask if you were dreaming as a small girl about being a singer. Have you passed through a period of singing with a pen in your hand in front of the mirror mimicking your favourite singers?
Aneym: Thank you very much! When I was a little girl, I imagined becoming a dentist, vet, painter and of course a singer. When I was home alone, I used a deodorant spray as my microphone, dancing and singing in front of the mirror.
Dimitri: In your ‘thank you’ message you say a special mention about your parents. Do they come from an artistic family background and do they have any connection with arts. How did they feel when you told them you wanted to be a singer?
Aneym: My father is an artist/instrumentalist. He can play violin, piano, guitar and other instruments. He belongs to two bands promoting folk and regional music. My mother used to sing in the university choir. To be honest, I was too shy to tell my parents that I would like to become a professional singer. When I eventually came out as an artist, first they were surprised and very reserved about my hobby, since they didn’t know anything about EDM. Now they are supportive and proud of me.
Dimitri: When was the moment that you felt very strongly inside that your destiny was to become a singer and make a career out of it? Why did you decide to call yourself Aneym and not Anna as your real name?
Aneym: I have had lot of such moments in my life. For example, when I was a teenager I took part in casting for a reality television singing competition, but I was rejected in the first round.
This failure didn’t discourage me from fulfilling my dreams. I had my ups and downs, but I didn’t give up. I made the final decision to make it a career after a serious heartbreak. I wanted to prove to myself that I was worth something and music saved me.
I’ve always thought that my real name was not unique enough for an artist. I came up with the Aneym alias when I was a little girl. It’s a combination of my first name and surname AnnieM, pronounced as Enim.
Dimitri: Are there any singers or lyric writers or poets that have influenced your career in the way you write the lyrics or you sing and perform the various tracks?
Aneym: I’m inspired and fascinated by Sade, Whitney Houston, Tracy Chapman, Kim Wilde, Martika, Enya, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Paige, Gaelle, Dolores O'Riordan Burton, Rachel Foster, Kayah, Lisa Kelly, Edyta Bartosiewicz, Reni Jusis, Ania Dabrowska, Justyna Steczkowska, Enya, Shinead O’Connor, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Justine Suissa, Jaren, Stine Grove, Nadia Ali, Jess, Mavie Marcos, Tiff Lacey and many more.
Dimitri: Do you have professional training in singing and writing lyrics or are you self-taught?
Aneym: I am totally self-taught. I’ve never had any singing lessons. I can’t play any instruments.
Dimitri: When was your first ever track released, who did the production and how did he discover you, and on which label was it released. How did you feel when you saw your first ever release on a dance record label?
Aneym: In 2004 I attended a DJ course where I met Piotr Gryglewicz, the owner of DJ Promotion. I gave him my demo CD and he recommended me to Krzysztof Chochlow aka DJ KC.
In 2005 our first song; ‘Talk To Me’ was released on DJ Promotion. I was really excited and overwhelmed to see my name on the CD.
Dimitri: Which track has been your biggest success until now, and what do you remember most from the production process?
Aneym: I would choose two songs; ‘Follow You’ and ‘Far Away’ made with Nitrous Oxide. We worked really hard to achieve the satisfying results. I remember one particular night when I wrote ‘Follow You’; I did my evening prayer asking the Holy Sprit to bless me with his wisdom. I was struggling with the lack of inspiration at that time. I went to bed and out of the blue I had lot of thoughts, ideas and expressions along with a vocal melody ready to be written. Everyone around me was sleeping when I was experiencing a miracle. It was an unforgettable feeling. It was like a daydreaming. Next morning, after 2 hours of sleep, I wrote almost the whole song!
Regarding ‘Far Away’; I will always remember co-writing with Justine Suissa, countless recordings and corrections, and the beginning of a friendship with Nitrous Oxide.
Dimitri: Let’s talk about ‘Young and Proud’ which is out now. Who had the idea to record a solo album rather than being the well known and beloved guest vocalist?
Aneym: The idea came from Hubert Jasinski representing Prologic Music (sub label of Sony Music Poland) in 2010. It was proposed that I make a pop album in Polish or an EDM album in English. I hesitated for few months and I made my final decision at the end of 2010. You know what option I chose.
Dimitri: Do you feel that guest vocalists should try to get an album deal rather than their whole life being as a featuring artist?
Aneym: I think it depends on an individual. Not everyone has a vision or idea of an artist album. If I ever have the opportunity to make another album, I will do it again.
Dimitri: How long did it take you to record the album and was this strictly a full time occupation with a fixed deadline?
Aneym: It took us 18 months to make the album. I have a full-time job and I could only find time to write and record in the evenings and weekends. My manager set a deadline for each producer which was very helpful.
Dimitri: Can you describe the process of recording the tracks. For example do you first write the lyrics and then producers provide suitable music, or do you first get the music from them and then you write the lyrics?
Aneym: In most cases I receive a short or full demo and write lyrics upon it. I prefer working with very basic demos or writing text first. I find it more creative, I simply have much more ideas.
Dimitri: What kind of equipment / setup do you have at home to record your vocals?
Aneym: My home studio is very modest. I use ESI Pro Julia sound card, microphone Studio Projects B1, mic preamplifier, and SE Electronics Reflexion Filter and Audacity software for recordings.
Dimitri: Your lyrics are brilliant and very inspiring. Have you ever received any message from a fan telling you that your lyrics changed her/his life?
Aneym: Thank you! Fans write me that they relate to my lyrics. It’s so rewarding and priceless. I remember one message from a supporter informing me that he proposed to his girlfriend while listening to ‘Far Away’. I was over the moon.
Dimitri: In your songs do you adopt the female point of view in your lyrics or do you try to be as objective as possible and represent both genders so men and women feel that they talk about their lives, and should identify with them?
Aneym: I try to represent both genders in my lyrics. I touch upon various subjects. Listeners can hear a lot of interesting stories they may identify with.
Dimitri: Which track from the album was produced really fast and which track was produced really slow and took months to finish?
Aneym: Torn Apart, Anywhere I Want To Go, Soulmates, Right Through Me were produced very fast. It took a few months to finish Shine and Times Without Numbers.
Dimitri: It would be great to give a short personal comment about each track from the album. What they mean to you, and maybe what you will remember the most from its production.
Aneym: I’ve enjoyed working with all producers. I’m grateful for their help and admire their creativity and talent. All the tracks have been created via the Internet. We’ve been in contact mainly via email or chat. Despite different settings, experience, cultures and distance we could accomplish the mission. I think we’ve done an amazing job!
Aneym:
1 Aneym And Alphadelta feat. Chris Hellon – Times Without Number
Originally, Times Without Number was written to a trance demo. Andy Davies (Alphadelta) has chosen just a few parts of the text and put them to a beautiful Breakbeat. My manger and I loved it immediately, and motivated Andy to finish the track.
2 Aneym And Cramp – Overshadowed
Overshadowed is about people who appear and disappear in our lives very fast. They may cause some heartache, disappointment, bring chaos and confusion, but they will never change us. After each fall, we should dust ourselves down and carry on our way.
3 Aneym And Mango With Richard Aarden – Soulmates
I immediately fell in love with Mango’s demo and knew exactly what the song would be about. I wrote almost the whole text on a train in warm September 2011. The song is dedicated to my husband and manager, Peter and my faithful friends.
4. Aneym And Jan Martin – Young & Proud
I got two demos from Jan Martin in September 2011. I particularly liked one because it made me think about eighties, the period of my early childhood. I thought about my siblings with whom I had lot of adventures, crazy ideas. We used to make up new games, invented some stories to escape from mundane, depressing reality of communism and post communism. Thanks to vivid imagination, creativity and passion, we felt rich having no money. In our dreams we could have everything and sky was the limit. I’ve dedicated Young & Proud to my sister, my dearest companion on a journey to adulthood. It’s my favourite song from the album.
5 Aneym And Kim Svard – Wake Me Up
I remember Kim sent me a lovely summer track one winter evening in 2011. The project was called Alive, but it hasn’t been finished. Then I refreshed my old song Wake Me Up from 2008. I changed some words and vocal melody. The hardest part was the chorus. It was changed twice. The song is about religious awakening, being born again.
6 Aneym And Mike Shiver – Shine
It wasn’t easy to produce Shine. I’ve created three different songs based on Mike’s demo.
There were a few moments when I wanted to give up on this project, but after a break I got inspired again and finished it. The song is based on my personal experience. I was bullied by my peers and other people in my childhood because they couldn’t accept my physical appearance. While writing the lyrics I also thought about my friends who were bullied and abused. Shine is about forgiveness, saying goodbye to the past, accepting and learning to love yourself, believing in self-worth and your greatness. I’ve dedicated Shine to my friend Michaela.
7 Aneym And Light Within – Anywhere I Want To Go
In 2009 I wrote a song ‘My Instincts’ to a break beat project that wasn’t finished. At the end of 2010, I talked to Krzysztof (Nitrous Oxide) that I would like to make a D'n'B track. He liked the idea and together with Kamil Bigaj, we created the project Light Within. I used most of the lyrics and vocal melody from ‘My Instincts’ and the song got a new name ‘Anywhere I Want To Go’. At first, I didn’t plan to include the song in album, but eventually I changed my mind. The track is about following your heart, accepting your nature, chasing your dreams, staying true to yourself no matter where you go, fulfilling your life mission. Anywhere I Want To Go is a very positive and energetic track that lifts the spirits high.
8 Aneym And Nitrous Oxide – Believer
The first lyric of Believer was written in summer 2008. The track wasn’t finished by producers. In 2009 I tried to continue the Believer project with another producer, but he also gave up on it. At the end of 2010, I sent the vocals to Krzysztof (Nitrous Oxide) and he created a totally new version of Believer. The final version was created in 2012. The lyrics and vocal melody were changed several times accept the chorus part that was created in 2008. Believer is a story of a girl who has taken love for granted and she is focused on taking not giving. At the end she is left with nothing.
9 Aneym And Store N Forward – Torn Apart
Torn Apart is based on my experience. It’s about dealing with homesickness when living abroad. Few years ago I moved to Hungary leaving my family, friends, country behind. Sad lyrics and uplifting composition created by Thomas and Christian show the state of my torn heart.
10 Aneym And Chapter XJ – High & Low
High & Low was my second idea for Jan’s demo. Somehow I wasn’t satisfied with the results of the first idea so I wrote another text. The song is about searching for happiness, grasping moments that matter in life.
11 Aneym And Ferrin & Morris – Right Through Me
I was thrilled to work with Alan and Josh. I wanted to have a big uplifting track on my album. Most of the text has been taken from Times Without Number.
Right Through Me is about the process of artistic creation. I described what happens to me when I get inspired by the Holly Spirit. This song is dedicated to Him.
12 Aneym And Suncatcher – Together Again
It was a pleasure to work with Bogdan (Suncatcher) again. Writing Together Again was very emotional. I meant every word I wrote. The song is dedicated to my beloved ones who have passed away.
Dimitri: Did you feel while you were writing the album that you will never finish it, and from where did you get the strength to continue and finish it?
Aneym: Yes, I had such moments. Then I was often motivated by Peter, my manager and husband. My family also supported me in hard times.
Dimitri: Are there any tracks that you recorded but you didn’t manage to include on the final track listing for various reasons?
Aneym: Only one track wasn’t included in Young & Proud. The idea of the album has been changed and the song didn’t fit the new concept.
Dimitri: In your thank you message you mention God. Do you believe in God and in what ways? Do you have examples in your life that God’s presence was closer and helped you in a difficult situation as a miracle maybe?
Aneym: Yes, I do believe in God. I’m a Catholic. God is in the first place in my life. I owe Him everything. He inspires and guides me through. I feel His presence and grace every single day. In my songs I often write about God, faith. I have experienced a lot of miracles in my life. I think being an artist, being able to write, sing and perform is a miracle.
Dimitri: Are you emotional and sensitive or do you balance them with logic and mind. Do you feel that usually your heart or your mind is governing your life?
Aneym: I associate with all mentioned features. In everyday life, I try to find the balance between heart and mind. As an artist I’m totally emotional and sensitive and follow my heart.
Dimitri: Why did you take the decision to release the album on Afterglow records. What are your feelings about its owner Elef Tsiroudis?
Aneym: Young & Proud is not typical trance album. My manager and I decided about the whole structure of it. Afterglow was a perfect choice to release Young & Proud. No-one has imposed anything on us. I finally had artistic freedom. The owner of Afterglow, Elef Tsiroudis accepted the whole material straight away. He didn’t tell us to change anything. I’m really grateful for that. Elef cares about his artists and their needs a lot. He is a musician himself. Elef is a friendly, open-minded, creative person with a vision. It’s a pleasure working with him.
Dimitri: Are you going to prepare a live show to support the release of the album?
Aneym: We haven’t thought about it. We may consider this idea.
Dimitri: Have you ever performed in a club event or festival, and how was this experience?
Aneym: Yes, I performed in a club event in 2010 and concert in 2012 with Tenishia.
These two events were unforgettable. I loved everything. Maltese audience was amazing.
It was touching to see people singing my lyrics.
Dimitri: Do you consider yourself to be a party animal that visits many clubs or festivals, or you are more of an esoteric laid back person?
Aneym: I would consider myself as an esoteric laid back person. I go to trance parties from time to time.
Dimitri: Which club night that you have attended in the past will you remember for ever because the DJ played your track without knowing that you were present?
Aneym: Unfortunately, such a night hasn’t happened yet. There’s still a chance.
Dimitri: Do you have other singers/vocalists in mind who deserve to record a whole album?
Aneym: I have a long list of artists. I especially count on Stine Grove, Justine Suissa, Sue Maclaren , Meredith Call, Neev Kennedy. I hope they will make artist albums in the future.
Dimitri: Are there any songs that you would like to cover in an electronic dance music style?
Aneym: Actually, I haven’t thought about making such covers. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t touch any classics. It’s too risky.
Dimitri: Can you give us a piece of advice for any upcoming singers who strive to get a record deal, and build a descent and prosperous career?
Aneym: Believe in yourself, know your worth, be persistent, be prepared for criticism and get a manager who will deal with all formal things so you can focus on music.
Dimitri: Big thanks for your answers, its long interview but it was totally worth it.
Aneym: Thank you! I’ve really enjoyed answering all of your questions!
Big thanks to Aneym for her time to reply so extensively to my questions
Big thanks to Elef Tsiroudis from Afterglow records for helping me to organise this interview
Big thanks to Paul Aldridge at 1mix Radio for proofing and publishing
Check this interview on 1mix web site as well click here
Buy Young & Proud at the following online shops
Beatport click here
Juno Download click here
itunes click here
trackitdown click here
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