Ana Laan

Last updated

Ana Laan
Ana Laan.jpg
Ana Laan at Libertad 8
Background information
Birth nameAna Serrano van der Laan
Also known asRita Calypso
Born (1967-02-10) February 10, 1967 (age 56) [1]
Madrid, Spain
Origin Madrid, Spain
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active2002–present

Ana Serrano van der Laan (born 10 February 1967), known professionally as Ana Laan, is a singer-songwriter born in Madrid, Spain. She composes in English, Spanish and Swedish, with a smattering of French.

Contents

Biography

Born in Madrid, Spain, in 1967, she grew up in Stockholm, Sweden, in a trilingual (English, Spanish and Swedish) home. She moved to England during her adolescence and later to Spain, where she studied English Philology. She also began her musical career in Spain, taping and performing with a wide variety of Spanish-language artists, among them Javier Álvarez, Sergio Dalma, Jorge Drexler, Diego Vasallo, Christina Rosenvinge and David Broza.

In her first two CDs, she appeared under the pseudonym Rita Calypso for Siesta, an independent label in collaboration with producer Ramón Leal. With Siesta she participated in other projects, among them as part of the pop duo Magic Whispers. Rita developed a certain following in the indie scene after her first CD, "Apocalypso."

"Rita is a femme fatale, with lush pouty lips and dark hair, a man-devourer given to ravishing multimillionaire lovers in the Costa Azul (Mexico). She sings them her versions of songs from the 1960s and 1970s in their yachts. She has a frivolous and glamorous persona," recounts Ana Laan in an interview.

In her first solo CD, Ana Laan recorded her own songs with Juan Campodónico, Luciano Supervielle (Bajofondo Tango Club) and Jorge Drexler (her ex-husband), and coproduced the album with Leo Sidran. The CD was published in the United States in 2004 and in Argentina in 2005, to rave reviews in both countries. The response prompted a series of concerts in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and Buenos Aires, along with a showcase in the 2005 Latin Alternative Music Conference in New York.

In December 2004 the Chicago Tribune lists her album Oregano among the top 10 best Latin recordings of the year.

Her song "Para el dolor" (For pain), the second track in "Oregano," was included in "Music From the Wine Lands" a compilation by Putumayo World Music, a New York City-based record label. The album also won the Independent Music Award for the best Latin album.

In 2005 she separated from Uruguayan singer Jorge Drexler.

She spent the summer of 2006 in New York recording her second disk, "Chocolate and Roses", also produce with Leo Sidran. Although her Latin roots are still evident in this collection, her compositions include more songs with lyrics in English, a little French, along with several bilingual English-Spanish songs and a Swedish pop song. She is accompanied by Phil Mossman (LCD Soundsystem, U2), Matías Cella (Kevin Johansen, Jorge Drexler), Michael Leonhart (Lenny Kravitz, Steely Dan), Ramón Leal and Javier Álvarez.

This album was presented at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2007 and in August she went on a brief tour throughout the United States.

Musical influences

Ana Laan recognizes a variety of influences in her music, among them: Jorge Drexler, Erik Satie, Björk, Rufus Wainwright, Les Luthiers, Camille, Keren Ann, Fiona Apple, Shawn Colvin, Joni Mitchell, Harold Arlen, Kevin Johansen, Aterciopelados, The Beatles, João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Marisa Monte, Gilberto Gil, Paul Simon, Henri Salvador, Maria Albistur, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Bebel Gilberto, Brazilian Girls, Blue Nile, Bulgarian Voices, Radiohead, Portishead, PJ Harvey, Arvo Pärt, Sade, Manzanita, Morcheeba, Nouvelle Vague, Benjamin Biolay, Elvis Costello, Mercedes Sosa, Misa Criolla (Ariel Ramírez), Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Blossom Dearie, Emilíana Torrini, Imogen Heap, Marvin Gaye, Bruce Springsteen, Astrud Gilberto, Javier Álvarez, and Fernando Cabrera.

Discography

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Rita</span> Brazilian singer (born 1977)

Maria Rita is a Brazilian singer. Born Maria Rita Camargo Mariano, she is the daughter of famed pianist/arranger César Camargo Mariano and the late Brazilian singing legend Elis Regina and sister to Pedro Mariano and music producer João Marcelo Bôscoli. Her namesake is family friend and famed Brazilian rock legend Rita Lee. She studied at New York University, and worked as a journalist at a magazine for adolescents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorge Drexler</span> Uruguayan musician

Jorge Abner Drexler Prada is a Uruguayan musician, actor and doctor specializing in otolaryngology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Sidran</span> American keyboardist, label owner, and writer

Ben Hirsh Sidran is an American jazz and rock keyboardist, producer, label owner, and music writer. Early in his career he was a member of the Steve Miller Band and is the father of Grammy-nominated musician, composer and performer Leo Sidran.

Leo Sidran is an American Latin Grammy-winning musician, composer, performer, and producer whose credits include co-producing the Oscar-winning song "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" for the soundtrack to the movie The Motorcycle Diaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al otro lado del río</span> 2005 single by Jorge Drexler

"Al otro lado del río" is a song by Uruguayan singer Jorge Drexler from the soundtrack album for the film The Motorcycle Diaries (2004). It was released as a single on 15 March 2005, by Dro East West. Besides the film's soundtrack, the song was included in reissue editions of Drexler's seventh studio album Eco (2004) as a bonus track. In June 2020, he performed the song at the launch show of the app 342 Amazônia at Circo Voador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Sept 2004

The 5th Annual Latin Grammy Awards were held on Wednesday, September 1, 2004, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2005

The 6th Annual Latin Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium on Thursday, November 3, 2005. It was the first ceremony to be broadcast by Univision in the United States. Ivan Lins was the big winner, winning two awards, including Album of the Year. He is the first and only Brazilian and Portuguese-language artist to win Album of the Year to date. Alejandro Sanz was honored with Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Juanes won three awards including Best Rock Solo Vocal Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2006

The 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards were held for the first time in New York City, NY. The awards show was held at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, November 2, 2006. Shakira was the big winner winning Album of the Year, one of four awards that she won. She is the first female artist to win Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2008

The 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards took place on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and were aired on Univision. The Brazilian Field awards were presented on the same day at the Ibirapuera Auditorium in São Paulo. The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year was Gloria Estefan. Juanes was the night's big winner, winning 5 awards including Album of the Year. He now has 17 Latin Grammy awards which is more than any other recording artist. The show was watched by an average of 5.8 millions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2010

The 11th Annual Latin Grammy Awards were held on Thursday, November 11, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the third time the annual event had taken place at this location. The eligibility period for recordings to be nominated was July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Nominations were announced on September 8, 2010. On September 14, 2010, it was announced that the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honoree would be Plácido Domingo. The big winners of the night were Camila, Juan Luis Guerra and Gustavo Cerati with three awards.

<i>Amar la Trama</i> 2010 studio album by Jorge Drexler

Amar la Trama is the ninth studio album by Uruguayan recording artist Jorge Drexler. It was released by Warner Music on March 16, 2010, after a four-year gap since the release of his last album of original music. Drexler worked as co-producer, along with Matías Cella and Carles Campi Campón. The themes of the songs are his personal feelings inspired by journeys to Uruguay and Spain, his global wanderings, and the universal wonder of everyday moments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2011

The 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards was held on Thursday, November 10, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and was hosted by Lucero and Cristián de la Fuente. The eligibility period for recordings to be nominated is July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. The show will be aired on Univision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Una Canción Me Trajo Hasta Aquí</span> 2010 single by Jorge Drexler

"Una Canción Me Trajo Hasta Aquí" is a song written and performed by Uruguayan recording artist Jorge Drexler. It was released in February 2010 by Warner Music as the first single from his album Amar la Trama. The track was produced by Matías Cella and co-produced by Drexler and Carles Campi Campón. The album was recorded in four days, at Cata Studios in Madrid, Spain, a television studio, in front of a small audience who were selected in an online contest. The reason to record the album under this format was to avoid the "coldness" of the recording studio. Drexler performed lead vocals, played guitar, and was joined by a band composed of additional guitarists, a rhythm section, a horn section, backup vocalists and auxiliary musicians.

The Latin Grammy Award for Best MPB Album is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally. According to the category description guide for the 13th Latin Grammy Awards, the award is for vocal or instrumental Musica Popular Brasileira albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material, and is awarded to solo artists, duos or groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2012

The 13th Annual Latin Grammy Awards was held on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the fifth time the awards was held at this venue and in Las Vegas. It also marks the last year in the Latin Recording Academy's contract where the Mandalay Bay Events Center hosted. It is unknown if the awards will continue to be held at this location beyond 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2013

The 14th Annual Latin Grammy Awards was held on Thursday, November 21, 2013, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. This was the sixth time that Latin Grammys has been held at this location. The main telecast was broadcast on Univision at 8:00 PM EST.

<i>Salvavidas de Hielo</i> 2017 studio album by Jorge Drexler

Salvavidas de Hielo is the eleventh studio album by Uruguayan singer and songwriter Jorge Drexler, released on September 22, 2017, through Warner Music. It was produced by Carles Campón, frequent collaborator of Drexler, and features collaborations with Chilean singer Mon Laferte and Mexican singers Julieta Venegas and Natalia Lafourcade, the latter in the title track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">19th Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> Music awards presented Nov 2018

The 19th Annual Latin Grammy Awards was held on November 15, 2018 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

<i>Bailar en la Cueva</i> 2014 studio album by Jorge Drexler

Bailar en la Cueva is the tenth studio album by Uruguayan singer and songwriter Jorge Drexler, released on March 25, 2014, through Warner Music. The album was produced by Carlos Campón and features collaborations from Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso and Chilean-French rapper Ana Tijoux. Li Saumet from Bomba Estéreo appears in the title track while Puerto Rican producer Eduardo Cabra co-produced the song "Todo Cae".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards</span> 2022 edition of the Latin Grammy Awards

The 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards ceremony was held on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas to honour the best musical releases within Latin music released from June 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022. The nominations were announced via a virtual livestream on September 20, 2022, presented by Kany García, Christina Aguilera, Banda Los Sebastianes, Becky G, Yotuel, Criolo, Nicky Jam, Akapellah, Luísa Sonza, Sebastián Yatra and Camilo. The three-hour ceremony aired live on Univision and was hosted by singers Anitta, Luis Fonsi, Laura Pausini and Thalía.

References

  1. 1980 Swedish census