Anna Nalick

Singles & EPs

About Anna Nalick

California native Anna Nalick rose to mainstream success in 2005 behind her breakout hit, "Breathe (2 AM)," an introspective bit of alt-tinged folk-pop storytelling, that found its way into the front half of the Billboard Hot 100 and fared even better on AAA radio. Prominent placements on shows like Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill further bolstered her exposure, though disputes with Columbia Records resulted in her second album being delayed by a number of years; it eventually arrived independently in 2011. Nalick resurfaced again in 2017, giving her sound a more organic, though still atmospheric tone on At Now and its sparse acoustic follow-up, The Blackest Crow. As a child in the Los Angeles area, Nalick's musical exposure was diverse, though in her teenage years she gravitated toward a mix of alt-rock and classic singer/songwriter fare. While attending college, her home-recorded demo tape made its way into the hands of production team Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith, both founding members of Blind Melon. Along with producer Eric Rosse (Tori Amos), they assembled a crack team of L.A. studio musicians to help record Nalick's debut album, Wreck of the Day, which was released by Columbia in April 2005. The buzz created by "Breathe (2 AM)," which had been released the previous year, helped boost the album to number 20 on the Billboard 200 and when the single was re-released in conjunction with the album, it shot to number 45 on the Hot 100 and number six on the Adult Top 40. In 2006, "Breathe (2 AM)" experienced a resurgence when Grey's Anatomy used it in a prominent episode, prompting Columbia to reissue the entire album with several extra songs. The title song, "Wreck of the Day," was also used on an episode of One Tree Hill and later that year, Nalick took home an AC Female Artist of the Year trophy at the New Music Awards, besting veteran Sheryl Crow. A 2008 EP, Shine, acted as a sort of stopgap, featuring acoustic versions of Nalick's best-known songs, and a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover. Behind the scenes, trouble was brewing with Columbia, which soon scrapped the sessions for her sophomore album and parted ways with Nalick. Lying low until 2010, she revealed that she'd been working with producer Nathan Chapman and had finally finished her follow-up album. Continually beset with delays, Broken Dolls & Odds & Ends finally saw release in June 2011 on indie Nyctograph Records. A mix of edgy alt-pop and folkier fare, the album failed to chart, though Nalick continued to tour over the next few years while exploring other creative endeavors, including co-writing and acting. It would be another six years until she resurfaced with another album. 2017's At Now straddled the line between the dark-hued pop style of her earlier records and a more organic folk-driven sound that flirted with Americana. Appearing two years later, The Blackest Crow went even further, offering a spare acoustic mix of jazz-flavored cuts and gothic folk flare. ~ Timothy Monger

HOMETOWN
Glendora, CA, United States
BORN
30 March 1984
GENRE
Pop

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