Fast Five: Annie Dressner
When did you begin making music, and did you ever ponder a different career?
My favorite thing to do in the world is to sing. I cannot remember not loving to sing. I was trained classically in piano starting 4, played violin from about 5 to 10 and picked up the guitar the evening after high school graduation at 18.
I grew up listening to a lot of singer songwriters, such as Carly Simon, Billy Joel, Simon & Garfunkel, but it oddly never occurred to me that I could also try to write songs. I did a lot of theatre. Anyway, I wrote my first song when I was 18. It was about my grandpa.
How would you describe your music?
Geeze. I have decided to call it “Indie Folk.” I feel that covers it with some wiggle room for your own ideas.
What have you been up to so far and what can we expect over the coming months?
I moved from my home of New York City to the UK last summer. This past year I have played shows in Norwich, Newcastle, Cambridge, London, Berkhamsted, Manchester, Liverpool, Waterbeach and perhaps a few more places. This summer I am so excited that I will be playing at Secret Garden Party, Deer Shed Festival & Cambridge Folk Festival. I am also going to be playing at Berkofest, a new music & comedy festival that takes place in Berkhamsted this September. I am also going on a week-long tour this October with singer/songwriter Paul Goodwin.
As far as new music, I have been writing this past year. My debut album, “Stranger’s Who Knew Each Other’s Names” came out last July. I am currently recording an EP of my new songs.
If you could duet with anybody who would it be and why?
Can I pick two? Simon & Garfunkel. Why? Because they are amazing.
What’s your desert island disc and why would you take this one album?
It would be a burned CD including songs by Belle & Sebastian, Simon & Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Jefferson Airplane and more. It would be a big disc where I could burn a lot of songs.
