Genre and Style
Anika writes soulful, original acoustic music. Renowned South African saxophonist Kevin Davidson who labelled it "choppy, fragmental folk" coined the description she likes best. Her band brings a strong jazzy flavour to her already intelligently crafted songs.
Quotable Quotes
'And as far as Anika is concerned a career in music was never really a choice but more a necessity - "it's all I can do," she shrugs - and even though the chances of making a halfway decent living with music that will never be considered radio fodder, are slim, she refuses to become despondent or compromise her art or herself just to make a few bucks.'
- Craig Canavan, Pretoria News 2001
"Anika and attitude are synonymous. 'Other musicians could do with some of hers.'"
- John Hogg quoting Karel Hoffman, Sunday Independent 2002
"But the absolute pinnacle, for this journalist at least, is to watch a young and largely untested artist make that giant leap from simply promising to the
realm of blinding, Godlike musical genius. It doesn’t happen often but when it does the feeling is sublimely magical."
-Craig Canavan, Sunday Independent 2005
The Early Days
Anika was born in Louis Trichardt but her family soon moved to Pietermaritzburg where she did most of her schooling.
She had piano lessons from a very early age and started writing her own songs around the time she started high school. Her first performances took place at the age of 15 in folk clubs in Natal where she had to lie about her age in order to get in. That was where she learned the importance of really listening to songs without allowing your self to get carried away by the hype alone. She still prefers the small and intimate settings to the massive stages. In her final year in high school they moved to Pretoria where she matriculated Pro Arte School of Arts. In 2000 she started studying jazz at the Technicon of Pretoria. In the middle of her first year she decided to call it a day and start focusing on her career as singer/songwriter.
Recording history
Like just about any other musician the start of her career was not easy. She would play any gig she could get her hands on, often for the bartender and one or two friends who came along. But the word started spreading and she slowly started building up a small but loyal fan base.
In September 2000 she recorded an EP entitled "a little less covers", which she sold independently at gigs. The title of the EP was a private little joke as the recording was done shortly after she was fired from a regular gig for refusing to play Alanis Morisette.
In May 2001 she recorder her first full length album simply titled "LIVE" at Up The Creek in Pretoria. Again all the distribution and manufacturing was done independently. She has photocopied and cut out more cd covers than she cares to remember but it paid off as she sold over 1000 copies before she started working on her first full band album.
In November 2002 Anika released her first full band album. 17 Track "Killing Time" is doing well at gigs and in the shops. It was recorded at Mugu Studio's in Joburg from June to October 2002 by Peter Auret. The album features musicians like Albert Frost, bassist Graeme Curry and Kommetjie saxophonist Nic le Roux. (Distributed by Bowline.)
In May 2005 this little singer released another studio album, fittingly entitled "Hovering". This album has been well recieved by the small media circle SA has to offer to the music that is really not catogorisable this time around. Hovering offers Anika at her melodic best (so far). The songs are more at ease with each other, and the production is warm and haunting. Featuring Anika on keyboard, guitars, as well as bass guitar on this one. Sjanine Steyn is the compitent and melodic percussionist. Lebo Mogale on sax. Distributed by proudly South African lable Loophole.
Summary of career highlights
Anika's career really started taking off in 2001 when she started playing the festivals in South Africa. Following is a brief summary of some of the highlights.
2001
Numerous shows at the Klein Karoo Nationale Kunstefees
OppiKoppi Patrolliehond Festival
Splashy Fen Music Festival
Three sold out dates as support act to Tony Cox
A live set recorded for SA FM
OppiKoppi Tuned Festival
Aardklop
Tour of the KZN Folk Clubs
2002
Tuks rag
OppiKoppi Willie Smith Easter Festival
Numerous shows at the Klein Karoo Nationale Kunstefees. (Her set at Kaktus was recorded for KykNet)
Support act for Anton Goosen at the Aula
Grahamstown Arts Festival (a set was recorded for Replay on SABC 3)
Backing vocals and piano on Valiant Swart's Latest release, "Maanhare"
Numerous shows at the OppiKoppi Premix Festival (fringe festival)
OppiKoppi Plunge (main festival)
Numerous shows at Aardklop, including guest appearances with Mel Botes, Lourinda Hofmeyr and the Anton Goosen and friends show
Successfully launches her first full-band album: "Killing Time"
2003
2 Sets at Splashy Fen Music Festival
Oppikoppi Easter Festival
Successful tours to Kwazulu Natal in June and to Cape Town in August
Oppikoppi August Festival
2004
A set a Splashy Fen Music Festival
Oppikoppi Easter Festival
Songwriting Workshops at various schools around South Africa
2005
Recording and releasing studio album "Hovering"
Touring 6000 km in 17 days, 14 gigs across South Africa with artist Anja Taschner on colours and collapsable frame and canvas
The feature artist (and background musician) on SABC Morning Live TV (National Arts fest, Grahamstown)
Set at Oppikoppi Wired was recorded live for RSG (Radio sonder grense)
2006
20 gigs in 25 days around Engand in January
Set with Matthew van der Want at Oppikoppi Easter
Tour of Eastern Cape with Syd Kitchen (Including 10 gigs at Grahamstown Arts Fest)
Performance and interview on SABC 1 & 3 19h00 news, and Morning Live with Syd (Grahamstown Feature)
Set at Oppikoppi 12 festival, in collaboration with Syd Kitchen
2007-2011
Anika found love in Switzerland, and moved there in 2009. Finding it difficult to find gigs and getting involved in the Swiss music scene, she decided to build a little home studio where she’s currently playing around.