Anu Junnonen

anu junnonen 2023-051

Biography

Born into a family of musicians, Anu began singing before she could speak, according to her mother. As a teenager, she sang in her hometown choirs, and played piano, saxophone and flute. Anu's musical expression is rooted in jazz. In 1999, she came to Belgium to study at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where she also formed her first band, aNoo, mixing jazz and folk influences in an original formation featuring voice, accordion and trombone.

In 2007, she released her debut album 'The Luckless Lands of the North'. In 2011 followed 'Sinipiika', which she produced with producer Werner Pensaert (K's Choice, Clouseau, Jef Neve). But as the two albums she recorded with this group prove, Anu is far from being a jazz purist. The singer is increasingly intrigued by samples and digital rhythms. This new fascination gave rise to 'Skeletons' (2014), the first of her records on which she took the controls herself. The EP 'Open Your Window' (2018) was produced by Koen Gisen (cf. Dans Dans, Robbing Millions, etc.).

Her latest album 'Komeetta' (2023) is the culmination of 5 years sharing the stage as a trio. Now singing in Finnish and English, her fourth studio album 'Komeetta' brings her closer to her origins. The musical material is now more stripped-down and sober, creating an intimate path to the audience. The blend of Anu's Finnish heritage and Belgian experience gives her an instantly recognizable sound that is all her own. Komeetta was recorded in Antwerp at Studio Caporal by Nicolas Rombouts, and the album was mixed and produced by Gil Mortio and Anu at the Marcel Delcourt studio in Brussels

Since 2011, Anu has also been co-leader of the Brussels Vocal Project, a contemporary vocal collective that mainly performs works composed in collaboration with various singers and composers. Anu has performed at various venues and festivals in Belgium and abroad. With her groups, she has toured Germany, Finland, Norway, China and Morocco. Anu is also a dedicated teacher and currently teaches at the Ghent Conservatory and the Jette Music Academy. She is regularly invited to give workshops in jazz, folk and a cappella singing.

Discover her music :

Langue : French