Psychedelic songstress ANIQO has released her debut album, BIRTH on the 18th of March via SPRINGSTOFF.
The album is largely produced by Guy Sternberg (Kings of Convenience, Feist and Yoko Ono) with whom ANIQO recorded 8 songs in his Berliner LowSwing Studios 2020 together with her bandmates Illia Vovk and Torsten Füchsel. ANIQO has previously worked with Joe Cardamone (Mark Lanegan, Warren Ellis of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and The Stooges’ former member James Williamson) who also produced two of the songs on the album.
On the album, listeners will also find the previously released singles, ‘Balance’, ‘Fear’, ‘Deep Sea Fish’ and ‘Must Surrender’, each of which were accompanied by stunningly unusual videos that were predominately made by director Matthias Pfeiffer aka pupillendriller.
The album is an audio journey out of the darkness (which is depicted with heavier songs such as the title track ‘Birth’, ‘Must Surrender’ and ‘The Sea’) and into the light, which we find glimmering with hope in each of the psychedelic tracks. Within ‘Vivre Libre’ we can find ANIQQ’s elegant metaphorical and symbolic imagery as each carefully chosen lyric winds its way into the heart. Ultimately the album is a socio-critical debut that is laden with personal caresses, including a nod to the ancestors as well as touching on the importance of both trust and freedom. At times gritty, other times writhing with synth-laden complexities and the occasional smooth jazz element, the album contains something for everyone.
According to ANIQO, BIRTH is not only a personal liberation but also a message to face life with hope: “BIRTH stands at the beginning of all things. The journey began 6 years ago for me as both ANIQO and the creation of the album. BIRTH symbolises the process of making the decision to fundamentally change my life and at the same time the path to the inner core… It’s about healing and releasing dark places both inside and outside, breaking down fears and stuck thought structures, loss and the necessity to surrender with self-love. It is an album that wants to light the way through the darkest hours. It will hold your hand during resurrection and transformation.
BIRTH is available on Vinyl, CD and digital platforms. Stream it below.
