Biography

Musical style: distinctly edgy cocktail music with heartrending sincerity. A mood that blends feelings and sentimentality with a modern electronic twist on retro inspired funk, soul, lounge, blues and smooth jazz.

Anne-Lise earned her serious musician stripes as a cellist from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. The natural progression was to enter the revered world of classical music, which she did for a while. However, with an ever restless creative soul burgeoning underneath, the rigidness of being a professional cellist soon felt stifling for Anne-Lise. "I had a voice and I needed to sing" she reflects.

The musical evolution had begun. Anne-Lise took the leap, moved to Sydney and began her musical life afresh.

Sydney projects have included the A-L Larsen Duo (featuring Andy Manessis) - featured Club Acoustica artist; and her band, Ayelle, with Paul Wheeler (ex-Sunbury Aztecs) on bass.

A solo career is the latest phase of Anne-Lise's musical journey. It marks a new level of dedication to - and confidence in - her art, and a realisation that she is capable of success in her own right.

Her debut release, I'm Alive [2006 EP], was an affirmation of arrival and survival in the music world. The EP was entirely written, composed, arranged and performed by Anne-Lise, and recorded and produced in her studio. Belying its one-woman origins, I'm Alive appeals to a wider, shared experience, exploring tales of love, loneliness, the pursuit of dreams and the seduction of envy.

In May 2008, Anne-Lise fulfilled her need to reconnect with her long lost love of cello. Anne-Lise performed a ground breaking acoustic set of her original music by accompanying herself with her cello at Amanda Easton's PopTarts. It was quite the experience with a never before heard hush overcoming the full house Unity Hall Hotel during Anne-Lise's set. In October, Anne-Lise repeated that performance as she supported Sophie Serafino at The Basement [read fan review].

2009 will bring a new one-woman production in the form of a full length album from Anne-Lise. "I learned a lot from releasing I'm Alive. This abum will sound better, will be more experimental and I have brought my cello into the mix to complement my sentimental groove".
What they've said

On Back Where She Began: "Very fine song.You have a beautiful voice. The minimal guitar accompaniment lets your great voice shine through.I would love to hear this in a club... Very sweet and moving performance.Gets my vote!!" Burnin'Vernon, USA's hottest innovative blues man, 2003.

"Summertime is my favourite song. I've heard it performed all over the world. Your version is the best" Happy Punter, Kelly's On King, 2003

I love your sounds, the way you play your musics, all the instruments very well played, that's because I love your musics very much. Brazilian Fan.

I must say: I like what I hear. Nice and fluffy music, good to have a warm morning coffee with.... Bernd Niedergesaess, Music Editor Europe, Radio 42.