As the second-eldest daughter in a large, religious family–five siblings in all–Seattle-based retro soul and modern pop artist Annie J has always relied on music to find a sense of belonging. With a childhood spent shuffling around small towns throughout the US, she discovered that art created a deeper understanding of her purpose than what was on the surface. Annie’s family eventually settled on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State—through it all, she found a constant companion in what was flowing through the speakers of a “dream machine” radio alarm clock her grandfather gifted her. “Anything that was mainstream pop or R&B came through the dream machine clock radio, which I’d listen to quietly in a room I shared with one of my sisters,” she says. The R&B and jazz stylings of Whitney Houston and Nina Simone that Annie gravitated toward swirled with country-soaked powerhouse voices of Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, The Chicks and The Judds that her mother had on repeat. The messages these women sent via their music sparked her desire not only for singing but also for crafting stories and emotions into melodies that resonate, as well as modeling the significance of what it means to be uniquely you. “I grew up a Mormon girl, which came with an implied vocation that I applied to myself for sure,” she says. “You know, love of cooking, embroidery, arts and crafts, anticipating male needs, following the chain of command, and staying in your lane—the goal being a good wife and mother.” In addition to what she found on her radio, she credits the incredible educators along her path for the vocalist she is now, particularly a middle-high school choir teacher who felt like one of the first people to further her development as a young vocalist. These teachers and mentors helped her solidify the belief that she was worth the investment. “I went to a small school with few opportunities,” she says.
