Anna van Riel
Original Artist Anna van Riel is New Zealand born and raised. She travels often with her guitar and performs regularly to a variety of audiences around the globe. In 2008 van Riel performed at the palace for Prince Albert of Monaco and has recently finished touring New Zealand with her acoustic bluegrass/folk band Bellebird and the Handsome Gypsies consisting of Jo Little, Michael Bradford and JR Richardson.
Anna's debut album 'Solar Panel' can be ordered by contacting her through her myspace page www.myspace.com/annavanriel
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I love playing live. Touring NZ with my band was pretty magic. Playing at the Mussel Inn in Golden Bay was a pretty memorable experience. So was playing for Prince Albert. I actually got sent to the palace to give him a deep tissue massage as I was working on a private super yacht as the family's massage therapist. They were buddies with Princey pants and sent me there. I brought my ukulele and played him a sing I'd written called Monaco. It was pretty cool. He stood in the nude and listened. That was not so cool.
Your musical influences
Eagels, Little River band, Katie Noonan, Ray Lamontagne, Tony Joe White, My Dad, The Waifs, Anything I can harmonise to, The Muppets, Billie Holiday, Musicals, my dreams (they're really weird), Jethro Tull, Dave Matthews band...we could be here all day
What equipment do you use?
Seagull semi-acoustic, tuing pedal, tambourine, ukulele, egg shaker, flute, mic (I frget the model. I'm not techo savvy at all I'm afraid).
Anything else?
Kazoo
