"Cuban influenced singer-guitarist Lili Añel is part soul sister, part jazz chanteuse and pure dynamite." For years, Lili Añel has electrified audiences in the United States and Canada with her powerhouse vocals, charisma, songwriting skills and natural ability to command the stage.
On her fifth release, Every Second In Between (Wall-I Records), LILI AÑEL wanted to continue depicting her love of songwriting, singing and interpretation, but at a whole new level. “I knew when I began putting the songs together for this record that I wanted to work with a producer who would get me, what I’m about, and bring out my voice.” Enter four-time Grammy winner Glenn Barratt. “I was already familiar with Glenn’s work when I heard a record he’d produced over the club’s sound system after one of my gigs,” says Lili. “I was amazed at the way the recording cut through the club’s noise ― not only was the vocal well balanced, but I could hear every word. That was paramount for me.”
Every Second In Between is a collaboration of heart, soul, words, music, spirit and technique. The songs’ landscapes accurately capture Lili, bringing her voice to the forefront, from the classically tinged Voyager, with its string quartet and Lili’s voice, alone and in chorus, to her cover of Nina Simone’s That’s All I Want From You, and the Latin flavored Supposed To Be, the album’s first single, a song of empowerment with the storyteller’s refusal to give up sense of self. Every Second In Between proves Lili’s stick-to-it-ness and her continued growth as a songwriter and artist to be, as she likes to say, “good as gold.”
As a Songwriter, Lili honed her skill in NYC’s Greenwich Village thriving music scene. She successfully showed diversity within her musical ideas and sensibilities, performing both solo or with her band executing her music and voice with amazing power, rhythmically and melodically. The 6 ft tall performer has shared the stage with many national acts as well as headlining.
In 1994, Lili was signed to Palmetto Records and her first CD "Laughed Last" was internationally released. She toured the U.S. and Canada in support of it.
“People have often said my music is Joan Armatrading meets Joni Mitchell meets Steely Dan, Lili says. “I agree and disagree. I do resemble Joan somewhat in my singing, my songwriting style is heavily influenced by Joni amongst many others (The Beatles, Janis Ian, etc.) and I love the sound of Steely Dan. But I don’t sing exactly like Joan, I don’t write exactly like Joni and my recordings don’t sound exactly like Steely Dan. I am influenced by a great deal of other songwriters and musical styles that many people aren’t even familiar with, GARLAND JEFFREYS, to name one.
“When The Beatles arrived in America, the damage was done. Mom bought me Introducing The Beatles (V-Jay Records) and my sister Meet The Beatles on Capitol. From that point on I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up.”
On her fifth release, Every Second In Between (Wall-I Records), LILI AÑEL wanted to continue depicting her love of songwriting, singing and interpretation, but at a whole new level. “I knew when I began putting the songs together for this record that I wanted to work with a producer who would get me, what I’m about, and bring out my voice.” Enter four-time Grammy winner Glenn Barratt. “I was already familiar with Glenn’s work when I heard a record he’d produced over the club’s sound system after one of my gigs,” says Lili. “I was amazed at the way the recording cut through the club’s noise ― not only was the vocal well balanced, but I could hear every word. That was paramount for me.”
Every Second In Between is a collaboration of heart, soul, words, music, spirit and technique. The songs’ landscapes accurately capture Lili, bringing her voice to the forefront, from the classically tinged Voyager, with its string quartet and Lili’s voice, alone and in chorus, to her cover of Nina Simone’s That’s All I Want From You, and the Latin flavored Supposed To Be, the album’s first single, a song of empowerment with the storyteller’s refusal to give up sense of self. Every Second In Between proves Lili’s stick-to-it-ness and her continued growth as a songwriter and artist to be, as she likes to say, “good as gold.”
As a Songwriter, Lili honed her skill in NYC’s Greenwich Village thriving music scene. She successfully showed diversity within her musical ideas and sensibilities, performing both solo or with her band executing her music and voice with amazing power, rhythmically and melodically. The 6 ft tall performer has shared the stage with many national acts as well as headlining.
In 1994, Lili was signed to Palmetto Records and her first CD "Laughed Last" was internationally released. She toured the U.S. and Canada in support of it.
“People have often said my music is Joan Armatrading meets Joni Mitchell meets Steely Dan, Lili says. “I agree and disagree. I do resemble Joan somewhat in my singing, my songwriting style is heavily influenced by Joni amongst many others (The Beatles, Janis Ian, etc.) and I love the sound of Steely Dan. But I don’t sing exactly like Joan, I don’t write exactly like Joni and my recordings don’t sound exactly like Steely Dan. I am influenced by a great deal of other songwriters and musical styles that many people aren’t even familiar with, GARLAND JEFFREYS, to name one.
“When The Beatles arrived in America, the damage was done. Mom bought me Introducing The Beatles (V-Jay Records) and my sister Meet The Beatles on Capitol. From that point on I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up.”