2023 - From darkness to light

It’s only when you look back you realise how much has happened, especially when you have ADHD!

2023, from darkness to light, quite literally.

The first half of this year was something of a personal ‘dark night of the soul’, but I’m so incredibly grateful for the lessons I’ve learnt, the friends and family who has been amazing, the unbelievable opportunities I have experienced and the new ones I now have in my role at CISAC.

Here are just a few of them.

I will always be an artist at heart, and I’m slowly rediscovering my love and joy in music.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey so far. 🙏

#2023 #newyear #singersongwriter #musicindustry

From left to right: Dave Rowntree’s album ‘Radio Songs’, The Musicians Company, AIM Connected, House of Parliament Women in Music performance, Musicians Union conference, The Ivor Novello Awards, photoshoot with Nicky Thomas at Chatham Historic Dockyard, Paris, Ffwrd Music Conference, UBC Music Brazil, Björn Ulvaeus at WIPO for Creators, on stage at UBC Brazil, UNESCO Film and AI, CISAC HQ.

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Tree LP - 2024

Tree LP - 2024

2024 will see new music from me! With a series of single’s that will be released mid-year onwards that will be part of a new album/LP called ‘Tree’, due for later release.

Working with award winning, Mercury nominated producer Gerry Diver (who has worked with amongst others Sam Lee, Lisa Knapp, Tom Robinson, Graham Coxon (Blur), Paul Heaton, Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols) Olly Knights (Turin Brakes), Billy Bragg, Martin Carthy, Martyn Joseph, Nitin Sawhney), the album will feature songs written solo and in collaboration with Gerry Diver and Dave Rowntree (Blur) as a personal evolution of identity.

Since Spotify and Deezer announced the change in royalty payouts I have decided not to release these songs (or any new material) on those platforms. This little collection will only be available through my website, Bandcamp (unless something disastrous happens there too), Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora (US) and Tidal. It will also be available in Dolby Atmos…

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UBC Performance Brazil

If you’ve been following my social media feeds you would have seen that I’m currently in Rio De Janeiro for CIAM creators general assembly on behalf of CISAC as their Directors of Presidents and Creators.

Well, I’ve also been able to engage in music whilst here and was invited to play at one of our CMO members, UBC, offices for the staff as a thank you for all their wonderful hospitality and I have to say, it was sooooo good to be back on stage.

Lots of videos online but in the meantime, thank you team UBC. 🙏 Watch this space…

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FastForward Music Confernece

Hi all,

Tomorrow I’ll be talking on a panel on Streaming for FastForward Music Conference in London as a writer and as part of my new role at CISAC! We’ll be delving into the reality of what it’s like for music writers and exchanging ideas on how to make things better (alongside AI!)!

Hopefully, see you there?

Anna

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Ivor Novello Awards 2023

It was an honour to be asked to be a judge for this years Ivor Novello Awards (complete with new sponsor Amazon Music).

I’m proud to have been a small part of what was a heartfelt and humbling ceremony in which a multitude of songwriters not only celebrated their achievements, but spoke from the heart about creative struggles, commitment, unfair pay and imposter syndrome.

So much inspiration, so much to be thankful for. Thank you everyone. 🙏

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week - article for the Musicians Union

I’m proud to have contributed this piece on living with ADHD and Autism for the Musicians'​ Union as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week. It’s important we share our experiences in a positive light because despite some of the challenges society throws at us, we’re awesome. I hope you enjoy reading it, it feels slightly strange bearing my soul in such a non musical way…

https://musiciansunion.org.uk/news/i-wouldn-t-be-without-it-anna-neale-on-adhd-and-autism

Anna NealeComment
Happy release day Dave Rowntree!

Happy release day to Radio Songs, a beautifully poignant collection of songs that I’m extremely proud to have been a small collaborative part of.

Music has meaning, and of all the projects I’ve been blessed enough to be involved with there will always be something special about this.

Black Sheep evolved one rainy afternoon in London, but it takes the listener on a journey through the universe (and back again). I hope you enjoy it and all the other songs I’ve been lucky enough to hear develop these last couple of years.

The album is available to stream from all the usual platforms and on CD and Vinyl (in multiple colours!). Looking forward to the launch tonight at Rough Trade East. www.daverowntree.com

Anna x

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Living with ADHD - Disability History Month

Next month is Disability History Month and to celebrate our diversity I did a short film on what living with ADHD is like for the University of Kent (filmed in our gorgeous Neve Genesis studio - second home!).

I hope this helps others to understand the highs and lows of living with ADHD. My diagnosis answered so many questions I’ve had for a long time. I’m very proud of this:

https://www.kent.ac.uk/student/dhm#videos

Anna x

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Radio Songs -Dave Rowntree Debut Album Release

Thrilled this has finally been announced for 20th Jan 2023 release.

It’s an absolute honour to have co-written the track ‘Black Sheep’ on here. I can’t wait for you all to hear it!

You can pre-save/pre-order the album here: https://daver.lnk.to/RadioSongs

Dave will be performing live at Omeara in London 2nd November 2022: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/dave-rowntree-omeara-tickets/12489285?pl=EYOE

#daverowntree #blur #cowrite #blacksheep #debutalbum

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Making music…

This week I took myself into one of the studios I’m fortunate enough to have access to to start working on some new tracks. New tracks? Yes, you heard correctly! I’m not sure how many, what, when and where yet but it’s good to be back experimenting and enjoying making music again. The benefit of experience (age and wisdom?) means I’m not rushing, but I’m excited for what’s coming. X

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