Music was not her only focus; she sought to capture the human experience in ways other than melodic. “I always followed paths that I was passionate about and did what made me happy. I studied history and law in college at the University of Washington. I always thought I'd go into law because I it seemed rewarding and I wanting to do something significant. I think I've found that in music. I'm trying to write music that's meaningful, but not too heavy. It's a balancing act. I want to have fun and write, but I'm also inspired by really depressing stuff sometimes. We all experience highs and lows, but to write about it you have to go deeper. You have to revel in it. That makes the highs even higher and lows even lower. And that's the best part. I think life is a voyage into self-discovery and if we pay close enough attention we can learn a little about others too.”
Annaliese remains a student, whether of people or of places, “I love playing card games like black jack and poker. The better I become at poker the better I get at reading people. I still have to learn to throw away more hands though. I also love traveling. I've been starting my own traditions the past few years, like visiting the Black Hills in South Dakota and going to places like Deadwood and Keystone and Mt. Rushmore. I think I was a prospector in another life.”
Crossing the country and arriving in Nashville, Annaliese has turned her attention back music, concentrating her talents, still, on people and their behavior, “I worked with a producer by the name of Neilson Hubbard and some really talented musicians. I knew there'd be no shortage of amazing musicians in Nashville. I worked on some old songs and some new. Right now I'm just focused on writing. I recently recorded an EP called, ‘The Same Conversation We Always Have.’ It's named after one of the songs I wrote in reference to the phony conversations we all have with one another. You know the ones that go, "Hi! I haven't seen you in so long--let's get together sometime!" To which you reply, "Yeah! That'd be great--I'll call you!" I'm just as guilty as the next person... We've all done it. I hope I can keep making music and continue writing. I've been collaborating with different writers since I've been in Nashville and I love it. We all have such unique perspectives and it's so interesting to sit down with someone else and take an idea and see where it can go.”
True to form Annaliese continues to look at every day as an adventure, “I never really know what the future holds for me. That's what makes life exciting I think. That's why I buy lotto tickets!”
| written by Debbie DuBois Miller
