arjanwrites.com

I said it before and I will say it again. Anjulie might very well be the next big new thing. Invoking memories of Nelly Furtado and Corrine Bailey Rae, the Los Angeles-based 26 year-old singer introduces a distinct musical style that is eclectic, seductive and very well put together. After audiences are done playing Duffy and Adele, they may be tempted to pick up Anjulie's debut record.

Watch Anjulie's excellent video for her slinky lead single "Boom" (get a guilt-free MP3 download) that is taken from her debut album, which will be out this summer. Anjulie grew up in the Toronto suburb of Oaksville, Ontario. She was raised by immigrant parents from Guyana, "a South American nation culturally influenced by its Caribbean neighbors to the north," according to her biography. Growing up, the singer was influenced by a melange of genres, from Afro-Caribbean calypso to reggae, and from Latin rock to straight up pop.

“I think what separates me from other artists is that I write from a really intimate place,” Anjulie says in a press release. "[My debut album] is like me opening the door to my bedroom, literally. I come off as being pretty put-together, but my songs are the one place where I can pull the string and unravel. They’re where I can be vulnerable, insecure, jealous, silly, and childlike. It's too scary to do that in real life. You have to feel safe. I only feel safe with headphones on.

Anjulie’s self-titled debut was created with her producers Colin Wolfe, who has worked with Dr. Dre and Monica, and longtime songwriting collaborator Jon Levine, keyboardist for Toronto’s funk-pop combo The Philosopher Kings. The album will be released by Hear Music on August 4.