December 30, 2024 • 22 mins
For our last episode of 2024, the amazing Anabel Englund joined us again on America's Dance 30 to celebrate her TWELFTH #1! She shared how "Get Busy" was born, who originally submitted the demo and who produced it, and who is singing behind her during the song. She also shared about her latest smash "Zen Cowboy", and where she got the inspiration for it!
We also found out how the holidays were for Anabel, and what her fans can expect in 2025!!
Follow: @AmericasDance30 on all socials!
Count down the biggest dance songs in the country every week with Brian Fink on America’s Dance 30; listen on stations around the world!
We also found out how the holidays were for Anabel, and what her fans can expect in 2025!!
Follow: @AmericasDance30 on all socials!
Count down the biggest dance songs in the country every week with Brian Fink on America’s Dance 30; listen on stations around the world!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Annabelle, Can I just tell you that it makes my
heart so happy that I'm not only wrapping up the
year with you, but I'm also going to be kicking
off the new year with you. I know, because here's
the deal. This is officially my last chat for America's
Dance thirty, the podcast of twenty twenty four, and this
(00:20):
is going to air as the first news show of
twenty twenty five on America's Dance thirty on stations around
the world.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Wow, oh my gosh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
So it just makes my heart so happy that I'm
wrapping up twenty twenty four bringing in twenty twenty five.
Annabelle England, Welcome back to America's Dance thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
KI, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So cute.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Four dance counting down the biggest dance songs in the country.
This is America's Dance thirty, and.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
It makes me so happy that we are celebrating another
number one.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So incredible, so incredible.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
This is mind blowing to say. But is this number twelve?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah? I guess so.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I think so because I remember doing the balloons for
number ten and then cutting loose I think was number eleven. Yeah,
And so get busy is number twelve. It is our
dozen that is insane.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It's our Baker's dozen.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
No, that would be thirteen.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
The bakers thirteen, my.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
God, and kind of the only reason I know that
is because I grew up in a donut shop. My
parents owned a donut shop, So a dozen is obviously twelve,
and then a baker's dozen is thirty.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Oh my gosh, I didn't know that, So I guess
I'll save that for next time.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Should I cut this out and I'll save it for
next time? Yeah, I can't wait to talk about how
Get Busy was born. But before we talk about music,
how were your holidays?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
My holidays were really fun for me. I mean it's
just all about spending time with family and my son,
and you know, we all got together. Christmas Eve is
like the biggest thing for me and my family. So
we all got together and laughed and danced and ate
(02:46):
and I loved it. There's this really amazing Chinese restaurant
by me, so we ordered Chinese and.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
It's just easy because I'm hosting.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
And I just realized, like I don't need to do
all that extra stuff, Like I don't need to do
the most all the time. And it's tasty and I
don't have to clean as much and everyone loves it.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
It's so funny that you bring up Chinese food because
you're learning a lot on this episode of America's Dance thirty.
You're learning about a baker's dozen. Do you know what
a Jewish Christmas is? No, So, as a jew the
way we celebrate Christmas because everything is closed is we
go to a Chinese restaurant because they're open. Oh my gosh,
(03:29):
So every year I take my mom to a Chinese buffet.
And then it's also part of a Jewish Christmas to
go to a movie because the movie theaters are open.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Oh my gosh. Wow.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I can leave this chat satisfied that I taught you
two things.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Can I learn so much about you about your parents'
donut shop and about your heritage and your traditions, literally
within a span of like three minutes.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
And it's like the most you've ever learned about me.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I know, I know, like.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Aside from work stuff, Like I know, I feel like
I know you better now.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I feel like we are kindred now, Yeah, for sure.
Now let's talk about New Years. What are you going
to be doing to ring in the New Year or
are you going to be doing a show or are
you're going to be low key?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
If I don't have a show, which is very rare,
it's really only happened like once in the past ten years.
I honestly stayed in and ordered food and watched the
Lord of the Rings trilogy because that's goned it.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
You don't watch any ball dropping or anything. No, that's
so funny. But I totally know what you mean, because
you know, I've worked New Year's Eve almost my entire career,
and then the first New Year's Eve I had off,
I was like, oh my god, this is heaven. Hen
just chilling, not worrying about anything.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I know, And I feel like there's also, i mean
just okay, like aside from working, just in general New
Year's Eve, it's.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
So like what are we doing? What are we doing?
Where are we going to go?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And then there's so much pressure on how it needs
to be and I don't know, Like I love, I'm
a homebody, So staying in and watching the Lord of
Rings trilogy for me is just like a perfect night.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Now. Do you do news resolutions?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Not really honestly, because I just feel like everyone says
New year's resolutions, But is it something that people actually
follow through and and do, because realistically it's just we're
entering another month.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
But I mean, I have goals, and.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
I actively do things to achieve those goals, and I
have destinations that I want to go to and get to.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So I feel like my.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Whole life is kind of planning my resolutions of sorts.
So I feel like, I mean, it can be more intentional,
I guess, so maybe you know, you might have been
inspired me to do some this year.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
We'll see to you now.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Because again, it just like you can do all that
stuff as normal. Putting it as a resolution, it just
puts so much pressure to stick to it. Like yeah,
I'd like to think that I'm going to do that
stuff to better myself anyways, without like worrying about it
being a resolution.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
And pressure on yourself. And I don't want to promote
shame or like a feeling of oh, you didn't do that,
you know, and like you know, bag you. It's like no,
let me just let me just do my best, and
like that, I mean that to me is the resolution
that like if anyone should take through, is like I'm
going to do my best and like.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
That to me is enough.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I completely agree. Now. I saw a video that you
posted in your stories of you singing at I think
it was like a holiday party for friends and family. Yeah,
when you're doing stuff like that, is it more nerve
(07:06):
wracking for you to perform in front of friends and
family as opposed to being on stage.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I was shaking. I was so nervous. And it was
my dad throws. In my family, we throw like a
traditional Christmas recitle every year, and so this year, my
dad did it at this restaurant, this really cool restaurant
in the Palisades, and there was kind of a smaller room,
so we kind of took over that smaller section, but
there was still the whole.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Restaurant on the other side ongoing.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
So I just was thinking, Oh, my gosh, this is
kind of hectic right now, and it's for my family
and then all of my dad's friends, and I just
felt this pressure and at the end of the day,
it's supposed to be fun. But I haven't really performed
with my son around. I performed at his preschool once
and he was just kind of upset that I wasn't
(07:56):
giving him like the attention that he lives I'm.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Going to ignore you right now.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
But at the recital, you saw he was just kind
of holding me and like he had his head on
my chest, and it was the most endearing, most sweetest
thing I've ever scene.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So yeah, it was so adorable. But the second I
saw it, I'm like, oh my god, that's got to
be nerve wracking because I'm the same way, Like I
can step on stage in front of thirty thousand people
and be fine, but when I'm performing in front of
friends and family, I'm like, my anxiety just builds so much.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
My hands were sweating, And then I thought, no, keep
it together because I don't want to hold the mic
and like it be shaky.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So why are we like this?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I know it was, it was, but I'm good at
playing into the role, so the minute the song started,
I was able to kind of just get into it
and have fun.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
But yeah, it is very nerve wracking.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Well, let's talk about some incredible stuff here your latest
number one. The most important question I have about Get
Busy is is that Tucker from Sophie Tucker singing behind you?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
No, so it's me Wait a.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Second, seriously, m The reason I said that is because
it sounds exactly like Tucker doing his deep voice singing.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
It really does I know.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So I got sent the demo of Get Busy, and
all my songs, for the most part, i've either written
or co written, so I never just take demos. But
I'm also not gonna, you know, turn my nose up
to other people's writing, especially when it's really really good.
And I got sent Get Busy the demo and I thought, wow,
(09:47):
this is this is amazing, and if there's something I
want to change, I'll change it. But I thought this
is perfect, and I don't see anything that really needs
to be changed just for the sake of me getting
a piece of writing credit, like one word or something,
you know. I just didn't really need to do all
that once again. And there was that low vocal in it,
so someone was singing the low vocal.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I went in to record it.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
And I actually originally sent Channel Trace the demo because
I thought this would be really incredible for you to
be on with me, and he was kind of an
album mode, so he passed on it. But Ultra was like,
just put it out and just record the lower vocal
and we'll make your voice sound lower. So when I
actually got the demo back after I recut the vocals,
(10:33):
I was thinking to myself, Wow, I really want to
meet the person who did.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
These rollers with them.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
I don't know who this is. And I was like, Anabela,
you recorded.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Them, my god. So yeah, Now when you heard it
the first time and didn't realize it was you, it
didn't pop in your head going wow, that was so
awesome of Tucker to record the vocal because I know
you're good friends with them.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I know, well, if it.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Was then I for sure would have you know, I mean,
I wouldn't forget that it was Tucker By.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
It was just funny how when I re recorded it,
I honestly totally forgot and thought it was still someone else.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
But yeah, it's crazy how my voice was made to
sound like that. Huh, it really is.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I would have never in a million years guessed that
that was you. Now, how long ago did you start
working on it.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I don't know, honestly, I don't remember.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
It's probably been maybe like a year, maybe less, maybe less,
because it just takes a while for things to get mixed, recorded, mastered,
all the paperwork in and you know, like sometimes it
takes a few years honestly, but yeah it's out. It
(11:53):
got to number one, and I'm so proud of it.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I really love the song now feel Free.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I'll cut this out if you want me to. Can
we talk about who submitted the demo?
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yeah, yeah, for sure, I'd love to. I want to
get her actual name.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
So it's Alex Chapman, who is an amazing He's a songwriter.
He just has been like DJing like crazy, opened up
for Charlie XCX at boiler Room and Miami a visa
and then she goes y eyes googly or Google eyes
on Instagram and it seems like she also has her
own artist project and she has a lot of support
(12:30):
from Toblo, which is really cool. And then this producer's
Zone and this producer abad On.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Is this your first time working with that person from Instagram?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
So I didn't meet her through Instagram.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I actually ended up doing a session with her a
few like a while ago, but yeah, it was my
first time working with them, not Alex Chapman. And Alex
Chapman and I have hopefully something coming out at the
top of next year.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Take us through the process of when somebody submits a
demo to you is it how you want to do it,
or do you kind of talk with the original person
who submitted the demo and go down the line that
they want to go with the song.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So, for instance, get Busy got sent to me through
alex V from Ultra. He's an an R there, so
I didn't have any communication with the producers or anything
like that, and there wasn't really much to change. So
it was that one was easy. But sometimes I'll get
sent demos through friends and a lot of the time
(13:34):
it just doesn't feel like me or something that I,
you know, would necessarily like it's not a good fit.
So I'll just say, you know, it's it's not a
good fit for me, but I love it or whatever.
My song Lightwaves was a demo that got sent to me,
I think once again through alex V.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
But that one I changed some of the lyrics on.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Gotcha, and I was kind of held strong with the
lyrical change it and it worked. So I just feel
very passionate about what I'm putting out and I don't
want My big biggest thing is authenticity, and if it
doesn't feel authentic, like with my alignment, then there's no
way I'm going to do it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Well because your name is on it, so you're the face.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah, And you know, some people are really good with, oh,
I'm going to be this type of person, and even
though I'm not, I'm not that person. I'm going to
be that type of person. And I feel like that's
one of the things that might work in the middle,
like immediately, because it's what everyone's into. So yeah, you're
you're killing it. But then all of a sudden, it's
(14:37):
not who you are, so it doesn't hold. It doesn't
like keep that like consistency and foundation of who you
are as an artist. So I just feel like one
of the reasons why I've been able to be consistent
throughout my career is because I've always done things that
are true to myself.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
And it totally makes sense. I mean, it's your brand,
it's you, You're the face.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Let's talk about your latest song and something that it
taught me. You know, all the joking around that I
give you about writing songs about me, Zen Cowboy taught
me that that could actually happen.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, it really good.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Share the story because this is incredible of the inspiration
of Zen Cowboy.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I know.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
So I was doing a tour of eighty nine to five,
Seattle's Home for Dance radio station a few years ago
because I was opening for Sophie Tucker and we were
doing a little radio tour thing. So I met all
the people at the radio station and at the end
we were kind of just exchanging socials to stay in touch,
(15:53):
and this man Ron said his name was Zen Cowboy
six or something like that, and I thought, oh my god,
Zen Cowboy, that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
I need to write a song about that.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
And so I immediately wrote it in my notes and
said I'm writing a song called Zen Cowboy.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
And he was like, okay, okay. And then fast.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Forward maybe a year later, I wrote the song with
Neil Ormandy and Prince Fox, this really talented producer, and
I said, We're going to write a song called Zen Cowboy.
And I couldn't. I could not have worked with a
better team for this song. I truly, and I'm so
happy it was just the three of us.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
It was very intimate and I was so proud of
the song.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
So then this year in Miami for Miami Music Week,
when I was doing the radio row, there was the
CED nine to five table and I said.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Ron, I have the demos in Cowboy and him and Harmony,
who also works there, were like, oh my gosh, this
is crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
And then I played it for Ron and he started
and it was just so beautiful because the song is
so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
It's such a great song that would have sucked if
you went, eh, He's like, you know, it's okay.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Yeah, But I mean, I was so proud to show
it to him, not only because I actually said I
was going to do something and I did it and
I followed through, which I feel like people don't normally do,
but also because of how proud I am of the
song and how much I love it and how much
it means to me.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
So for everything to.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Come full circle and then to actually have it come
out and I just feel, you know, I love the story.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I think it's so cool.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
And it really is such a great song. Now, when
you're dealing with stuff like that, you know, taking notes,
something just pops into your head and then it goes
a whole year before you write a song. What takes
you back to that note? Do you just like look
back get old notes that you've done well.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I have a note where I'll have song titles. So
a lot of the time things are drawing my attention
words or like two word combinations, and I'll just depending
on the vibe of the session, with the way that
the production's going all it's kind of just a gut
feeling like, oh, I think this song title would go
(18:22):
really well with this song because the song title it
almost feels like it could if you're not if you
don't know where to start, a song title could be
the hardest thing to start with.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
So having.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
A few really strong song titles and then being able
to build around that is so fun. So yeah, I
just have a note section where it's one note and
then different titles or different words that I like and
just kind of go from there.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
And with your songs, is the title normally the first
thing you do, or is it like different? Is the
title normally the last thing you do?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
It depends.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
So I feel like I'm more known or my thing
that I contribute a lot is coming in with an
idea or a story or a song title that I
want to write around. I do it a lot, I
feel like when I really know what I want to do.
But the song title also can just come from Okay,
(19:23):
we wrote the song, and what's the really like what's
the strongest, what's the strongest line here? And then we
take that and I al also try to make things
a little bit more original, not so kind of run
in the mill. But especially with dance music, there's so
many song titles, right, you know, and.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
It's always so interesting to me. Like I was talking
with Drew from the Chainsmokers about their number one, Don't Lie,
And the original title to that was picture because they
didn't have the second verse that had don't Lie in
it until the end, and then when they finished the song,
they decided on Don't Lie instead of Picture exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
So it's and it's I love finding the title and
the lyrics. It's it's that and starting with the title
are probably two of my favorite things.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Well, let's hope Zen Cowboy is your Baker's doesn't is your?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Are you playing it?
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I'm sorry? Who am I?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
What do you?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I'm just gonna leave and we can get Ron in
here to chat with you. What.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I don't want to assume. I don't want to assume.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Of course we're playing it. Oh, yes, we are playing
Zen Cowboy. We played it out of the box on Evolution.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Yeah, And it's made my life hell programming between that
and separating it from get busy.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Oh, I mean you could go back to back.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I mean we could, but the problem is when it's
an Annabelle England song and you're the vocalist, we try
to separate vocals as as much as we can. But say,
if it's Annabelle England's song, but you've got somebody else
singing on it, it's easier to program because you just
don't want too much of the same voice right next
(21:13):
to each other.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
I mean, it could just be Annabelle England takeover and
you could just play all my songs and no one else's.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
I heart Annabelle exactly. Well, knock on wood, this is
your thirteenth number one because it is such an amazing song.
What can Annabelle England fans expect in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (21:34):
So I have a full ready to go.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
I have fingers crossed up a song coming out in February.
I say fingers crossed because you just never know, even
if like there's not a signature or things like that,
things can get you held up. But I plan to
be releasing music at like every six weeks from February,
so I'm on a roll and I don't see myself stop.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
So I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Well, the good news is that you've learned a lot
about me in this chat, So you've got good material
for your next set of songs.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Exactly the Boy who grew up at the Donut Shop.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Possibly the worst song ever. I've got better stuff you
could pick through. I've got a ton of poetry. You're
more than welcome to look through and get inspiration from that. Okay, Annabel,
It is always so awesome seeing you. Thank you so
much for your time on America's Dance thirty.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Thank you, Happy New Year.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Happy New Year, and Happy holidays to you.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Happy Holidays, America's Dance tharties.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Counting down the biggest dance songs in the country. America's
Dance thirty
Annabelle, Can I just tell you that it makes my
heart so happy that I'm not only wrapping up the
year with you, but I'm also going to be kicking
off the new year with you. I know, because here's
the deal. This is officially my last chat for America's
Dance thirty, the podcast of twenty twenty four, and this
(00:20):
is going to air as the first news show of
twenty twenty five on America's Dance thirty on stations around
the world.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Wow, oh my gosh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
So it just makes my heart so happy that I'm
wrapping up twenty twenty four bringing in twenty twenty five.
Annabelle England, Welcome back to America's Dance thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
KI, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So cute.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Four dance counting down the biggest dance songs in the country.
This is America's Dance thirty, and.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
It makes me so happy that we are celebrating another
number one.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So incredible, so incredible.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
This is mind blowing to say. But is this number twelve?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah? I guess so.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I think so because I remember doing the balloons for
number ten and then cutting loose I think was number eleven. Yeah,
And so get busy is number twelve. It is our
dozen that is insane.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It's our Baker's dozen.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
No, that would be thirteen.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
The bakers thirteen, my.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
God, and kind of the only reason I know that
is because I grew up in a donut shop. My
parents owned a donut shop, So a dozen is obviously twelve,
and then a baker's dozen is thirty.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Oh my gosh, I didn't know that, So I guess
I'll save that for next time.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Should I cut this out and I'll save it for
next time? Yeah, I can't wait to talk about how
Get Busy was born. But before we talk about music,
how were your holidays?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
My holidays were really fun for me. I mean it's
just all about spending time with family and my son,
and you know, we all got together. Christmas Eve is
like the biggest thing for me and my family. So
we all got together and laughed and danced and ate
(02:46):
and I loved it. There's this really amazing Chinese restaurant
by me, so we ordered Chinese and.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
It's just easy because I'm hosting.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
And I just realized, like I don't need to do
all that extra stuff, Like I don't need to do
the most all the time. And it's tasty and I
don't have to clean as much and everyone loves it.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
It's so funny that you bring up Chinese food because
you're learning a lot on this episode of America's Dance thirty.
You're learning about a baker's dozen. Do you know what
a Jewish Christmas is? No, So, as a jew the
way we celebrate Christmas because everything is closed is we
go to a Chinese restaurant because they're open. Oh my gosh,
(03:29):
So every year I take my mom to a Chinese buffet.
And then it's also part of a Jewish Christmas to
go to a movie because the movie theaters are open.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Oh my gosh. Wow.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I can leave this chat satisfied that I taught you
two things.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Can I learn so much about you about your parents'
donut shop and about your heritage and your traditions, literally
within a span of like three minutes.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
And it's like the most you've ever learned about me.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I know, I know, like.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Aside from work stuff, Like I know, I feel like
I know you better now.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I feel like we are kindred now, Yeah, for sure.
Now let's talk about New Years. What are you going
to be doing to ring in the New Year or
are you going to be doing a show or are
you're going to be low key?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
If I don't have a show, which is very rare,
it's really only happened like once in the past ten years.
I honestly stayed in and ordered food and watched the
Lord of the Rings trilogy because that's goned it.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
You don't watch any ball dropping or anything. No, that's
so funny. But I totally know what you mean, because
you know, I've worked New Year's Eve almost my entire career,
and then the first New Year's Eve I had off,
I was like, oh my god, this is heaven. Hen
just chilling, not worrying about anything.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I know, And I feel like there's also, i mean
just okay, like aside from working, just in general New
Year's Eve, it's.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
So like what are we doing? What are we doing?
Where are we going to go?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And then there's so much pressure on how it needs
to be and I don't know, Like I love, I'm
a homebody, So staying in and watching the Lord of
Rings trilogy for me is just like a perfect night.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Now. Do you do news resolutions?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Not really honestly, because I just feel like everyone says
New year's resolutions, But is it something that people actually
follow through and and do, because realistically it's just we're
entering another month.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
But I mean, I have goals, and.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
I actively do things to achieve those goals, and I
have destinations that I want to go to and get to.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So I feel like my.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Whole life is kind of planning my resolutions of sorts.
So I feel like, I mean, it can be more intentional,
I guess, so maybe you know, you might have been
inspired me to do some this year.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
We'll see to you now.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Because again, it just like you can do all that
stuff as normal. Putting it as a resolution, it just
puts so much pressure to stick to it. Like yeah,
I'd like to think that I'm going to do that
stuff to better myself anyways, without like worrying about it
being a resolution.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
And pressure on yourself. And I don't want to promote
shame or like a feeling of oh, you didn't do that,
you know, and like you know, bag you. It's like no,
let me just let me just do my best, and
like that, I mean that to me is the resolution
that like if anyone should take through, is like I'm
going to do my best and like.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
That to me is enough.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I completely agree. Now. I saw a video that you
posted in your stories of you singing at I think
it was like a holiday party for friends and family. Yeah,
when you're doing stuff like that, is it more nerve
(07:06):
wracking for you to perform in front of friends and
family as opposed to being on stage.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I was shaking. I was so nervous. And it was
my dad throws. In my family, we throw like a
traditional Christmas recitle every year, and so this year, my
dad did it at this restaurant, this really cool restaurant
in the Palisades, and there was kind of a smaller room,
so we kind of took over that smaller section, but
there was still the whole.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Restaurant on the other side ongoing.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
So I just was thinking, Oh, my gosh, this is
kind of hectic right now, and it's for my family
and then all of my dad's friends, and I just
felt this pressure and at the end of the day,
it's supposed to be fun. But I haven't really performed
with my son around. I performed at his preschool once
and he was just kind of upset that I wasn't
(07:56):
giving him like the attention that he lives I'm.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Going to ignore you right now.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
But at the recital, you saw he was just kind
of holding me and like he had his head on
my chest, and it was the most endearing, most sweetest
thing I've ever scene.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So yeah, it was so adorable. But the second I
saw it, I'm like, oh my god, that's got to
be nerve wracking because I'm the same way, Like I
can step on stage in front of thirty thousand people
and be fine, but when I'm performing in front of
friends and family, I'm like, my anxiety just builds so much.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
My hands were sweating, And then I thought, no, keep
it together because I don't want to hold the mic
and like it be shaky.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So why are we like this?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I know it was, it was, but I'm good at
playing into the role, so the minute the song started,
I was able to kind of just get into it
and have fun.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
But yeah, it is very nerve wracking.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Well, let's talk about some incredible stuff here your latest
number one. The most important question I have about Get
Busy is is that Tucker from Sophie Tucker singing behind you?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
No, so it's me Wait a.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Second, seriously, m The reason I said that is because
it sounds exactly like Tucker doing his deep voice singing.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
It really does I know.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So I got sent the demo of Get Busy, and
all my songs, for the most part, i've either written
or co written, so I never just take demos. But
I'm also not gonna, you know, turn my nose up
to other people's writing, especially when it's really really good.
And I got sent Get Busy the demo and I thought, wow,
(09:47):
this is this is amazing, and if there's something I
want to change, I'll change it. But I thought this
is perfect, and I don't see anything that really needs
to be changed just for the sake of me getting
a piece of writing credit, like one word or something,
you know. I just didn't really need to do all
that once again. And there was that low vocal in it,
so someone was singing the low vocal.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I went in to record it.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
And I actually originally sent Channel Trace the demo because
I thought this would be really incredible for you to
be on with me, and he was kind of an
album mode, so he passed on it. But Ultra was like,
just put it out and just record the lower vocal
and we'll make your voice sound lower. So when I
actually got the demo back after I recut the vocals,
(10:33):
I was thinking to myself, Wow, I really want to
meet the person who did.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
These rollers with them.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
I don't know who this is. And I was like, Anabela,
you recorded.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Them, my god. So yeah, Now when you heard it
the first time and didn't realize it was you, it
didn't pop in your head going wow, that was so
awesome of Tucker to record the vocal because I know
you're good friends with them.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I know, well, if it.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Was then I for sure would have you know, I mean,
I wouldn't forget that it was Tucker By.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
It was just funny how when I re recorded it,
I honestly totally forgot and thought it was still someone else.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
But yeah, it's crazy how my voice was made to
sound like that. Huh, it really is.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I would have never in a million years guessed that
that was you. Now, how long ago did you start
working on it.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I don't know, honestly, I don't remember.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
It's probably been maybe like a year, maybe less, maybe less,
because it just takes a while for things to get mixed, recorded, mastered,
all the paperwork in and you know, like sometimes it
takes a few years honestly, but yeah it's out. It
(11:53):
got to number one, and I'm so proud of it.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I really love the song now feel Free.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I'll cut this out if you want me to. Can
we talk about who submitted the demo?
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yeah, yeah, for sure, I'd love to. I want to
get her actual name.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
So it's Alex Chapman, who is an amazing He's a songwriter.
He just has been like DJing like crazy, opened up
for Charlie XCX at boiler Room and Miami a visa
and then she goes y eyes googly or Google eyes
on Instagram and it seems like she also has her
own artist project and she has a lot of support
(12:30):
from Toblo, which is really cool. And then this producer's
Zone and this producer abad On.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Is this your first time working with that person from Instagram?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
So I didn't meet her through Instagram.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I actually ended up doing a session with her a
few like a while ago, but yeah, it was my
first time working with them, not Alex Chapman. And Alex
Chapman and I have hopefully something coming out at the
top of next year.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Take us through the process of when somebody submits a
demo to you is it how you want to do it,
or do you kind of talk with the original person
who submitted the demo and go down the line that
they want to go with the song.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So, for instance, get Busy got sent to me through
alex V from Ultra. He's an an R there, so
I didn't have any communication with the producers or anything
like that, and there wasn't really much to change. So
it was that one was easy. But sometimes I'll get
sent demos through friends and a lot of the time
(13:34):
it just doesn't feel like me or something that I,
you know, would necessarily like it's not a good fit.
So I'll just say, you know, it's it's not a
good fit for me, but I love it or whatever.
My song Lightwaves was a demo that got sent to me,
I think once again through alex V.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
But that one I changed some of the lyrics on.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Gotcha, and I was kind of held strong with the
lyrical change it and it worked. So I just feel
very passionate about what I'm putting out and I don't
want My big biggest thing is authenticity, and if it
doesn't feel authentic, like with my alignment, then there's no
way I'm going to do it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Well because your name is on it, so you're the face.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah, And you know, some people are really good with, oh,
I'm going to be this type of person, and even
though I'm not, I'm not that person. I'm going to
be that type of person. And I feel like that's
one of the things that might work in the middle,
like immediately, because it's what everyone's into. So yeah, you're
you're killing it. But then all of a sudden, it's
(14:37):
not who you are, so it doesn't hold. It doesn't
like keep that like consistency and foundation of who you
are as an artist. So I just feel like one
of the reasons why I've been able to be consistent
throughout my career is because I've always done things that
are true to myself.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
And it totally makes sense. I mean, it's your brand,
it's you, You're the face.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Let's talk about your latest song and something that it
taught me. You know, all the joking around that I
give you about writing songs about me, Zen Cowboy taught
me that that could actually happen.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, it really good.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Share the story because this is incredible of the inspiration
of Zen Cowboy.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I know.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
So I was doing a tour of eighty nine to five,
Seattle's Home for Dance radio station a few years ago
because I was opening for Sophie Tucker and we were
doing a little radio tour thing. So I met all
the people at the radio station and at the end
we were kind of just exchanging socials to stay in touch,
(15:53):
and this man Ron said his name was Zen Cowboy
six or something like that, and I thought, oh my god,
Zen Cowboy, that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
I need to write a song about that.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
And so I immediately wrote it in my notes and
said I'm writing a song called Zen Cowboy.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
And he was like, okay, okay. And then fast.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Forward maybe a year later, I wrote the song with
Neil Ormandy and Prince Fox, this really talented producer, and
I said, We're going to write a song called Zen Cowboy.
And I couldn't. I could not have worked with a
better team for this song. I truly, and I'm so
happy it was just the three of us.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
It was very intimate and I was so proud of
the song.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
So then this year in Miami for Miami Music Week,
when I was doing the radio row, there was the
CED nine to five table and I said.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Ron, I have the demos in Cowboy and him and Harmony,
who also works there, were like, oh my gosh, this
is crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
And then I played it for Ron and he started
and it was just so beautiful because the song is
so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
It's such a great song that would have sucked if
you went, eh, He's like, you know, it's okay.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Yeah, But I mean, I was so proud to show
it to him, not only because I actually said I
was going to do something and I did it and
I followed through, which I feel like people don't normally do,
but also because of how proud I am of the
song and how much I love it and how much
it means to me.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
So for everything to.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Come full circle and then to actually have it come
out and I just feel, you know, I love the story.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I think it's so cool.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
And it really is such a great song. Now, when
you're dealing with stuff like that, you know, taking notes,
something just pops into your head and then it goes
a whole year before you write a song. What takes
you back to that note? Do you just like look
back get old notes that you've done well.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I have a note where I'll have song titles. So
a lot of the time things are drawing my attention
words or like two word combinations, and I'll just depending
on the vibe of the session, with the way that
the production's going all it's kind of just a gut
feeling like, oh, I think this song title would go
(18:22):
really well with this song because the song title it
almost feels like it could if you're not if you
don't know where to start, a song title could be
the hardest thing to start with.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
So having.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
A few really strong song titles and then being able
to build around that is so fun. So yeah, I
just have a note section where it's one note and
then different titles or different words that I like and
just kind of go from there.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
And with your songs, is the title normally the first
thing you do, or is it like different? Is the
title normally the last thing you do?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
It depends.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
So I feel like I'm more known or my thing
that I contribute a lot is coming in with an
idea or a story or a song title that I
want to write around. I do it a lot, I
feel like when I really know what I want to do.
But the song title also can just come from Okay,
(19:23):
we wrote the song, and what's the really like what's
the strongest, what's the strongest line here? And then we
take that and I al also try to make things
a little bit more original, not so kind of run
in the mill. But especially with dance music, there's so
many song titles, right, you know, and.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
It's always so interesting to me. Like I was talking
with Drew from the Chainsmokers about their number one, Don't Lie,
And the original title to that was picture because they
didn't have the second verse that had don't Lie in
it until the end, and then when they finished the song,
they decided on Don't Lie instead of Picture exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
So it's and it's I love finding the title and
the lyrics. It's it's that and starting with the title
are probably two of my favorite things.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Well, let's hope Zen Cowboy is your Baker's doesn't is your?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Are you playing it?
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I'm sorry? Who am I?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
What do you?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I'm just gonna leave and we can get Ron in
here to chat with you. What.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I don't want to assume. I don't want to assume.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Of course we're playing it. Oh, yes, we are playing
Zen Cowboy. We played it out of the box on Evolution.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Yeah, And it's made my life hell programming between that
and separating it from get busy.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Oh, I mean you could go back to back.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I mean we could, but the problem is when it's
an Annabelle England song and you're the vocalist, we try
to separate vocals as as much as we can. But say,
if it's Annabelle England's song, but you've got somebody else
singing on it, it's easier to program because you just
don't want too much of the same voice right next
(21:13):
to each other.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
I mean, it could just be Annabelle England takeover and
you could just play all my songs and no one else's.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
I heart Annabelle exactly. Well, knock on wood, this is
your thirteenth number one because it is such an amazing song.
What can Annabelle England fans expect in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (21:34):
So I have a full ready to go.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
I have fingers crossed up a song coming out in February.
I say fingers crossed because you just never know, even
if like there's not a signature or things like that,
things can get you held up. But I plan to
be releasing music at like every six weeks from February,
so I'm on a roll and I don't see myself stop.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
So I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Well, the good news is that you've learned a lot
about me in this chat, So you've got good material
for your next set of songs.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Exactly the Boy who grew up at the Donut Shop.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Possibly the worst song ever. I've got better stuff you
could pick through. I've got a ton of poetry. You're
more than welcome to look through and get inspiration from that. Okay, Annabel,
It is always so awesome seeing you. Thank you so
much for your time on America's Dance thirty.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Thank you, Happy New Year.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Happy New Year, and Happy holidays to you.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Happy Holidays, America's Dance tharties.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Counting down the biggest dance songs in the country. America's
Dance thirty
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