Anna van Riel is an award winning, independent singer/songwriter from New Zealand. Having played at the world highests music festival in the Himilayas, performed the NZ national anthem for 50,000 punters at the Four Nations Grand Final and sung her original works for Prince Albert of Monaco, Anna's favourite and most recent success is winning album of the year in her home town of Invercargill. "New Zealand has so much incredible talent", says van Riel. "Southland seems to be oozing with it, so I felt pretty honoured to take home the cake".

Anna van Riel was born a singer-storyteller, her career in fact started when she was just three years old, when she started making up songs and belting them out to whoever would listen! At the age of seven Anna's parents bought her a small Casio keyboard and her passion for music flourished. When she was 14, Anna's mother taught her three chords on the guitar, these were enough for her to write her first song called 'Lucy Came to Tea'. A year later she won the local talent quest, performing an original song!

Anna has performed internationally from Europe and the States to Thailand and Australia. Having based herself in Australia's Byron Bay until recently Anna often refers to herself as a Kiwozzy. Five years based in Sydney loitering round the open mic scene gave her the foundations for showcasing her original works and the rest is history.

van Riel has toured her cabaret-folk/bluegrass duo The Swingin' Cowgirls through Australia and New Zealand with Award winning music partner Kathryn Jones. Her previous band Bellebird and the Handsome Gypsies with NZ artist Jo Little (Till the Blue Skies Come) recieved enormous accolades from Kiwi audiences in 2008/09.

Anna is currently working towards her 2013 Whistle and Hum Sustainbale USA Tour where she will be performing huse concerts in earth and eco homes and showcasing her latest works. Anna also mentors fledgling artists in songwriting and self-promotion.

Now based in Lake Hawea with her husband and baby Matilda, Anna divides her time between Byron Bay, Sydney and New Zealand, collaborating with other like-minded artists, touring, and working on her third full-length album.

You can contact Anna at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)