Anneda

Re-evaluating how you express yourself is an essential part of growth for a songwriter, a daily exercise that, in the case of Anneda (aka Charlene Birkbeck), has led to the beginning of a new creative journey. But while Anneda represents a departure of sorts for the Victoria, BC-based recording artist, performer and educator, her latest project – like those in the past – is firmly rooted in her willingness to constantly evolve creatively and her determination to create music that’s as unfailingly honest as it is personal. And the adoption of the name Anneda, she feels, has allowed her to do so with greater freedom than ever before. In some cultures, Anneda says, keeping one name for your entire life is actually seen as strange: “Because people change so much, and that’s what this is about. It’s a transformation. I’ve read that everyone has a true name that follows them through their life,” she says. “I’ve meditated, daily, for years, and one day as I opened my eyes the name Anneda came to me. I knew how it was spelled. I looked it up and found it was the name of an ancient Pine tree that was used for healing purposes.” Given her longtime interest in aborigi... more...