Anni Rossi

A classically trained viola player and multi-instrumentalist, Anni Rossi launched a songwriting career in her early twenties, drawing comparisons to Joanna Newsom and other equally anachronistic musicians. Using the viola to guide her way through folk-classical-pop songs like "Wheelpusher," not to mention her unique Internet-based take on Radiohead's "Creep," Rossi built up a small following in 2007. After "Wheelpusher" was featured as Single of the Month by the indie label Too Pure in January 2008, Rossi spent the first part of the year touring the British Isles and inked a contract with the longstanding British label 4AD. She then retired to an Illinois studio with producer Steve Albini; the resulting debut album, Rockwell, was recorded in one inspired day and released in March 2009. After parting ways with her label, Rossi recorded her second album, Heavy Meadow, and released it in mid-2010. The next spring the record was issued on CD by 3 Syllables Records.