Keren Ann - Biography

Keren Ann Zeidel (born March 10, 1974) is a singer-songwriter-composer-producer and engineer based largely in Paris, Tel Aviv and New York City. She plays guitar, piano and clarinet, engineers and writes choir and musical arrangements.

Life and career

Her parents are Russian-Jewish and Dutch-Javanese. She lived in Israel and in the Netherlands until the age of 11, when her family moved to France. Though she lived and recorded mostly in France and New York, she retains her Dutch and Israeli citizenship.

Keren Ann has released six solo albums; she is also a member of the band Lady and Bird with Barði Jóhannsson. They released an eponymous album in 2003 and have worked on diverse composition projects, such as a show with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra in Reykjavík (May 2008) with director Daniel Kawka. The live performance has been recorded and post-produced by the band and was released in September 2009. A second show for the Parisian hall "Salle Pleyel" was held in October 2009, this time with "L'Orchestre Lamoureux" directed by Christophe Mangou. Keren Ann and Bardi have also created the music for the TGV 2005-2006-2007 campaign.

Keren Ann took part in many internationally acclaimed recordings such as "Chambre Avec Vue" written for Henri Salvador in 2000, and "The Isis Project" written with Guy Chambers in 2004. In 2008 Keren Ann composed, with Tibo Javoy, the entire sound design for the European TV Channel "ARTE".

Her music has been featured in many films and TV series - "Grey's Anatomy", "Six Feet Under", "Big Love" and "Deux Jours A Tuer". Her song "Beautiful Day" has been the sound of the "Skyteam" campaign, and in 2008 her song "Lay Your Head Down" was the synch for the international H&M Spring commercial.

Keren Ann co-wrote and co-produced with Doriand the second album of singer/actress Emmanuelle Seigner, due for release in February 2010. She contributed an original score for a French feature by director Benoit Petre, starring Jane Birkin. The film was due to be released in March 2010.

Her sixth solo album, 101, was issued in 2011.

Writings and Recordings

Solo albums

• La Biographie de Luka Philipsen EMI (2000–2001)
• La Disparition EMI (2002)
• Not Going Anywhere Capitol Records (2003)
• Nolita at Metro Blue/Blue Note U.S and EMI (2004–2005)
• Keren Ann at Metro Blue/Blue Note U.S and EMI (2006–2007)
• 101 EMI (2011)

Collaborations and scores

• Chambre Avec Vue with Henri Salvador at Source-Virgin France (2000–2001)
• Lady & Bird (by Keren Ann and B. Johannsson at Labels 2003)
• The Isis Project with Guy Chambers and Sophie Hunter at Sleeper Music UK (2004–2005)
• ARTE New Sound with Tibo Javoy
• La Ballade of Lady & Bird with Icelandic Symphonic Orchestra at EMI
• Dingue for Emmanuelle Seigner with Doriand at Sony Music France.
• Thelma, Louis & Chantal Original Score.

TV Synchronisations

• Grey's Anatomy - Song: Not Going Anywhere
• Skyteam Advertisement - Song: Beautiful Day
• HBO Six Feet Under - Song: Jardin D'hiver
• HBO Big Love - Song: L'onde Amere
• SHO The L Word - Song: Do What I do (Lady & Bird)
• TGV Advertisement - Song: Malmo Lives (Lady & Bird)
• H&M Advertisement - Song: Lay Your Head Down
• Daewoo Motor Sales Iaan Advertisement - Song: Right now & Right here

External links

• Official website
• Official website (in German)
• Interview, The Observer, 3 April 2011
• "A Clear View", New Yorker profile by Sasha Frere-Jones
• "Que n'ai-je?" download at Salon.com
• "Seventeen" download at Salon.com
• interview sound, video & photo of Keren (*click her name)