Press

LA NOTICIA

Anaís Azul: artista Peruano-estadounidense regresa al Perú para contribuir a la música escrita en Quechua

February 21st, 2024

“Durante los últimos 10 meses viene formándose en una de las lenguas Quechua, familia lingüística originaria de la zona de los Andes sudamericanos, en especial la lengua Quechua de origen Cusqueño, con el propósito de incorporar el idioma en sus composiciones artísticas para su álbum debut que recopilará, en tres idiomas (Quechua – Castellano – Inglés), saberes e historias de migración en el marco de su experiencia personal y la de miles de peruanos que forman una de las diásporas más densas no solo en los Estados Unidos sino también en otros países.”

Read full article here.

San francisco classical voice

Dwelling in the moment with singer-songwriter anaís azul

June 19th 2023

“Let’s talk about your identity and storytelling with audiences and students. What are your philosophies about the personal narratives you choose to reveal or not reveal?

This does all go back to getting hit by a car and thinking, “Why wouldn’t my identity, my story, be relevant?” I’ve been reflecting on it because one of my day jobs is teaching. I just finished teaching these kids where we put on a musical, and I saw them Monday through Saturday. Yesterday, I had a moment crying, really grieving the end of our time together. Why was it so intense? Because I really showed up fully as myself. There was not a part of me I was hiding. I came out to them. I told them my pronouns were they/them. I have [fostered] a safe space for them to talk to me. I have endured transphobia from people higher up in my workplace. I’ve tolerated all of that to be the best person for the kids. It’s so worth it. If I live out loud and I am fully myself, then I show young people there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Read full article here.

24700 - CALARTS

Anais Arias-Aragon and Shirley Ji Young Kim-Ryu Selected as US Student Fulbright Recipients from CalArts

June 1st, 2023

“Since graduating from CalArts last year, Arias-Aragon has been teaching elementary schoolers music, as well as teaching a music fundamentals class at CalArts and writing their own music. Through the Fulbright, they aim to create an album of 10 songs, translating from Spanish to Quechua, Quechua to Spanish, and incorporating charango and vocal looping techniques. This will build on multilingual reinterpretations they have already been working on”.

Read full article here.

LOCAL NEWS MATTERS

SF LGBT Center’s ‘Queer Vibes’ shines community-centering spotlight on LGBTQ+ musicians 

April 3, 2023

“Azul, who is a music teacher, describes their songs as “spells” to aid in recovering from challenging moments and circumstances. Their music is bilingual, incorporating English and Spanish, and they play various instruments, such as a charango. As an artist whose Peruvian heritage and queerness factor into their songs, they see Queer Vibes as a safe and welcoming entry point for those questioning their identities. “

Read full article here.

KALW

KALW’s Local Favorites from the NPR Tiny Desk Contest

February 24, 2023

“In their entry “Space to Cry,” we get a moody, quirky oompah song giving you permission to feel your feels in the style of Japanese Breakfast crossed with a touch of CocoRosie. Despite the sadness, the performance looks fun and everyone in the video looks like they’re enjoying themselves too.”

Read full article here.

CFA MAGAZINE

Personal Music: Composer and singer Anaís Azul’s songs address themes such as queerness and mental health

October 11, 2022

“Composer and singer Anaís Azul (’17) creates dreamy soundscapes in Spanish and English that are often raw and reflective. In fact, their new solo EP is titled Vulnerable.”

Read full article here.

RADIO MENEA

Ep. 194: For your fall playlists

October 2022

“This song “Vulnerable” is really really lovely…I love the way they sound and the way they use vocals is really beautiful…it’s reminding me of Juana Molina. Yeah, it’s dope.”

Listen below.

The san francisco standard

Love, in All its Shapes and Colors, Is the Unifying Theme at Día de los Muertos Art Exhibition

October 07, 2022

All of the altars are unified by the theme of love, according to Azul, who was inspired to name this year’s exhibition after a poignant lyric from the classic jazz standard, “Nature Boy.” The song, most notably performed by Nat King Cole, contains this haunting pearl of wisdom: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”…“This connects us to the dead and the living as this kind of never-ending love, even when our dear ones have departed,” observed Azul of the lyric. “What I would love audience members to experience is to feel like they're called to feel that love for their lost ones, and also to experience gratitude for what they do have now.” 

Read full article here.

Indie Latina

Anais Azul: Bilingual single “Mi Piel”

October 18, 2020

“The peak of their message truly shines in the bridge, where Anaís powerfully decides that every piece of themself, good, bad or broken, is essential to their being, sung in a poignant near-rap triplet of words.” Alicia Gabriella aka Indie Latina

Read full article here.

BERKELEYSIDE

Musicians transform store lines into mini-concerts during the pandemic

August 14, 2020

“A group of West Berkeley artists and musicians are looking to liven up the long lines and waits outside stores during the COVID-19 pandemic with a new pop-up series called “Songs While You Wait.” The series of four performances…are the product of a grant from Commotion West Berkeley and a resourceful idea from Anaís Azul, who grew up in Berkeley and attended its public schools.”

Read full article here.

Boston Hassle

FRESH VID: ANAÍS AZUL – ANALYSIS PARALYSIS

May 10, 2020

“Bilingual, bicoastal artist Anaís Azul isn’t letting the quarantine get in the way of their musical and narrative prowess. Their second music video as an independent artist, “Analysis Paralysis”, features them in a conceptual fairytale narrative reminiscent of visuals by Kate Bush in the 80s or Björk in the 90s”. Hassan Ghanny

Read full article here.

WBUR: THE ARTERY

In quarantine, the beat goes on for music teachers

April 28, 2020

“Azul maintains that this experience is a challenge throughout, but one that music teachers can overcome with the right attitude.

“I used to just walk into the lesson, spend a half hour there, and then leave. Now, I’m definitely putting more effort into this than I used to, and I think that’s making me a better teacher." Hassan Ghanny

Read full article here.

NPR: All songs considered

Watch The First Entry To The 2020 Tiny Desk Contest

February 12, 2020

“Azul's entry video features a ballad that celebrates showing up fully for oneself, rather than dismissing fragments of our true self to make other people comfortable.”

Read full article here.

Boston Hassle

STORIES FROM THE GARDEN – HUMANITY FINDS A PLACE FOR ITSELF, AMID ITSELF

January 22, 2020

“Stories from the Garden is a poetic concept album which transforms community interaction and connectivity into a tool to stake a place in history amid the deluge of gentrification. This collection of musical, lyrical, and narrative performances – all of which took place on September 21, 2019 – is a surprising and subversive way for the creative community to maintain a place, however small, in Boston’s history.”

Read full article here.

Remezcla

Anaís Azúl’s “Healing” Is a Baroque Pop Healing Anthem for the Mind

July 8th 2019

“Reminiscent of hyper-twee early aughts chamber pop, yet without an ounce of pretense to be detected, “Healing” finds remarkable balance between its lush orchestrations and powerful message of compassion.” Richard Villegas

Read full article here.

Radio Menea

Episode 86: Orgullo (Min 16:57)

June 20th, 2019

Links and more information from this episode here.

Wholetone music academy

Wholetone music academy at first friday’s youth open mic!

March 8th 2019

“It was so incredible to watch and hear how she wove pieces of the evening together…Anaís’ music brought the Open Mic to another level, showcasing her unique blend of style, skill, and heart. Lyrics and sounds from her songs are still echoing in this author’s mind.” Rachel Nagin

Read full article Here.

Dig Boston

BILLY DEAN THOMAS: THE QUEER B.I.G. REDEFINING AMERICAN GOTHIC

November 1st, 2018

“Soon Anais Azul was roped in, whose extensive work as a composer and chamber writer adds a surprise element of refined levity to the event.”

“By thinking of hooks and recording vocals in place of the instrument, Thomas was able to push their composition skills to a new level, learning how to break down the layers of a song—harmonies, melodies, beats, instrumental layers—to help flesh it out further with help from Azul.” Nina Corcoran

Read full article Here.

Broadway World

BWW Review: THE SEAGULL at Serenbe Playhouse

September 9th, 2018

“Serenbe Playhouse is offering up something radically different this month: a modern reimagining of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, complete with hypnotic Balkan music by talented composer Anais Azul.”

“It's the perfect canvas for Maranda Debusk's extraordinary lighting and Azul's exotic music, which both do a beautiful job of creating the otherworldly quality of illusion and of distinguishing it from the oppressive reality of the lake estate.” Amy Zipperer

Read full article Here.

The Boton Musical Intelligencer

Transcending Boundaries: COB’s 15 Years

MAY 6, 2016

“…I was pleasantly surprised that I found it quite compelling…Within this restrained rhythm, a range of melodies emerged, some hugely expansive, others more delicate and hesitant.  I did not need to ascribe a specific meaning to the music to feel it as effective and moving.” Liane Curtis 

Read full article Here.

San Francisco Classical Voice

Coming of Age: John Adams and the Young Composer's Program

February 13, 2014

“It was one day when I was being picked up and [Adams] just said, ‘I’m going out to meet your father,’ and he comes and he introduces himself and he says, ‘you know, she’s really got something, she has real talent’. And that just meant so much to my family, particularly my dad. You know, coming from such a renowned composer and you just wouldn’t expect that. It was an act of true kindness.” Anais Azul

Read Full Article Here.

San Francisco Classical Voice

Anais Azul: Dreams of a Sound Ecologist

April 18, 2013

“The way I make my music I’m not always thinking of the goal or the overall ‘meaning’. But in this case I will dedicate the piece to the victims and families in the (Newtown) Connecticut shootings. And now after these bombings, which were also dedicated to the victims of Newtown, that’s also affected me. The way I think of it is that water connects us all to each other. It's a basic unit of life, and if this piece has a meaning, it’s not what we hold in common in death but about what we share in life and how to appreciate life.” Anaís Azul

Read Full Article Here.