Annelle Staal
It’s a rare and beautiful experience to come across someone you immediately connect with only to realize you have been peripherally weaving circles around one another for years. It’s how I felt immediately upon entering this conversation with Annelle Staal, a North Carolina-based songwriter and entertainer.
Annelle’s sound is distinct with catchy, melt-in-your mouth melodies and timeless lyrical depth. A pioneer in the world of virtual performance and a visionary in their artistry, Annelle marries music, comedy and storytelling in a distinct and captivating show that has caught the attention of an international audience online. Celebrated for their sultry vocal and colorful creativity by Earmilk, DIVA Mag and ABC news, Annelle’s best is yet to come.
Annelle’s first studio project titled “MARS” in 2017 featured moody, driving pop production and a lyrical discussion of love, war and imagination. After the pandemic of 2020 cancelled Annelle’s live show schedule, the artist released an acoustic collection of music called “Heart on My Sleeve,” where stripped production was matched with vulnerable themes of loss and self discovery. Annelle began performing on the popular live-streaming platform Twitch TV. There, an international audience quickly grew in Annelle’s playful ecosystem of music and improvisational comedy.
After “Mr. Christmas,” a bluesy, big band holiday single in 2020, Annelle released a slew of songs in 2021 and 2022. Tracks like “Lemon Days,” “Turquoise,” and “Tonight” anticipate Annelle’s debut full-length album, which is set to release in 2024. Annelle publicly came out to the world as queer and nonbinary in 2022, with musical and visual art that celebrated sapphic and southern camp imagery.
The songwriter then took a musical detour with “VIOLET,” an EP of queer, nostalgic pop in 2023. Following its leading single “My Girl,” Annelle began recording and playing with a Raleigh, North Carolina-based band.
“Pressure,” tracked and co-produced by Annelle’s guitarist and musical partner Ben Youngblood, features the group’s groovy, indie-pop sound.
Annelle has toured the country with shows in Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Charlotte, Miami and more. They continue to stream a show of music and comedy full time on Twitch TV, have raised over $15,000 for charity, and advocate for the destigmatization and prioritization of mental health.
At its core, Good Folk is a reminder that, as Southern and rural artists, we are not alone. We have always been here doing this work, and there are so many of us spread out across the country. We seek to do this work with eyes open, in pursuit of the belief that when we do, we will see those of us all around—in collaboration, community, and creativity.
This conversation served as a reminder to me that community is everywhere if you are willing to look for it. I hope you enjoy.
