Anka Wolbert
| Anka Wolbert | |
|---|---|
Anka Wolbert in 2006
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anke Wolbert |
| Born |
10 June 1963 Netherlands |
| Genres | Electronic music, new wave, darkwave, synthpop |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, musician, singer, co-producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, programming |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | 4AD, Polygram, Anxious, EMI, I-Rain Records |
| Associated acts | Clan of Xymox |
| Website | plus |
Anka Wolbert (also Anke Wolbert, born 10 June 1963) is a Dutch musician, singer, songwriter and web developer, best known for her work with Clan of Xymox.
Anka Wolbert co-founded the band Xymox with Ronny Moorings in 1981, self-publishing their first mini-album Subsequent Pleasures in 1983. Pieter Nooten joined the band as third songwriter shortly after this release.
With the name Xymox lengthened to Clan of Xymox, they signed a recording contract with independent UK label 4AD and released their eponymous debut album Clan of Xymox in 1985. The track 7th Time, with Anka Wolbert on lead vocals, was picked up by John Peel, leading to the band recording twice at the legendary Peel Sessions at the BBC, in June and November 1985. Peel referred to the band's dark and melancholic sound as darkwave.
In 1986 Clan of Xymox released their second album Medusa on 4AD. The album was described by Sounds as 'an overriding achievement … every track sounds like the finale to a brooding epic overture' with the track Masquerade (written and sung by Wolbert) acclaimed as 'an elegant ballad with her bass high in the mix and scored with strings'. Wolbert and Moorings moved to London and the band toured the United States and Europe. As US success grew, Clan of Xymox left 4AD and signed to New York-based label PolyGram.
Abbreviated to Xymox again, the band's third album Twist of Shadows was released on PolyGram in 1989. In the United States, this album created a cult following for the band with much support from college radio stations and sold out venues on live tours. Two singles taken from the Twist of Shadows album, Blind Hearts and Obsession reached the US Billboard charts. The album's third single Imagination, written and sung by Anka Wolbert, brought the band the most mainstream attention, charting at No. 85 on Billboard Hot 100, generating Top 40 radio airplay and MTV rotation of the Imagination video. Shortly after the release of their fourth album Phoenix on PolyGram in 1991, Wolbert moved from London to NYC, home to Polygram's headquarters.
...
Wikipedia