ANNA GRACE

Following a whole string of successes on the world stage with Ian Van Dahl, leading lady Annemie Coenen is ready to reveal her true self. As AnnaGrace, she is shedding her dancing outfits of old, determined from now on to steer a new, individual course.

“As a child I already was fascinated by the English word ‘Grace’ “, so says the native of Limburg. “Combined with my first name, I experience this new name as a new skin.”

And, needless to say, a new skin demands also a novel sound. “This does not mean that I have entirely abandoned dancing,” AnnaGrace explains. “With Ian Van Dahl I wrote lyrics and composed a large number of songs, and these remain close to my heart. However, as AnnaGrace, I want to expand the genre. As it were, I want to dance with my fingers on the pulse of contemporary club happenings.”

A new name, a novel sound, and a new recording company: with a mass of past experiences behind her and looking forward to her thirtieth birthday, AnnaGrace appears wholly prepared to embark upon a new adventure and a new challenge. “The future looks exciting and I can hardly wait for things to get going. Especially since, as AnnaGrace, I shall have to reveal much more of myself. Ian Van Dahl was a project. This time, everything revolves around me personally. It’s terribly exciting, but it does not frighten me.”

Fear is the last thing AnnaGrace ought to worry about, for the fan base she was able to build up with Ian Van Dahl remains firmly committed to her. “Practically daily I receive messages on the Internet from fans asking me how I am getting along. It is a truly fantastic feeling.”

Who is AnnaGrace?

AnnaGrace was born on 14 July 1978 as Annemie Anna Francine Coenen in Herk-de-Stad, Belgium. During a trip to Ibiza, she discovered the dance-scene and on her return home she immediately recorded her first song demo. In 2001, she stepped on the podium as a singer in the Ian Van Dahl project. Working with producers such as Peter Luts, amongst others, she wrote the lyrics, composed, and recorded a number of songs on the albums ‘Ace’ and ‘Lost And Found’. These albums, together with the world hit ‘Castles in the sky’ and singles such as ‘Try’, ‘Reason’, ‘Will I?’ and ‘Inspiration’, have registered impressive sales of more than four million copies. As AnnaGrace, she has made her debut with ‘You make me feel’. This debut album is expected to be released by the turn of the year.