Tag: anika

Desert Daze 2019 was the last gasp of Southern California’s art-life before the pandemic put the world on pause and separated us into various little, claustrophobic boxes for two years. That year, Anika, was an early daytime treat that awakened new pathways of musical possibilities in the minds of those present. Completely alone onstage and wearing a white suit that gave her charisma an air of artistic purity, jive, and her signature stoicism, Anika’s voice felt like European art pop of the highest order. It’s a voice that seduces listeners into thinking she’s hiding some wellspring of peaking emotion that she could unchain at any given moment. This is the effect of taking stoicism and reservation as part of your performing style, audiences only grow more curious as to what’s not being shown. Instead of rewarding audiences by plainly giving away its secrets, Anika’s voice keeps people begging and listening for more. In 2022, seduction is its own reward. Every bit of media is served to us on an endless platter and having people take the time to travel down rabbit holes has become a financially risky business strategy for artists. What works in Anika’s favor is that her voice