Anne Steele Takes Her New Pop Album on Tour

Singer Anne Steele always knew she wanted to perform. She got her foot in the door as a cabaret singer, and although she won New York's prestigious MAC Award three time, and was a two-time winner of New York's Bistro and Nightlife Awards, her true love was always pop and dance music.

Inspired by the music of Kelly Clarkson, PINK and Sara Bareilles, she has recently released a pop album "What's Mine," that includes dance hits and gay anthems plus a thought-provoking ballad, on her own label, Steele Records. It is a thrilling and intimate collection of songs where for the first time Steele utilizes her own words and voice in the songs that she sings. Most recently, she released an EP of her track "Without You Tonight," featuring remixes from Paul Goodyear, The Good Girls and Wayne G.

Steele has been performing live to sold-out audiences across the US in NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Boston, Provincetown, Rehoboth Beach and on various cruise ships and resorts. She took time out of her busy touring schedule to share news about her tour, her life and her loves with EDGE Media Network.

EDGE: Anne, you've released your debut EP "What's Mine." How does that feel?

Steele: Truthfully, it's the first time I've ever written music for myself. My first CD is covers from other artists, but this is the first time I've ever had a true voice, and it feels like a huge deal -- it's completely different when you put your own words out there and show your heart and who you are. I think it connects with people because it's more of who I really am. The album came out in February, and we just released the remix package.

EDGE: The album is a mix of dance music, anthems and ballads. Tell readers a little about that?

Steele: When I first started to write it, I knew I was drawn to pop and dance music, and I knew that was the album I wanted to put out. When I wrote the first song and title track "What's Mine," I wanted it to be both expressing my personal side and radio/pop friendly. Soon, the whole thing started to happen. There was a rock song on there, an angry breakup song, but I needed a heavier edge, so I just developed that. And I love the dance music, and because I work so much with RSVP and Atlantis, pairing these dance tracks with the stuff that happens at Tea Dance makes sense.

EDGE: What's the story behind your new dance track "Without You Tonight"?

Steele: It's sort of idea that sometimes when you're heartbroken or having a rough time you want to sit in a room and cry, but sometimes the best thing is to hit the dance floor and dance it out.

EDGE: Who are among your inspirations?

Steele: Vocally, I am obsessed with Kelly Clarkson's voice; I think she can do anything. On the other hand, I love PINK's edge and grittiness, her guttural reaction to her own music. But my inspiration for songwriting is Sara Bareilles; I think she's incredible, with her lyrically-driven songs.

EDGE: You played Rehoboth recently; how was your vacation [with wife Kelli Carpenter and children] and how are you anticipating the remainder of the tour dates?

Steele: Our vacation is fantastic! The kids are with us, and snuck into the concert last night to sit in the back and watch. I have really been gearing up for my July 14 Atlantic City concert, a free show on the beach in Kennedy Plaza. It is a two and a half hour full-blown concert with backup singers and everything. I'm very excited about that. I'll play my new music plus some fun covers like old-school Madonna.

EDGE: You released your album on Steele Records; is that your own label? What's the story behind that?

Steele: When we started to think about making a record, I had never produced something by myself. My first was on PS Classics, and was called " Strings Attached," an album of Broadway covers with string arrangements. They're a more theater-based label, so when I wanted to break out into the pop thing, I thought that producing myself is where it's at now. Between social media and YouTube, you don't need to have a label. So I did a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds, and did my record through that. I had complete control.

EDGE: You are an award-winning cabaret performer from NYC, with three MAC Awards, and two New York's Bistro and Nightlife Awards, both celebrating excellence in the New York cabaret community. How is it to shift your medium like this?

Steele: It's funny because I have been trying to get away from that cabaret label as much as possible! I always wanted to be a pop singer, but the avenue I found to get to where I am now is cabaret. So I started out in NYC piano bars, and the next thing to do is go into cabaret, play your own room, have your friends come, build a following, then jump to bigger stuff like shows at Joe's Pub. That elevated me to the next level, and now in the fall I am playing at The Cutting Room, which is another jump for me, because it's twice as big as Joe's Pub. For me it's the natural progression, a way to access a space to do your own thing. Now I can do whatever I want, and so I say that I used to be in cabaret, but I'm not a cabaret artist.

EDGE: You have been performing live to sold-out audiences across the U.S. in NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Boston, Provincetown, Rehoboth Beach and on various cruise ships and resorts. What's your favorite venue to play in general, and what are you most anticipating on this tour?

Steele: I love RSVP and Atlantis events; there is no better audience for me than a room full of gay men. It's the perfect place for me; they get me, I get them, and I love doing them. But Atlantic City is going to be insane, because its a free concert on the beach and I'm playing a huge set, a much bigger, full-scale concert with a band and backup singers. We also have a lot of good stuff happening this fall. I'm going back to Cali, to play San Diego again and a Los Angeles benefit in the fall.

Anne Steele will be touring throughout 2015. Check out the dates below.

June 29 Rehoboth Beach, DE Blue Moon
July 14 Atlantic City, NJ Kennedy Plaza (Music on the Boardwalk)
July 18-25 R Family Vacations European Cruise
August 1 - 8 RSVP Vacations Alaska Cruise
August 19 Provincetown, MA Provincetown Town Hall
August 22-29 The Broadway Cruise
Oct 23 New York, NY The Cutting Room
Nov 19 San Diego, CA Martini's Above Fourth