Anjimile
{{Short description|American folk singer-songwriter}}
Anjimile Chithambo, better known under the mononym Anjimile (/əˈn ˈd͡ʒɪm ːə liː/ ann-JIM-uh-lee),{{cite web |last1=Corcoran |first1=Nina |title=Anjimile: Giver Taker |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/anjimile-giver-taker/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511212046/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/anjimile-giver-taker/ |archive-date=2023-05-11 |access-date=22 November 2020 |publisher=Pitchfork}}{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=Sober singer-songwriter Anjimile crafts a work of beauty on 'Giver Taker' |url=https://www.thetiesthatbindus.org/singer-songwriter-anjimile-drapes-sobriety-in-the-gossamer-sounds-of-wonder/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507015609/https://www.thetiesthatbindus.org/singer-songwriter-anjimile-drapes-sobriety-in-the-gossamer-sounds-of-wonder/ |archive-date=2023-05-07 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=The Ties That Bind Us |language=en-US}} is an American folk singer-songwriter from Boston, Massachusetts.
Early life
Anjimile was born in 1993 and raised in Dallas before eventually moving to Boston. In an interview with Sound of Boston, Anjimile notes that the second song they wrote, "Apocolypse Now," was inspired by a "tumultuous time in high school" and about being excited to move to Boston and leaving behind the constraints of the Texan suburbs.{{cite web |last1=Chairin |first1=Becca |title=Local Spotlight: Anjimile |url=https://soundofboston.com/local-spotlight-anjimile/ |website=Sound of Boston|date=12 February 2014 }}
Growing up, they{{efn|Anjimile uses he/him and they/them pronouns. This article uses they/them pronouns for consistency.}} started playing guitar at 11, and sang in choirs starting in the fifth grade and continuing until college. Their early musical influence came through listening to their dad's Oliver Mtukudzi albums in the car, and early Sufjan Stevens.{{cite web |last1=Chairin |first1=Becca |title=Local Spotlight: Anjimile |url=https://soundofboston.com/local-spotlight-anjimile/ |website=Sound of Boston |date=12 February 2014 |access-date=13 August 2024}}
Later influences were getting sober and connecting with their Black Malawian roots. Anjimile identified as a lesbian for 10 years, before coming out as trans. They self-describe as "queer/trans/boy king" and use both they/them and he/him pronouns.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-18 |title=Anjimile Talks Giver Taker, Sobriety & More |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/anjimile-opens-giver-taker-sobriety-identifying-trans-more |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107004213/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/anjimile-opens-giver-taker-sobriety-identifying-trans-more |archive-date=2020-11-07 |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=GRAMMY.com |language=en |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{Cite web |last1=Lorusso |first1=Marissa |date=16 September 2020 |title=Anjimile Just Can't Wait To Be King |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/16/909375785/anjimile-just-cant-wait-to-be-king |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511212711/https://www.npr.org/2020/09/16/909375785/anjimile-just-cant-wait-to-be-king |archive-date=2023-05-11 |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=NPR.org |language=en}}
Career
= 2016–2020 =
Anjimile began writing songs when they were a music industry student at Northeastern University, and wrote most of their most recent album Giver Taker while in rehab in Florida in 2016, where they got sober. In 2018, they entered NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert contest, and a panel from Boston affiliate WBUR named them the best entrant from Massachusetts. The following year, a Live Arts Boston grant from a pair of local non-profit foundations gave them the budget to make Giver Taker.{{Cite web |title=Introducing WBUR's Favorite Massachusetts Entry To NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest |url=https://www.wbur.org/artery/2018/06/27/wbur-favorite-massachusetts-entry-npr-music-tiny-desk-contest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511213051/https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/06/27/wbur-favorite-massachusetts-entry-npr-music-tiny-desk-contest |archive-date=2023-05-11 |access-date=2021-04-25 |website=WBUR |date=27 June 2018 |language=en}} Prior to releasing the full-length album, Anjimile had self-produced and released numerous albums of their own.{{cite web |last1=Lorusso |first1=Marissa |date=16 September 2020 |title=Anjimile Just Can't Wait To Be King |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/16/909375785/anjimile-just-cant-wait-to-be-king |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512035733/https://www.npr.org/2020/09/16/909375785/anjimile-just-cant-wait-to-be-king |archive-date=2023-05-12 |access-date=22 November 2020 |website=NPR |publisher=NPR Music}}
Anjimile released Giver Taker in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. International booking agencies had taken an interest in booking them but they could not tour due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Anjimile held a virtual release show for their album.{{Cite web |last=Hilleary |first=Mike |date=2020 |title=Bartees Strange, Anjimile & More On What It's Like To Release A Debut Album In A Pandemic |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/bartees-strange-anjimile-more-what-its-release-debut-album-pandemic |archive-date= |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Academy Awards}} NPR named the album one of the best 50 albums of 2020.{{Cite web |date=2 December 2020 |title=The 50 Best Albums Of 2020 |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/02/930492613/the-50-best-albums-of-2020-page-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512040059/https://www.npr.org/2020/12/02/930492613/the-50-best-albums-of-2020-page-1 |archive-date=2023-05-12 |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=NPR.org |language=en}} Anjimile released their first full-length album in 2020 titled Giver Taker on Father/Daughter Records.{{cite web |last1=Empirw |first1=Kitty |date=13 September 2020 |title=Anjimile: Giver Taker review – a compelling debut |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/13/anjimile-giver-taker-review-debut-sufjan-stevens |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511213600/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/13/anjimile-giver-taker-review-debut-sufjan-stevens |archive-date=2023-05-11 |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=The Guardian}} According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Anjimile is an "artist you need to know"{{cite web |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |date=16 September 2020 |title=Anjimile's Joyful Becoming |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/anjimile-interview-artist-you-need-to-know-1058274/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511213751/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/anjimile-interview-artist-you-need-to-know-1058274/ |archive-date=2023-05-11 |access-date=22 November 2020 |publisher=Rolling Stone}} and their song "Baby No More" was a "Song You Need To Know" by the magazine.{{cite web |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |date=12 August 2020 |title=Song You Need to Know: Anjimile Owns Up to a Bad Romance on Sizzling 'Baby No More' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/anjimile-new-song-baby-no-more-giver-taker-1043120/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511214022/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/anjimile-new-song-baby-no-more-giver-taker-1043120/ |archive-date=2023-05-11 |access-date=22 November 2020 |publisher=Rolling Stone}} Anjimile was also Consequence of Sound's Artist of the Month".{{cite web |last1=Schatz |first1=Lake |date=16 September 2020 |title=Artist of the Month Anjimile on Overcoming Addiction, the Power of Ancestry, and Being Black and Trans Under Trump |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/09/artist-of-the-month-anjimile/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512035906/https://consequence.net/2020/09/artist-of-the-month-anjimile/ |archive-date=2023-05-12 |access-date=22 November 2020 |publisher=Consequence of Sound}}
= 2021–present =
In 2021, they signed to 4AD,{{Cite web |date=2021-10-19 |title=Anjimile Signs to 4AD, Shares New Song "Stranger" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/anjimile-signs-to-4ad-shares-new-song-stranger-listen/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529021001/https://pitchfork.com/news/anjimile-signs-to-4ad-shares-new-song-stranger-listen/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} and released their EP, Reunion, which included reimagined, orchestral versions of songs from their 2020 album, Giver Taker, with guest artists Jay Som, SASAMI, and Lomelda.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-14 |title=Anjimile feat. Jay Som: In Your Eyes (Reflection) |url=https://coolhunting.com/culture/anjimile-feat-jay-som-in-your-eyes-reflection/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=COOL HUNTING® |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-13 |title=Anjimile Announces Orchestral Remix EP, Shares New Version of "In Your Eyes" With Jay Som |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/anjimile-announces-orchestral-remix-ep-shares-new-version-of-in-your-eyes-with-jay-som-listen/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529020516/https://pitchfork.com/news/anjimile-announces-orchestral-remix-ep-shares-new-version-of-in-your-eyes-with-jay-som-listen/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} In 2022, they toured with Hurray for the Riff Raff.{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=2022-04-18 |title=Hurray for the Riff Raff played Elsewhere with Anjimile & Amelia Jackie (pics) |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-played-elsewhere-with-anjimile-amelia-jack-pics/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529023827/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-played-elsewhere-with-anjimile-amelia-jack-pics/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en}} In 2023, they were featured on McKinley Dixon's album, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?,{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Abby |date=2023-03-07 |title=McKinley Dixon announces new album Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?, shares "Run, Run, Run": Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2023/03/mckinley-dixon-beloved-paradise-jazz-stream/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529023407/https://consequence.net/2023/03/mckinley-dixon-beloved-paradise-jazz-stream/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}} and signed an open letter to SXSW from the Union Of Musicians And Allied Workers demanding higher pay.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=SXSW 2023: Wednesday, Speedy Ortiz, Anjimile, & Dozens More Artists Demand Higher Pay In Open Letter |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2213104/sxsw-fairer-pay-open-letter-umaw/news/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529023609/https://www.stereogum.com/2213104/sxsw-fairer-pay-open-letter-umaw/news/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hatfield |first=Amanda |date=2023-02-07 |title=120+ artists call for higher pay from SXSW in new open letter |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/120-artists-call-for-higher-pay-from-sxsw-in-new-open-letter/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en}}
In May 2023, Anjimile released the track “The King,”{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=2023-05-23 |title=Anjimile Wears a Heavy Crown on New Song 'The King' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/anjimile-the-king-new-song-album-listen-1234739832/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529025736/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/anjimile-the-king-new-song-album-listen-1234739832/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29}} which Pitchfork wrote, "transforms acoustic guitar and his own voice into a whiplashing storm".{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Anjimile: "The King" |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/anjimile-the-king/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529025617/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/anjimile-the-king/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} The release of the track also served as an announcement of Anjimile's album The King, which was released on September 8, 2023, and features contributions from Justine Bowe, Brad Allen Williams, Sam Gendel, and James Krivchenia.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=Anjimile Shares New Song "The King": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2224581/anjimile-the-king/music/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529025417/https://www.stereogum.com/2224581/anjimile-the-king/music/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}
Discography
= As lead artist =
| class="wikitable"
|+Albums !Title !Label !Year !Source |
| The King
|4AD |2023 |
| Giver Taker
|Father/Daughter |2020 |
| Colors
|Industry Lab |2018 |
| Good Boy
|Self-release |2016 |
| Human Nature
|Human Nature Records |2015 |
| class="wikitable"
|+Extended plays !Title !Year !Source |
| Reunion (Instrumentals)
|2021 |
| Reunion
|2021 |
| Maker Mixtape
|2019 |
| Snow Day
|2015 |
| class="wikitable"
|+Singles !Title !Year !Source |
| “Father”
|2023 |
| “The King”
|2023 |
| “Stranger”
|2021 |
| “Maker (Acoustic Version)”
|2020 |
| “Ever New”
|2021 |
| “Sonja Smokes Me Out”
|2019 |
| class="wikitable"
|+Music videos !Title !Year !Source |
| “Baby No More”
|2020 |
| “Therapy”
|2015 |
= As featured artist =
| class="wikitable"
|+Albums !Title !Artist !Label !Year !Source |
| Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?
|City Slang |2023 |
| The Baby Reimagined
|Grand Jury |2021 |
| How Many More Times
|Father/Daughter |2021 |
| Why the Wild Things Are
|Cliff Notez |HipStory |2019 |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:American folk musicians
Category:Transgender non-binary people
Category:Musicians from Dallas
Category:Musicians from Boston
Category:Father/Daughter Records artists
Category:African-American LGBTQ people
Category:American non-binary musicians
Category:American transgender musicians
Category:American LGBTQ singers
Category:LGBTQ people from Texas
Category:21st-century American musicians
Category:21st-century African-American musicians