Anna-Maria Hefele

{{short description|German overtone singer}}

File:Anna-Maria Hefele INNtöne 02.jpg

File:Anna-Maria Hefele jm102599.jpg

Anna-Maria Hefele is a German overtone singer. Hefele is from Grafing near Munich.{{cite web|title=Obertonsängerin Anna-Maria Hefele Eine Stimme wie nicht von dieser Welt |url=http://www.br.de/puls/themen/leben/obertonsingen-polyphon-anna-maria-hefele-100.html |website=Br.de |accessdate=12 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012035148/http://www.br.de/puls/themen/leben/obertonsingen-polyphon-anna-maria-hefele-100.html |archivedate=12 October 2014 }}

This technique of singing polyphonic overtones is also known as "throat singing," and Hefele has been practicing it since 2005.{{cite web|last1=Fitzharris|first1=Mia|title=Throat Singer’s Performance Goes Viral|url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/throat-singer-s-performance-goes-viral-201047504.html|website=Yahoo News|accessdate=12 October 2014}}

There are several styles of overtone singing found around the world. Canadian Inuit and several forms displayed in Mongolia and surrounding regions are the most recognized. Hefele's style is culturally practiced in the Siberian region of Tuva. This whistling vocal version is called sygyt.Christopher Hooton (6 October 2014). [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/this-woman-singing-multiple-notes-at-once-is-a-total-i-didnt-even-know-humans-could-do-that-moment-9777885.html This woman singing multiple notes at once is a total 'I didn't even know humans could do that' moment]. The Independent. Accessed October 2014.

The Huffington Post has commented on her "amazing ability" and her singing being "utterly bizarre".{{cite web|title=German Musician Anna-Maria Hefele Demonstrates Polyphonic Overtone Singing, And It's Amazing|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/07/polyphonic-overtone-singing_n_5944174.html|website=Huffington Post|accessdate=12 October 2014}} On 10 October 2014, she was number two on The Guardian's Viral Video Chart,{{cite news|last1=Perraudin|first1=Frances|title=Viral Video Chart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/10/viral-video-chart-danny-macaskill-kangaroo-boxing-greenpeace-v-lego|accessdate=12 October 2014|work=The Guardian|date=10 October 2014}} with one online video titled Polyphonic Overtone Singing, which features Hefele as she demonstrates and explains overtones. As of June 2021, this video has received more than 21 million hits.