Ana Popovic - Power (2023)

Internationally renowned guitarist Ana Popovic has built her career on defining and describing, on her own terms, the essence of American music, simultaneously pushing limits, bending genres, and reinventing her music and herself with each new record. Not surprisingly, she can claim any number of notable accolades and achievements from the highest quarters of the music industry. She's shown her commitment to celebrating her guitar-driven, eclectic music style through consistent touring, awards, and recognition for the past 25 years. In the process, she's emerged as one of the most thoughtful, dynamic, and committed performers in modern songwriting and guitar. Ana's new album, 'Power', on ArtisteXclusive Records, brings those dynamics to the fore and, in the process, turns this set of songs into both a powerful and personal tale of survival through faith, determination and tenacity.

They were spawned from a decidedly tricky set of circumstances that tested Ana's devotion to making music and her perseverance. 'Power' symbolizes unity. Album cover art: two holding hands, black and white, is what this world needs. It's the power, and it's the force that's going to move this world forward. Without that power, there wouldn't have been so much remarkable music today, ideas, and reforms. And indeed, not this record. This story is about friendship and embracing yourself with everything life throws at you. The songs shared on 'Power' testify to her conviction. Recorded with an all-star line-up of topnotch musicians from Detroit, Dallas, and New Orleans, like the powerhouse drummer Chris Coleman (Beck, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder), she and bassist and musical director Buthel wrote and produced the album, which was then mixed and mastered by multi-talented Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning producer Jeremy Bishop Hicks. The results confirm the emotional investment that allowed each entry to become a testimonial to Ana's potency and prowess. With her masterful guitar solos, always in the service of the song, ranging from sizzling rock and blues guitar to smooth and sultry jazz licks, her vocals range from electrifying to soulful, Ana and company veer from hard stomping blues to relentless rhythms and searing soulful refrains. 'Our sound is so eclectic - it's a gumbo of rock, blues, gospel, soul, funk. It's black AND white, like the cover of 'Power'.' Ana Popovic: vocals, slide/electric/acoustic guitar; Buthel: bass guitar, b-vocals; Chris Coleman: drums, percussion, tribal drums; Jerry Kelley: drums, b-vocals; Michele Papadia: hammond organ / keys; Brandon 'Showtime' Bland: hammond organ; Jeremy Thomas: hammond organ / keys; Joe Foster: rhythm guitar; Jeff Bates: rhythm guitar, string arrangements; Claudio Giovagnoli: saxophone, horn arrangements; Davide Ghidoni: trumpet, horn arrangements; Mark Mullins: trombone, horn arrangements; Brad Walker: tenor sax; Bobby Campo: trumpet; Tasha Parker, Noel Burns, Nia Kelley: b-vocals; JaDell Burns, Luuk van Meurs - additional arrangements. Tracks: 1. Rise Up! (4:44) / 2. Power Over Me (3:43) / 3. Doin' This (3:39) / 4. Luv 'n Touch (4:09) / 5. Queen Of The Pack (3:28) / 6. Strong Taste (3:35) / 7. Recipe Is Romance (4:12) / 8. Deep Down (3:52) / 9. Ride It (3:52) / 10. Flicker 'N Flame (2:41) / 11. Turn My Luck (2:24)

About the Artist
Ana was initially introduced to the blues by her father, a storied musician in Belgrade. She took up guitar as a teenager and formed her first band, Hush, in 1995. She started the Ana Popovic band in 2000 and never stopped touring. She proudly states that she 'has the best job in the world, and it's the only job I ever had.' Ana recorded her debut album, also named Hush, in 1999 and subsequently moved to the Netherlands to study jazz guitar and other musical pursuits at the Conservatory of Music. Now affiliated with ArtisteXclusive Records, she claims no less than twelve albums in her storied catalog. On this record, Ana plays Fender Strats, Gibson Les Paul, D'Angelico jazz guitar, and even classical nylon string guitar. She takes the audience on a voyage from rock riffs to hard stomping blues, to fast, slick, jazzy licks to slide guitar, and more. Given that forthright approach, it's little wonder Ana's music continues to have such an indelible impact. Described as 'one helluva guitar player' by Bruce Springsteen and has been nominated for eight Blues Music Awards. She's appeared on the covers of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazines. Earlier releases, Can You Stand the Heat and Unconditional, were tapped as a 'Pick-Of-The-Week' by USA Today and given prominent airplay on NPR. In addition, most of Ana's albums have climbed to the Top Five of the Billboard Blues Charts and continue to receive regular airplay on radio stations worldwide. Notably, Ana was the only female guitarist to be included in the 2014-2018 all-star Experience Hendrix tribute, a national tour celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix that also included such celebrated participants as Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, among others. In addition, she and her six-piece band continue to tour relentlessly, having shared stages with B.B. King, Gary Clark Jr., Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, and many others.

Tracklist
1 Rise Up!
2 Power Over Me
3 Doin` This
4 Luv`n Touch
5 Queen Of The Pack
6 Strong Taste
7 Recipe Is Romance
8 Deep Down
9 Ride It
10 Flicker `N Flame
11 Turn My Luck