View source for Anneke van Giersbergen

{{Short description|Dutch singer and musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{For|the band also known as Agua de Annique|Anneke van Giersbergen (band)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Anneke van Giersbergen
| image             = 4 AnnekeVanGiersbergen hoge kwaliteit roze jasje Mark Uyl.jpg
| caption           = Van Giersbergen in 2023
| landscape         = yes
| birth_name        = Anna Maria van Giersbergen
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1973|3|8|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Sint-Michielsgestel]], Netherlands
| instrument        = Vocals, guitar
| occupation        = Singer, musician, songwriter, vocal coach<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ahk.nl/en/conservatorium/study-programmes/bachelor/pop-music/study-programme/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304022515/http://www.ahk.nl/en/conservatorium/study-programmes/bachelor/pop-music/study-programme/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2011 |title=Study programme – Conservatorium van Amsterdam – AHK |publisher=Ahk.nl |access-date=28 October 2013 }}</ref>
| genre             = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| years_active      = 1994–present
| label             = [[Inside Out Music]]
| associated_acts   = [[The Gathering (band)|The Gathering]], [[Devin Townsend]], [[Ayreon]], [[The Gentle Storm]], [[VUUR]], [[Globus (music)|Globus]], [[Kari Rueslåtten]], [[Liv Kristine]], [[Anathema (band)|Anathema]], [[Daniel Cavanagh]]
| website           = {{URL|annekevangiersbergen.com}}
}}

'''Anna Maria "Anneke" van Giersbergen'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jusbrasil.com.br/diarios/3662874/pg-152-secao-1-diario-oficial-da-uniao-dou-de-30-04-2010|title=DOU 30/04/2010 – Pg. 152 – Seção 1 – Diário Oficial da União – Diários JusBrasil|work=JusBrasil|access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref> (born 8 March 1973) is a Dutch singer, songwriter and guitarist who became known worldwide as the lead singer for the rock band [[The Gathering (band)|The Gathering]] between 1994 and 2007. She also has a solo career. The project was originally called [[Agua de Annique]], but now goes by her own name.

A frequent collaborator of [[Arjen Anthony Lucassen]], she portrayed main characters in the albums ''[[Into the Electric Castle]]'', ''[[01011001]]'' and ''[[The Theater Equation]]'' by his project [[Ayreon]]. In 2014 they collaborated on a project called [[The Gentle Storm]], which produced an album titled ''[[The Diary (The Gentle Storm album)|The Diary]]'' that was released in 2015. Since 2016 she has formed a new band [[VUUR]] with members of [[The Gentle Storm]] live band and her own solo band, to focus on the heavier side of her music. They released their debut album ''[[In This Moment We Are Free – Cities]]'' in October 2017. In 2021 she released another solo album: The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest. She continues to tour with her new live band and solo.

Van Giersbergen has also prominently collaborated with [[Devin Townsend]] on many of his albums, [[Within Temptation]], [[Anathema (band)|Anathema]], Lawn, [[Farmer Boys (band)|Farmer Boys]], [[Napalm Death]], [[Moonspell]], [[Novembers Doom]], [[Globus (music)|Globus]], [[Giant Squid (band)|Giant Squid]], and many other artists and projects.

== Biography ==

=== Early years ===
Van Giersbergen was born in the small town of [[Sint-Michielsgestel]], Netherlands. She began singing at age 7, when she participated in a music contest. At 12 years old she participated in her school choir where she studied and toured through France. Later, she took singing lessons and joined several bands. In 1992, she founded the duo "Bad Breath" with guitarist and singer Deniz Cagdas (Spencer Edgards), with music predominantly based on [[blues]], [[jazz]], [[folk music|folk]] and [[funk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://som13.com.br/anneke-van-giersbergen/biografia|title=Biografia – Anneke Van Giersbergen|author=Som13 Músicas|work=Som13 Músicas|access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gathering.nl/membres.php?id=anneke&swap=ok&l=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014182052/http://www.gathering.nl/membres.php?id=anneke&swap=ok&l=1|archive-date=14 October 2006 |title=the Gathering – Sand & Mercury}}</ref> She joined [[The Gathering (band)|The Gathering]] in 1994, and is best known for her work with them.

=== The Gathering and several collaborations (1995–2006) ===
In 1998, she sang on the [[Ayreon]] album ''[[Into the Electric Castle]]'', a concept album telling the tale of an alien entity 'kidnapping' eight human souls from different times. Van Giersbergen portrayed an Egyptian woman from the time of the [[pharaoh]]s.

In 2006, she appeared on the album 2006 ''Rubicon'' from [[Asia (band)|Asia]] band members' [[John Wetton]] and [[Geoffrey Downes]] on the tracks "To Catch a Thief" and "Tears of Joy". She also appears on the ''[[Smear Campaign (album)|Smear Campaign]]'' by the [[grindcore]]-[[death metal]] band [[Napalm Death]], on the tracks "Weltschmerz" and "In Deference", contributing spoken rather than sung vocals "for good effect and relevance to the track".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081213000649/http://www.napalmdeath.org/plague/viewtopic.php?t=1335&highlight=&sid=6e862dc74f0faa143dcd05089fd03a49 Official Napalm Death Forum :: View topic – Update from the studio<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In June 2006, the epic rock band Globus released the album ''Epicon'', which included Van Giersbergen's vocal and writing contributions. Van Giersbergen co-wrote the lyrics for "Mighty Rivers Run", and sang lead vocal on the track as well as dueting with Christine Navarro on the seminal "Diem Ex Dei".

=== The Gathering departure, Agua de Annique and further collaborations (2007–2011) ===
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 240
| image1            = Anneke Van Giersbergen and Danny Cavanagh.jpg
| image2            = Anneke van Giersbergen & Devin Townsend, live at the Retinal Circus.jpg
| footer            = Anneke van Giersbergen performing live with her band in The Netherlands, 2022.
| image3            = 2 AnnekeVanGiersbergen-band photo by Bullet-Ray.jpg
}}
On 5 June 2007 it was announced that Van Giersbergen would be leaving The Gathering in August 2007 to focus on a new project, [[Agua de Annique]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-the-gathering-singer-launches-agua-de-annique/ |title=Former The Gathering Singer Launches Agua De Annique – Blabbermouth.net |work=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=16 October 2016 |date=5 June 2007}}</ref> and to spend more time with her family. She released three albums under this name, ''[[Air (Agua de Annique album)|Air]]'' in 2007 and both ''[[Pure Air]]'' and ''[[In Your Room (Agua de Annique album)|In Your Room]]'' in 2009. On 24 November 2007, she performed the song "Somewhere" with [[Within Temptation]] in Eindhoven.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-films-eindhoven-concert-for-upcoming-dvd-video-available/ |title=Within Temptation Films Eindhoven Concert For Upcoming Dvd; Video Available |work=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=16 October 2016 |date=25 November 2007}}</ref> Her 7 February 2008 performance of "Somewhere" with Within Temptation at the [[Rotterdam Ahoy|Ahoy Arena]] in [[Rotterdam]] was featured in the Within Temptation live DVD ''[[Black Symphony]]''.

Van Giersbergen also sings on the Ayreon album ''[[01011001]]'', released in early 2008. The character she portrays is one of the Forever, an alien being of the same race, who kidnapped her character from ''[[Into the Electric Castle]]''.

She sings on "Scorpion Flower" from the album ''[[Night Eternal]]'' (2008) from [[Moonspell]]. On 3 December 2008, she performed this song live with Moonspell at the [[013]] in [[Tilburg]], The Netherlands.

Van Giersbergen collaborated with [[Devin Townsend]] on his albums ''[[Addicted (The Devin Townsend Project album)|Addicted]]'' in 2009, ''[[Epicloud]]'' in 2012, ''[[Z² (album)|Sky Blue]]'' in 2014, ''[[Transcendence (Devin Townsend Project album)|Transcendence]]'' in 2016, and ''[[Empath (album)|Empath]]'' in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=194540#p194540|title=HEVYDEVY FORUMS Login|publisher=Hevydevyforums.com|access-date=29 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229173508/http://hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=194540#p194540|archive-date=29 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7976|title=HEVYDEVY FORUMS Login|publisher=Hevydevyforums.com|access-date=29 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229173511/http://hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7976|archive-date=29 December 2014}}</ref>
She also appeared as guest vocalist on several Devin Townsend Project live shows including the second show in the [[By a Thread: Live in London 2011|By a Thread]] concert series in 2011 and [[The Retinal Circus]] in 2012, both of which were released as DVD.

She appeared as a guest vocalist on the debut album of ''The Human Experimente'', a project which also features [[Robert Fripp]] ([[King Crimson]]), [[John Wetton]] ([[Asia (band)|Asia]], [[King Crimson]]), [[Maynard James Keenan]] ([[Tool (band)|Tool]], [[A Perfect Circle]], [[Puscifer]]), [[Adrian Belew]], U-G-O with [[Sean Kingston]], and Dann Pursey (Globus, Vantan).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehumanexperimente.com/?page_id=2 |title=The Human Experimente |publisher=Thehumanexperimente.com|access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref>

In 2011, Van Giersbergen collaborated with [[Yoav Goren]] on the song "The Promise", the lead track on [[Globus (music)|Globus]] second album ''[[Break From This World]]''. She co-wrote lyrics and, along with [[Lisbeth Scott]], was a featured vocalist on the track. She performed the track "What Could Have Been" for [[death-doom]] metal band [[Novembers Doom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-LbXzzuDg  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/RW-LbXzzuDg |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Novembers Doom – What Could Have Been |publisher=YouTube |access-date=28 October 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Van Giersbergen also features on a track in the orchestral re-interpretations album from English [[progressive rock]] band [[Anathema (band)|Anathema]], ''[[Falling Deeper]]'', released on 5 September 2011. She toured with the band in South America, singing "Everwake" during concerts.

=== Solo career, The Gentle Storm and VUUR (2012–present) ===
Van Giersbergen released a solo album, ''[[Everything Is Changing]]'', in 2012, followed by ''[[Drive (Anneke van Giersbergen album)|Drive]]'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Anneke-Van-Giersbergen-Everything-Is-Changing/release/3376021 |title=Everything Is Changing |publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=29 December 2014 }}</ref>

On 22 April 2014, [[Arjen Anthony Lucassen]] revealed that his next project would be a collaboration with Van Giersbergen, their third work together after the Ayreon albums ''[[Into the Electric Castle]]'' and ''[[01011001]]''. He described it as "an epic double concept album, a combination of 'classical meets metal' and 'acoustic folk'."<ref name="2014 new project">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ArjenLucassenOfficial/photos/a.114351896151.107682.109887886151/10151950811516152/?type=1&stream_ref=10  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/109887886151/10151950811516152 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Ayreon – Timeline Photos |publisher=Facebook |access-date=28 July 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The project is named [[The Gentle Storm]], with their first album released in 2015.

Later in 2015, Van Giersbergen collaborated again with Lucassen, portraying the character of Fear in the musical ''[[The Theater Equation]]'', consisting of three shows of a semi-staged version of the Ayreon album ''[[The Human Equation]]'' ([[Mikael Åkerfeldt]] originally recorded the vocals for Fear on the album).

In February 2016, she released a collaboration album with the Icelandic band [[Árstíðir]] called ''Verloren Verleden''.

On 1 December 2016, she announced the creation of her new band, named [[VUUR]],<ref name="2016 new band">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/annekevangiersbergenofficial/posts/10154840355274216|title=Dear friends, I am so so proud to... – Anneke Van Giersbergen|publisher=Facebook|date=1 December 2016|access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref> with musicians coming mostly from [[The Gentle Storm]] live band. Their debut album was released in 2017.<ref name="2017 Vuur debutalbum">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/vuurband/photos/a.369730496708745.1073741828.194466064235190/478842125797581/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/194466064235190/478842125797581 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Our debut album is going to be called 'In This Moment We Are free – Cities'|publisher=Facebook|date=3 July 2017|access-date=13 July 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In September 2017, she was a performer in the 'Ayreon Universe' concert series at [[013]] in [[Tilburg]].

In 2018 she performed on "Amongst Stars" from Finnish Heavy Metal band [[Amorphis]]' album [[Queen of Time]], including appearing on the official music video.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg2VqUTNjsw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Jg2VqUTNjsw |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=AMORPHIS – Amongst Stars (OFFICIAL VIDEO)|publisher=Youtube|date=18 May 2018|access-date=9 January 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She also performed in two concerts alongside [[Residentie Orchestra|Residentie Orkest The Hague]] covering songs from Van Giersbergen's whole career, later released in the live album ''Symphonized'' in October.<ref name="symphonized">{{cite web|url=http://www.insideoutmusic.com/release.aspx?IdRelease=2148|title=Anneke Van Giersbergen – Symphonized|publisher=Inside Out Music|date=16 November 2018|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, she toured the Netherlands on an acoustic theatre tour 'Inchecken', performing a career-spanning setlist alongside VUUR bandmate Ferry Duijsens in over 40 Dutch theatres, touring from January to March.<ref name="inchecken">{{cite web|url=http://www.annekevangiersbergen.com/tour-updates/acoustic-theatre-tour/|title=ACOUSTIC THEATRE TOUR|publisher=Anneke van Giersbergen|date=26 November 2018|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
She also joined Amorphis and [[Delain]] for their 2019 North American tour, performing a solo setlist as well as performing "Amongst Stars" alongside Amorphis during their set.<ref name="ustour2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.metalinsider.net/touring/delain-amorphis-announce-2019-co-headlining-north-american-tour-w-anneke-van-giersbergen |title=Delain & Amorphis announce 2019 co-headlining North American Tour w/ Anneke Van Giersbergen
|first=Zenae |last=Zukowski |date=13 November 2018}}</ref> On 16 November, she announced a solo album titled ''[[The Darkest Skies Are the Brightest]]'', set for release on 26 February 2021.

== Musical roots and influences ==
Van Giersbergen's musical roots are in [[European classical music|classical]] and [[jazz]] music, but she enjoys [[Rock and roll|rock]] and pop the most. Some of her main influences are [[Prince (artist)|Prince]], [[Ella Fitzgerald]] and [[Thom Yorke]] ([[Radiohead]]).{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}

== Personal life ==
On 20 February 2005 she gave birth to a son named Finn, whom she had with her husband Rob Snijders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-gathering-singer-gives-birth-to-healthy-son/ |title=THE GATHERING Singer Gives Birth To Healthy Son – Blabbermouth.net |work=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=28 June 2020 |date=21 February 2005}}</ref>

She is not related to Dutch singer [[Dianne van Giersbergen]].<ref name=twsNewNoiseMagazine>19 May 2014, Eric May, New Noise Magazine, [http://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-xandria-sacrificum/ Album Review: Xandria – "Sacrificum"], Accessed 4 July 2014, "...Newcomer and sultry siren, Dianne Van Giersbergen (not related to Anneke) ... something majestically powerful in her mesmerizing vocal harmonies. ..."</ref>

== Backing band ==
* Matthias van Beek - guitars and backing vocals
* Gijs Coolen - guitars
* Roel Blommers - bass
* Thijs Schrijnemakers - keys
* Rob Snijders - drums
* Edward Capel - woodwinds
* Allie Summers - violin and backing vocals

== Discography ==
{{Main|Anneke van Giersbergen discography}}

=== Albums ===

As Aqua de Annique
* ''Air'' (2007)
* ''Pure Air'' (2009)
* ''In Your Room'' (2009)


As Anneke van Giersbergen
* ''[[Everything Is Changing]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Drive (Anneke van Giersbergen album)|Drive]]'' (2013)
* ''[[The Darkest Skies Are the Brightest]]'' (2021)
* ''[[La Vie, La Mort, L'Amour]]'' (TBA)

=== Live Albums ===

* ''In Parallel – with Danny Cavanagh [Live]'' (2009)
* ''Symphonized – with Residentie Orkest The Hague [Live]'' (2018)
* ''Let the Light In – with Kamerata Zuid [Live]'' (2020)

=== Singles ===
* ''Feel Alive'' (2011)
* ''Circles'' (2011)
* ''Drive ''(2013)

== Filmography ==
* ''[[Soaring Highs and Brutal Lows: The Voices of Women in Metal]]'' (2015)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.annekevangiersbergen.com/ AnnekevanGiersbergen.com] – official website
* [http://www.aguadeannique.com/ Agua de Annique official website]

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Martine van Loon]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[The Gathering (band)|Vocalist for The Gathering]]|years=1994–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Silje Wergeland]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Anneke van Giersbergen}}
{{Globus}}
{{The Gathering}}
{{Devin Townsend}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giersbergen, Anneke Van}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dutch women rock singers]]
[[Category:Dutch heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:Dutch rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Dutch rock pianists]]
[[Category:Dutch rock singers]]
[[Category:Dutch sopranos]]
[[Category:Dutch women guitarists]]
[[Category:Women heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:English-language singers from the Netherlands]]
[[Category:People from Sint-Michielsgestel]]
[[Category:Globus (music)]]
[[Category:Inside Out Music artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch women guitarists]]