Anjimile performing at Jamaica Plain Porch Fest in 2015.

Anjimile Chithambo, better known under the mononym Anjimile (/əˈn ˈd͡ʒɪm ːə liː/ ann-JIM-uh-lee),[1][2] is an American folk musician from Boston, Massachusetts.

Early life

Anjimile was born in 1993 and raised in Dallas before eventually moving to Boston. Growing up, they[lower-alpha 1] 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. 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.[3][4]

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.[3][5] Prior to releasing the full-length album, Anjimile had self-produced and released numerous albums of their own.[6]

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.[7] NPR named the album one of the best 50 albums of 2020.[8] Anjimile released their first full-length album in 2020 titled Giver Taker on Father/Daughter Records.[9] According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Anjimile is an "artist you need to know"[10] and their song "Baby No More" was a "Song You Need To Know" by the magazine.[11] Anjimile was also Consequence of Sound's Artist of the Month".[12]

2021–present

In 2021, they signed to 4AD,[13] 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.[14][15] In 2022, they toured with Hurray for the Riff Raff.[16] In 2023, they were featured on McKinley Dixon's album, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?,[17] and signed an open letter to SXSW from the Union Of Musicians And Allied Workers demanding higher pay.[18][19]

In May 2023, Anjimile released the track “The King,”[20] which Pitchfork wrote, "transforms acoustic guitar and his own voice into a whiplashing storm".[21] 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.[22]

Discography

As lead artist

Albums
Title Label Year Source
The King 4AD 2023 [23]
Giver Taker Father/Daughter 2020 [1]
Colors Industry Lab 2018 [24]
Good Boy Self-release 2016 [25]
Human Nature Human Nature Records 2015 [26]
Extended plays
Title Year Source
Reunion (Instrumentals) 2021 [27]
Reunion 2021 [28]
Maker Mixtape 2019 [29]
Snow Day 2015 [30]
Singles
Title Year Source
“Father” 2023 [31]
“The King” 2023 [32]
“Stranger” 2021 [33]
“Maker (Acoustic Version)” 2020 [34]
“Ever New” 2021 [35]
“Sonja Smokes Me Out” 2019 [36]
Music videos
Title Year Source
“Baby No More” 2020 [37]
“Therapy” 2015 [38]
Albums
Title Artist Label Year Source
Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? McKinley Dixon City Slang 2023 [17]
The Baby Reimagined Samia Grand Jury 2021 [39]
How Many More Times Esther Rose Father/Daughter 2021 [40]
Why the Wild Things Are Cliff Notez HipStory 2019 [41]

Notes

  1. ↑ Anjimile uses he/him and they/them pronouns. This article uses they/them pronouns for consistency.

References

  1. 1 2 Corcoran, Nina. "Anjimile: Giver Taker". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Sober singer-songwriter Anjimile crafts a work of beauty on 'Giver Taker'". The Ties That Bind Us. 2020-10-26. Archived from the original on 2023-05-07. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  3. 1 2 "Anjimile Talks 'Giver Taker,' Sobriety & More". GRAMMY.com. 2020-09-18. Archived from the original on 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2020-12-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ Lorusso, Marissa (16 September 2020). "Anjimile Just Can't Wait To Be King". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  5. ↑ "Introducing WBUR's Favorite Massachusetts Entry To NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest". WBUR. 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  6. ↑ Lorusso, Marissa (16 September 2020). "Anjimile Just Can't Wait To Be King". NPR. NPR Music. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Hilleary, Mike (2020). "Bartees Strange, Anjimile & More On What It's Like To Release A Debut Album In A Pandemic". Academy Awards. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  8. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2020". NPR.org. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  9. ↑ Empirw, Kitty (13 September 2020). "Anjimile: Giver Taker review – a compelling debut". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Blistein, Jon (16 September 2020). "Anjimile's Joyful Becoming". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  11. ↑ Blistein, Jon (12 August 2020). "Song You Need to Know: Anjimile Owns Up to a Bad Romance on Sizzling 'Baby No More'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Schatz, Lake (16 September 2020). "Artist of the Month Anjimile on Overcoming Addiction, the Power of Ancestry, and Being Black and Trans Under Trump". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Anjimile Signs to 4AD, Shares New Song "Stranger"". Pitchfork. 2021-10-19. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  14. ↑ "Anjimile feat. Jay Som: In Your Eyes (Reflection)". COOL HUNTING®. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  15. ↑ "Anjimile Announces Orchestral Remix EP, Shares New Version of "In Your Eyes" With Jay Som". Pitchfork. 2021-04-13. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  16. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (2022-04-18). "Hurray for the Riff Raff played Elsewhere with Anjimile & Amelia Jackie (pics)". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  17. 1 2 Jones, Abby (2023-03-07). "McKinley Dixon announces new album Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?, shares "Run, Run, Run": Stream". Consequence. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  18. ↑ "SXSW 2023: Wednesday, Speedy Ortiz, Anjimile, & Dozens More Artists Demand Higher Pay In Open Letter". Stereogum. 2023-02-07. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  19. ↑ Hatfield, Amanda (2023-02-07). "120+ artists call for higher pay from SXSW in new open letter". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  20. ↑ Blistein, Jon (2023-05-23). "Anjimile Wears a Heavy Crown on New Song 'The King'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  21. ↑ "Anjimile: "The King"". Pitchfork. 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  22. ↑ "Anjimile Shares New Song "The King": Listen". Stereogum. 2023-05-23. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  23. ↑ "Anjimile Announces New Album The King, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  24. ↑ "Boston Singer-Songwriter Anjimile Mines Blissful Melodies From Melancholy Thoughts". www.wbur.org. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  25. ↑ Doolin, Lily (2018-07-27). "Anjimile and the Colors of Pride". WERS 88.9FM. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  26. ↑ "Anjimile". HUMAN NATURE RECORDS. 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  27. ↑ Reunion (Instrumentals), 2021-05-28, retrieved 2023-07-15
  28. ↑ Hussey, Allison (April 13, 2021). "Anjimile Announces Orchestral Remix EP, Shares New Version of "In Your Eyes" With Jay Som". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Anjimile's 'Maker Mixtape' is Brief and Beautiful | Arts | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  30. ↑ "Review: Anjimile's EP reflects on winter season - The Huntington News". 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  31. ↑ "Anjimile Gets Vulnerable On His Delicate New Single 'Father'". UPROXX. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  32. ↑ Blistein, Jon (2023-05-23). "Anjimile Wears a Heavy Crown on New Song 'The King'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  33. ↑ "Anjimile Signs to 4AD, Shares New Song "Stranger"". Pitchfork. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  34. ↑ "Anjimile - "Maker"". Stereogum. 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  35. ↑ "Listen to Bartees Strange, Eric Slick, and Ohmme cover TV On The Radio, Anjimile cover Beverly Glenn-Copeland". WXPN | Vinyl At Heart. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  36. ↑ "Listen To 'Sonja Smokes Me Out,' Anjimile's Upbeat Salve To A Troubled World". www.wbur.org. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  37. ↑ Anjimile - Baby No More (Official Music Video), retrieved 2023-07-15
  38. ↑ Anjimile "Therapy" (OFFICIAL VIDEO), retrieved 2023-07-15
  39. ↑ "Samia Announces Covers Album The Baby Reimagined, Shares "Is There Something in the Movies?" (Briston Maroney Version)". pastemagazine.com. 2020-12-01. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  40. ↑ "How Many More Times, by Esther Rose". Esther Rose. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  41. ↑ "Why the Wild Things Are, by Cliff Notez". HipStory. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
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