Artist: Anne Steele

Production: Erik James and Kevin Benoit (Producers, Mixed and mastered)

People often relegate themselves into their society’s preconceived notions of how they should feel and present themselves to not only the people in their lives, but also the world in general. However, the versatile, award-winning New York-based pop-dance singer Anne Steele effortlessly proves that everyone should remain true to their beliefs, particularly when it comes to love and personal relationships, in her newly released album, ‘What’s Mine.’ With her distinct and unwavering support of gay rights, which helped infuse her eclectic and powerful anthems with the notion that everyone needs to stand up for what they truly believe in, the record is an alluring testament of the benefits of taking charge of your emotions and future.

As a three-time winner of the MAC Award, as well as a two-time recipient of the Bistro Award and Nightlife Awards, all of which are New York City Cabaret honors, as well as being influenced by such fearless musicians as Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Sara Bareilles, Steele finally had the courage to utilize her empowering words and voice in the songs on ‘What’s Mine.’ Starting the album with the captivating title track, the singer utilizes engaging instrumentals that are reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s upbeat, Grammy Award-nominated song, ‘Shake It Off,’ which endearingly reminds listeners that they don’t always have to follow what other people expect from them.

While contemplating facing a long and emotionally empty journey, during which she doesn’t want to showcase all of her painful sentiments to the people around her, the singer compelling states that she’s finally ready to go after what she truly wants. The title track from ‘What’s Mine’ is the perfect pop-infused song that enthralling encourages people not to let the mistakes of their past or the uncertainties of their future drag them down, making it the perfect example of a hit radio single.

The record’s next two songs, the rock-infused ‘Worst I Ever Had’ and the pop-inspired ‘Tough,’ relatably explore the question of how a her partner gained all of the control in their romantic relationship, therefore leading her to take a stance to get away from their control. Both tracks signify Steele’s desire to naturally enjoy the bond with her partner, without always contending with her partner’s condescending and patronizing opinions. In the gripping process of revealing she never thought their relationship would becme so emotionally bad, and her disappointment of truly feeling disconnected from her partner, the empowering lyrics and instrumentals of both songs would make the perfect anthems of inspiring cabaret and theater productions.

The two emotionally significant tracks lead into a surprisingly, yet equally effective, sentimental dance pop song, ‘Without You Tonight.’ Steele encouragingly pushes her partner to finally decide what she wants in their romantic relationship, as she no longer has the time or patience to play games with her feelings and future. With their connection on questionable grounds, the acclaimed musician grippingly reveals that she finally feels comfortable and carefree enough to live her life without her partner. She also fearlessly reveals she’s able to dance through her pain in the upbeat dance song, as she’s finally able to let the other person go and find love with someone else.

The dance anthem powerfully gives way to another alluring song, the intensely important ballad, ‘Shadow Of You.’ Steele emotionally reveals that even though she’s being held hostage in the moment, particularly since her romantic relationship is deteriorating, she’s determined to completely cut through the tension with her partner. While she’s currently viewing everyone and everything as a shadow of her partner, she’s determined to take responsibility for her efforts of trying to move on from their failed connection. ‘Shadow Of You’ is another powerful cabaret-driven track that would perfectly fit in the part of a grippingly emotional production that follows the protagonist determinedly trying to move on from their doomed relationship.

After feeling long constrained by the failure of an important romantic relationship, Steele empoweringly ends the record with the inspirational song, ‘Don’t Tell Us How to Love,’ during which she reveals she’s no longer afraid to speak out so everyone can be treated equally in society. While the singer also divulges that she has long been ridiculed for being different, she reinforces the fact that she’s not afraid to live her true life anymore, as she’s not ashamed of who she is or whose she loves. Tired of continuously fighting with herself over her feelings, she finally accepted that she can truly rise about society’s convictions about how to love and live her life. She determinedly decided not to let anyone control who she loves anymore.

With her enthrallingly diverse lyrics and instrumentals, the intriguingly versatile and multifaceted Steele effortlessly proved her ease at crafting eclectic songs in such entrancing styles as pop, rock and dance for her latest record, ‘What’s Mine.’ The singer alluringly proves that everyone should remain true to their beliefs, particularly when it comes to love and personal relationships, on the album’s drastically distinct and empowering songs. From the pop-infused title track, which compellingly states that she’s finally ready to go after what she truly wants, to the sentimental dance song, ‘Without You Tonight,’ during she grippingly reveals that she finally feels comfortable enough to live her life the way she wants, the acclaimed musician proves she has contended with the drastic emotions of every relationship, which makes her songs so relatable to her listeners.

For more information on Steele, visit the musician’s official website, as well as her Twitter, Facebook and Bandcamp pages. Listen to ‘What’s Mine’ in its entirety, and watch her sing ‘What’s Mine,’ ‘Worst I Ever Had’ and ‘Don’t Tell Us How To Love,’ from her concert at Joe’s Pub in New York City on February 21, the day the album was released, below.

Written by: Karen Benardello