Openly out recording artist and entertainer Anne Steele has just proudly released her debut original EP “What’s Mine” and is about to tour in support, momentarily. She has been involved in the cabaret world in New York and all over the U.S. and has been the recipient of two MAC Awards.
The new single from the EP titled “Without You Tonight” is a super-high-energy dance song, which plays over and over again in your head hours after you’ve heard it. Her tour dates include August 19 in Provincetown and October 23 at the Cutting Room in New York City.
You have a cabaret history in the entertainment world, yet your new song “Without You Tonight” is so purely dance. What inspired you to do this original EP?
I’ve always wanted to write for myself, but it’s always been a little scary for me. It was always sort of easier to interpret someone else’s lyrics than to step off and put my own voice out there. Finally at the encouraging of my wife and my friends I just had to take the lead.
You made a good choice. You’re touring to support the EP?
Yes.
Any plans on doing Fire Island? I see you’re doing P-town this summer.
I usually play the Ice Palace, but I think it’s kind of crazy this year. I don’t know what’s going to happen now with everything that’s happened there.
Yeah, true. They’ll get it together eventually. So where else are you going to be?
I’m going to Boston, and then I’m playing the Cutting Room in New York for the first time. I’ve never done a show there. I’m so excited.
So how long have you been singing?
Forever. As long as I can remember.
Give us a little history on Anne Steele.
I’m from Indiana. I grew up in a small town. My mother was a singer; she owned a dance studio. I grew up dancing, and when I finished college I moved to Nashville for about a year and a half and worked there quite a bit. Then I moved to New York and decided it’s a big city. I started in a piano bar, Don’t Tell Mama.
Wow. I interview a lot of people from there.
I bet. Lots of people start there. I worked there for a while and paid my rent. That’s how cabaret happened for me. I had a lot of Broadway aspirations. I wanted to do my own thing. I really thought that I would do my own shows. So I started doing shows in the cabaret room of Don’t Tell Mama and then jumped to the next level in the Metropolitan Room, and then I released my very first record. That was called “Strings Attached.” It was pop music and Broadway all done with string arrangements. After that it kind of picked up. That’s when I started winning a lot of cabaret awards. I always wanted to do pop music. When I was a kid my mom wanted me to do Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, and I wanted to be like Pat Benatar quite frankly. So I went down to Joe’s Pub, which gives you a little more freedom. It’s cool and changing and edgy. I really loved that about it. I started to really hit my stride down there, so I got to do all the pop music that I wanted to sing. I put a band together. I started writing, and we actually recorded this record in Austin, Texas, with all these fantastic musicians down there. So this is what we have. I’m super proud of it. It’s sort of me on a record.
I liked it right away. So do you have a favorite artist that you were or are inspired by?
Truthfully, my true inspiration was Whitney Houston. I mean, if I could have crawled inside one of her records I would have. I was obsessed with her. Anything she sang, I learned, every note. I would sing everything she ever did. Today, currently, I just love Pink. I think she is dynamic. The best concert I’ve ever seen was her last concert. I was stunned from beginning to end. I just think she’s incredible. As far as vocal ability, I really like Kelly Clarkson a lot. As far as song writing, I really like Sara Bareilles. I’ve seen her so many times in concert. I think she’s incredible. She writes all of her own stuff. You know, she can go on the road by herself. She doesn’t need anything, no bells and whistles. She’s just the real deal.
Do all of you cabaret people hang out together, like Cheyenne Jackson and Karen Mason?
Yeah, I know all of them.
There’s also a queen that does cabaret.
I know a lot of drag queens. I’m embarrassed to say how many I actually know. Not that we hang out all the time, but know each other. Especially at all the award shows. You’re always hanging out with the exact same people. You get to know each other, and you’re kind of in it together.
If I was to see inside your heart right now, what would I find?
Well, I’m madly in love with my wife.
What’s her name?
Her name is Kelly, and I have four step children now. They’re very grown up. They range from 12 to 19. They’re there. My little dog that I’m looking at right now: highly annoying, but I love him very much. And then the music. I really love this record, and I’m super proud of it. You know, I was so scared when I decided to do this. I just sort of went forward with it and just kept pressing, but you never know how it’s gonna turn out and how people are gonna feel about it. It’s my very first time ever, and I’ve done a lot of stuff. It’s the first time I’ve ever been able to say, “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
WATCH ANNE STEELE LIVE FOR FREE ON TUESDAY, JULY 14TH 6-8PM @ KENNEDY PLAZA ON THE BOARDWALK IN ATLANTIC CITY!
