# Annika Chambers > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Annika_Chambers > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Annika_Chambers.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annika_Chambers > Source revision: 1319213288 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American blues singer and songwriter}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Annika Chambers | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Annika Shattrelle Chambers | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|08|07}} | birth_place = [Houston](/source/Houston), Texas, United States | death_date = | death_place = | origin = | instrument = Vocals | genre = [Soul blues](/source/Soul_blues) | occupation = Singer, songwriter | years_active = 2011–present | label = | website = {{URL|www.annikachambers.com}} }} '''Annika Shattrelle Chambers''' (born August 7, 1985){{Cite web|url=https://www.soulexpress.net/annikachambers.htm|title=Annika Chambers at Porretta Soul festival 2019 |website=Soulexpress.net|access-date=November 21, 2022}} is an American [soul blues](/source/soul_blues) singer and songwriter. Chambers has released three albums, and she won a [Blues Music Award](/source/Blues_Music_Award) in 2019 in the 'Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year' category.{{Cite web|url=https://www.antimusic.com/news/19/May/102019_Blues_Music_Awards_Winners_Announced.shtml|title=2019 Blues Music Awards Winners Announced|website=Antimusic.com}} Her sophomore release, ''Wild & Free'', debuted at number 7 on the ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' [Blues Albums Chart](/source/Billboard_charts). Her third album, ''Kiss My Sass'', was released in August 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/kiss-my-sass-mw0003299031/releases|title=Kiss My Sass – Annika Chambers | Releases|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)}} ==Biography== Chambers was born in [Houston](/source/Houston), Texas, United States.{{Cite web|url=http://bigbluesbender.com/annika-chambers-band/|title=Big Blues Bender Annika Chambers Band|website=Bigbluesbender.com}} As she stated "I grew up singing in the church", and was inspired by the [gospel](/source/gospel_music) musicianship of [Yolanda Adams](/source/Yolanda_Adams), [Shirley Caesar](/source/Shirley_Caesar), [Dottie Peoples](/source/Dottie_Peoples) and [Whitney Houston](/source/Whitney_Houston). She enlisted in the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army), and spent over seven years in armed service. During her two [tours of duty](/source/Tour_of_duty) Chambers was invited to sing the [National Anthem](/source/The_Star-Spangled_Banner) at a ceremony, which led to her performing for the troops as part of a touring band in both [Kosovo](/source/Kosovo) and [Iraq](/source/Iraq). In 2011, Chambers returned to Houston, and formed her own band, Annika Chambers and The House Rules Band.{{Cite web|url=https://biscuitsandblues.com/annikachambers|title=Annika Chambers | Biscuits and Blues|website=Biscuitsandblues.com}} The ensemble entered the [International Blues Challenge](/source/International_Blues_Challenge) in late 2012,{{Cite web|url=http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/talented-soulful-singer-annika-chambers-talks-about-the|title=Talented soulful singer Annika Chambers talks about the hospitable and comfortable home of Blues|website=Blues.gr}} and, despite not proceeding beyond the final qualifying round, her talents were noticed by two of the judging panel. She recorded what was to be a demo with Larry Fulcher (of [Taj Mahal](/source/Taj_Mahal_(musician))'s Phantom Blues Band) and Richard Cagle, but this was released as her debut album. ''Making My Mark'' (2014), credited to Annika Chambers & the Houston All-Stars, reached number 16 on the ''[Living Blues](/source/Living_Blues)'' chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.terrafermata.com/event/263193/annika-chambers|title=Terra Fermata – Annika Chambers|website=Terrafermata.com}} Chambers was nominated in 2015 for a Blues Music Award in the 'Best New Artist Debut' category.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ruidosonews.com/story/news/local/community/2018/07/03/live-blues-and-soul-performance-ruidoso/754783002/|title=The Annika Chambers Band brings the Blues to Ruidoso|website=Ruidosonews.com}} This initial success was brought to a temporary halt. In 2015, Chambers worked as a recruiting assistant for the [Texas National Guard](/source/Texas_Military_Forces), and she became involved with others in claiming fraudulent bonuses for acquiring new recruits. Chambers received around $17,000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/Houston-singer-Annika-Chambers-talks-prison-time-7437485.php|title=Houston singer Annika Chambers talks prison time|first=Joey|last=Guerra|date=May 10, 2016|newspaper=[Houston Chronicle](/source/Houston_Chronicle)}} She pleaded guilty and served six months in prison. Her second album, ''Wild & Free'' (2016), debuted at number 7 on the ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' Blues Albums Chart. The album saw Chambers backed by the guitarist [Johnny Lee Schell](/source/Johnny_Lee_Schell), keyboard player [Mike Finnigan](/source/Mike_Finnigan), bassist Larry Fulcher and drummer [Tony Braunagel](/source/Tony_Braunagel). Guest artists included the pianist [Jon Cleary](/source/Jon_Cleary_(musician)).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/annika-chambers-wild-and-free-album-review/|title=Annika Chambers – Wild And Free | Album Review|first=Marty|last=Gunther|website=Bluesblastmagazine.com|date=17 February 2017 }} The twelve-track ''Wild & Free'' contained Chambers self-penned song "Reality" plus her cover of [Katie Melua](/source/Katie_Melua)'s "[Piece by Piece](/source/Piece_by_Piece_(Katie_Melua_album))".{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wild-free-mw0002964705|title=Wild & Free – Annika Chambers | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)}} Subsequently, Chambers appeared at music festivals in South America, Europe and the US (the latter including Minnesota Bayfront Blues Festival, Las Vegas Blues Bender, Gloucester Blues Festival, and the Mississippi Delta Blues Festival).{{Cite web|url=https://annikachambers.com/bio|title=Annika Chambers – Bio|website=Annikachambers.com}} In 2018, this led to her being nominated again for a Blues Music Award. Chambers won a Blues Music Award in 2019 in the 'Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year' category. Her third album, ''Kiss My Sass'', was released on August 9, 2019. On December 7, 2019, she performed at the [Bradenton Blues Festival](/source/Bradenton_Blues_Festival).{{Cite web|url=https://www.bradentonbluesfestival.org/annika-chambers/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511143833/https://www.bradentonbluesfestival.org/annika-chambers/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 11, 2019|title=Annika Chambers – The Bradenton Blues Festival|website=Bradentonbluesfestival.org}} ==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year || Title || Record label || Notes |- | 2014 || ''Making My Mark'' || style="text-align:center;"|[CD Baby](/source/CD_Baby) || Billed as Annika Chambers & the Houston All-Stars |- | 2016 || ''Wild & Free'' || style="text-align:center;"|Oarfin Records || |- | 2019 || ''Kiss My Sass'' || style="text-align:center;"|Vizztone Records || |}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/annika-chambers-mn0003274805|title=Annika Chambers | Album Discography|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/annika-chambers-the-houston-all-stars-mn0003248988|title=Annika Chambers & the Houston All-Stars | Album Discography|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)}} ==See also== *[List of soul-blues musicians](/source/List_of_soul-blues_musicians) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.annikachambers.com Official website] *[https://www.americanbluesscene.com/annika-chambers-coming-top/ February 2018 interview transcription] *[https://www.soulexpress.net/annikachambers.htm An in-depth feature in Soul Express] *[https://www.soulexpress.net/raumablues2025.htm Annika and Paul at the Rauma Blues Festival in August 2025, with interviews] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, Annika}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Soul-blues musicians Category:American blues singers Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:Singers from Houston Category:Songwriters from Texas Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American singers Category:African-American songwriters --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Annika Chambers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annika_Chambers) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annika_Chambers?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.