{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1996)}} {{Distinguish|text = Australian politician Anika Wells}} {{Multiple issues|{{BLP sources|date=February 2021}}}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Annika Wells | birth_name = Annika Wells | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|02|16}} | birth_place = Los Angeles, U.S. | origin = Sleepy Hollow, Marin County, California<ref name="Interview">{{cite news|title=Bringin' It Backwards: Interview with Annika Wells|work=American Songwriter magazine|date=December 4, 2019|url=https://americansongwriter.com/bringin-it-backwards-interview-with-annika-wells|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> | genre = Pop | occupation = Singer-Songwriter | website = {{URL|annikawells.com}} | instrument = Vocals, Piano, Guitar | current_member_of = baby blue | image = Annika Wells photo.jpg | caption = }}
'''Annika Marie Wells''' (born February 16, 1996) is an American singer-songwriter from Sleepy Hollow, Marin County, California.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-10 |title=Bringin' It Backwards: Interview with Annika Wells |url=https://americansongwriter.com/bringin-it-backwards-interview-with-annika-wells/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Annika Wells Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/annika-wells-mn0003773222 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> After relocating to Los Angeles, Wells established herself as a prolific songwriter, collaborating with artists including BTS, the Jonas Brothers, Steve Aoki, PRETTYMUCH, ILLENIUM<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=2016-02-12 |title=Illenium Premieres ‘Reverie,’ Shares Insight On Debut Album ‘Ashes’: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/illenium-reverie-album-ashes-exclusive-premiere-6875080/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>, Grey, Shawn Wasabi, Benjamin Ingrosso, The Chainsmokers, Hailee Steinfeld, Whethan, Emily Warren, Social House, Lennon Stella, Kennedi, Sabrina Carpenter, Tove Styrke, and Matoma, as well as songwriters Freddy Wexler and Jason Evigan. She has maintained ongoing creative partnerships with Maggie Lindemann and AJ Mitchell.
== Career ==
Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Wells co-wrote ILLENIUM's 2017 single "Crawl Outta Love," which reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and was awarded the grand prize at the International Songwriting Competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Competition |first=International Songwriting |title=Illenium Song "Crawl Outta Love Ft. Annika Wells" Wins the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Grand Prize |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illenium-song-crawl-outta-love-ft-annika-wells-wins-the-international-songwriting-competition-isc-grand-prize-300634064.html |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Illenium {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/illenium/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2019, she joined ILLENIUM as a featured performer on his arena tour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-18 |title=Illenium Ascends At Exhilarating Live Show In San Diego {{!}} EDM Identity |url=https://edmidentity.com/2019/12/18/illenium-ascend-tour-san-diego-review/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> Their continued collaboration produced "Nightlight," which reached No. 1 on Dance Radio in November 2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Gordon |date=2020-11-05 |title=ILLENIUM’s ‘Nightlight’ Leaps to No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/illenium-nightlight-dance-mix-show-airplay-chart/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> and was nominated for a Grammy in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-15 |title=BMI Indie Spotlight: Annika Wells |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-indie-spotlight-annika-wells |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=BMI.com |language=en}}</ref> Wells released her debut EP, ''EAT DIRT'', in November 2023.<ref>{{Citation |title=Eat Dirt by Annika Wells on Apple Music |date=2023-11-02 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/eat-dirt/1710267642 |access-date=2026-02-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2025, Wells released several singles under her own name, including "what a time," "the good," and "converse," with the latter two serving as lead singles for her second EP. That October, JVKE launched a TikTok open verse challenge for his song "her"; after receiving thousands of submissions, Wells was announced as the winner on November 11, 2025, and was featured on the official release.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Records |first=Burner |date=2025-11-14 |title=JVKE Her Lyrics Meaning Explained With Annika Wells |url=https://www.stayfreeradioip.com/post/jvke-her-meaning-and-review-featuring-annika-wells |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Stay Free |language=en}}</ref> An expanded version featuring Kaden Hawke followed on November 25, 2025. On January 29, 2026, Wells released her second EP, ''Into the Undergrowth'', comprising seven tracks. She promoted the release with the Slumber Party Tour, a co-headlining run with Rachel Bochner supported by Lyncs, which is scheduled to visit cities across the United States in February and March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026 |title=Annika Wells and Rachel Bochner: The Slumber Party Tour with Lyncs at The Moroccan Lounge on THU Feb 26, 2026 at 6:30 PM |url=https://www.livenation.com/event/vv170ZbzGklRJuBK/annika-wells-and-rachel-bochner-the-slumber-party-tour-with-lyncs |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Live Nation |language=en-US}}</ref>
'''baby blue'''
In August 2025, Wells announced she would no longer release electronic music features as a solo artist, citing streaming algorithm challenges that limited her visibility due to the stylistic range of her catalog. Instead, she launched ''baby blue'', an alternative electronic duo with her partner, producer James Quick.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sunkel |first=Cameron |date=2025-08-12 |title=Beloved ILLENIUM Collaborator Annika Wells Ends Solo Electronic Features, Pivots to New Artist Alias |url=https://edm.com/news/beloved-illenium-collaborator-annika-wells-ends-solo-electronic-features-pivots-to-new-artist-alias/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=EDM |language=en-US}}</ref> Between them, Wells and Quick have accumulated over two billion streams across platforms through their respective solo work and collaborations with artists such as BTS, the Jonas Brothers, Baynk, Tinashe, and ILLENIUM.
The duo debuted with the single "u + me" in August 2025, followed by "Monster," a collaboration with William Black released on Lost In Dreams Records. "Monster" is structured as a duet exploring themes of toxic relationships from dual perspectives. baby blue further expanded their catalog with two featured appearances on Said the Sky's acoustic album ''Salt & Silence'' (January 2026): "Let Me Fall," a track that shifts from bright vocals into darker tones, and "Wings," a contemplative piece centered on healing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Talim |first=Ansh |date=2026-01-30 |title=Said The Sky Returns to His Roots With Surprise Acoustic Album, "Salt & Silence" |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/said-the-sky-new-acoustic-album-seeking-blue/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=EDM |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Songwriting discography== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Artist(s) ! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" | Album ! scope="col" | Comment |- | 2016 | Annika Wells | "Break" | ''Break'' | |- | 2017 | ILLENIUM | "Crawl Outta Love"<ref name="abc">{{cite press release |title=Illenium Song "Crawl Outta Love Ft. Annika Wells" Wins the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Grand Prize |date=23 April 2018 |publisher=International Songwriting Competition |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illenium-song-crawl-outta-love-ft-annika-wells-wins-the-international-songwriting-competition-isc-grand-prize-300634064.html |access-date=2021-02-19 |agency=PR Newswire}}</ref> | ''Awake'' | No. 30 on Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic charts |- | rowspan="4" |2018 | Liv Dawson | "Bedroom" | ''Bedroom'' EP | |- | Tritonal, Lourdiz | "Love U Right" | ''Love U Right'' | |- | Benjamin Ingrosso | "I Wouldn't Know" | ''Identification'' (Deluxe) | |- | BTS, Steve Aoki | "The Truth Untold" | ''Love Yourself: Tear'' | |- | rowspan="9" |2019 | Broods | "Everything Goes (Wow)" | ''Don't Feed The Pop Monster'' | |- | BAYNK | "go with u" | ''Someone's EP II'' |Reached the No. 1 spot on New Zealand radio charts |- | Sigma, Louisa | "Here We Go Again" | ''Here We Go Again'' | |- | PRETTYMUCH | "Phases" | ''Phases'' - EP | |- | ILLENIUM with Said the Sky & Annika Wells | "Sad Songs" | ''Ascend'' |No. 48 on Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic charts |- | ILLENIUM with Anna Clendening | "Broken Ones" | ''Ascend'' |No. 50 on Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic charts |- | Rose Villain | "Swoop!" | ''Swoop!'' | |- | Eric Nam | "You're Sexy I'm Sexy" | ''Before We Begin'' | |- | The Jonas Brothers | "Like It's Christmas" | ''Like It's Christmas'' | |- | rowspan="8" |2020 | Grey | "For The Night" | ''For The Night'' | |- | Midnight Kids with Annika Wells | "Run It" | ''Run It'' | |- |SLANDER & William Black |"Back To U" |''Back To U'' | |- | Shawn Wasabi ft. Kennedi | "Lemons" | ''Lemons'' | |- | Goody Grace | "Used to Be" | ''Used to Be'' | |- | ILLENIUM & Annika Wells | "Nightlight"<ref name="announcement">{{cite news | title =ILLENIUM ANNOUNCES A NEW ALBUM IS ON THE WAY| work=EDM.com| date =February 12, 2021 | url =https://edm.com/music-releases/illenium-announces-new-album| access-date =February 19, 2020}}</ref> | ''Fallen Embers'' |No.1 on Dance Radio charts |- |Stephanie Poetri |"Selfish" |''AM:PM'' | |- |Twice (Jihyo, Nayeon, Sana, and Chaeyoung), Bekuh Boom, and Annika Wells as K/DA Ahri |"I'll Show You" |''All Out'' | |- | rowspan="6" |2021 | Annika Wells | "Fuck Being Sober" | ''Fuck Being Sober'' | |- | Maggie Lindemann | "Different" | ''Paranoia'' | |- |Annika Wells |"Love Sucks" |''Love Sucks'' | |- |Annika Wells |"The Bitter End" |''The Bitter End'' | |- | Arty | "Take Your Time" | ''Take Your Time'' | |- |Dabin & Trella |"Starbright" |''Between Broken'' | |- | rowspan="4" |2022 |Said The Sky, ILLENIUM & Chelsea Cutler |"Walk Me Home" |''Sentiment'' | |- |Annika Wells |"Modern Art" |''Modern Art'' | |- |gnash with Annika Wells |"granola bars" |''granola bars'' | |- |Annika Wells |"Stay High" |''Stay High'' | |- | rowspan="4" |2023 |ILLENIUM, Said The Sky & Vera Blue |"Other Side" |''ILLENIUM'' | |- |Annika Wells |"Crying Over You" |''Crying Over You'' | |- |Excision, Wooli & Codeko |"Don't Look Down (Hold On)" |''Titans'' EP | |- |Dabin & Trella |"Worlds Away" |''Worlds Away'' | |- | rowspan="3" |2024 |Kai Wachi & Trella |"Glow In The Dark" |''Glow In The Dark'' | |- |Dabin, Said The Sky & Clara Mae |"In The End" |''In The End'' | |- |HALIENE |"Memory Of You" |''Memory Of You'' | |- | rowspan="7" |2025 | Annika Wells | "what a time" | ''what a time'' - Single | |- | Annika Wells | "the good" | ''Into the Undergrowth'' | |- | Annika Wells | "converse" | ''Into the Undergrowth'' | |- | JVKE feat. Annika Wells | "her" | | TikTok open verse challenge winner |- | JVKE feat. Annika Wells & Kaden Hawke | "her" | | |- | baby blue | "u + me" | | Debut single as baby blue |- | William Black & baby blue | "Monster" | | Lost In Dreams Records |- | rowspan="5" |2026 | Annika Wells | "carrot cake" | ''Into the Undergrowth'' | |- | Annika Wells | "atom bomb" | ''Into the Undergrowth'' | |- | Annika Wells | "into the undergrowth" | ''Into the Undergrowth'' | Title track |- | Said the Sky feat. baby blue | "Let Me Fall" | ''Salt & Silence'' | |- | Said the Sky feat. baby blue | "Wings" | ''Salt & Silence'' | |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Annika}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:21st-century American women