About Anna
Anna Elizabeth Gilbert was born in Eugene, Oregon, and is an American singer-songwriter.
She won the "Inspirational Artist of the Year" award at the National Momentum Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2007 and 2009.
Her first two albums were self-produced, and she composed all of the music and lyrics.
Her third album was produced in Nashville at The Art House with Charlie Peacock and is BMI licensed. Her fourth musical endeavor, Like a River, was similarly recorded at The Art House and was produced by Sam Ashworth.
Gilbert was named the "Next Big Thing" in Eugene Weekly's "Next Big Thing" contest in 2010, which included public voting and a panel of judges.
She also put out a Christmas CD in December of 2010 and "The Able Heart" album in 2013.
Music
Her father, Andy Gilbert, was a high school music teacher and is now a youth pastor at Eugene Faith Center, and her mother, Kathy Gilbert, is also a preacher and a musician. While Anna was growing up, both of her parents played in bands and sang in choirs. Anna has an elder brother, Mikah Sykes, who is also a musician, and a younger sister, Rachel.
Early Compositions
Gilbert began playing the piano and composing at an early age, and in the fifth grade, she won a citywide songwriting competition. At the age of 19, she composed and produced her debut album, God Sees. She went on a West Coast tour, largely playing in churches and college locations.
In 2007, Gilbert released her second album, Falling in a Beautiful Place, which she authored and produced entirely herself.
In Seattle, Washington, she met Charlie Peacock and collaborated with him on a third album, Your Love My Medicine, which was published in April 2009.
"Next Big Thing"
Gilbert was named Eugene Weekly's "Next Big Thing" on October 29, 2010, a music/arts news and culture journal rated fourth in the state of Oregon. Gilbert performed at a showcase alongside three other local performers who were all finalists at The WOW Hall in Eugene. Over 200 musicians submitted their songs for consideration, and four finalists were chosen following an online voting procedure. The winner was chosen by a panel of judges from among the four finalists and announced at the conclusion of the showcase. Gilbert was featured on the cover of Eugene Weekly the week of November 10, 2010.
Proud Acccomplishments
Gilbert's Christmas CD, which she produced with her bandmate Wilson Parks, was released in November 2010. Using a pair of mics and a modest drum equipment, the two of them created the album upstairs in Gilbert's parents' extra room.
Anna released "The Able Heart" on November 5, 2013, with producers Jeremy Larson and Sam Ashworth. Jeremy Larson produced tracks 1–8 while Tracks 9 and 10 were with Sam Ashworth. On the day of its release, "The Able Heart" debuted in the top 100 on iTunes' singer-songwriter rankings, reaching number 27.