Anna Wise creates music that feels like a private conversation held in a vast, echoing room. Her sound is defined by a masterclass in vocal arrangement, where she stacks her own voice into lush, choral textures that feel both intimate and otherworldly. It is R&B stripped of its usual tropes, replaced by a restless, avant-garde curiosity that prioritizes mood and psychological depth over radio-friendly hooks.
What truly sets her apart is the rhythmic precision of her delivery. She treats her voice as a percussion instrument, weaving complex patterns around sparse, bass-heavy production. There is a specific tension in her work between the warmth of her tone and the cool, digital precision of her arrangements, creating a soundscape that feels like modern soul filtered through a dream-pop lens.
Start with 'As If It Were Forever' to experience her most cohesive vision of experimental soul. It showcases her ability to move from delicate, breathy whispers to powerful, assertive statements, all while maintaining a consistent atmosphere of late-night introspection. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who appreciates the intersection of jazz, hip-hop, and art-pop.
Anna Christine Wise (born February 16, 1991) is an American singer, who has independently released music as a member of bands Sonnymoon and Built to Fade. She became more widely known for her collaborations with rapper Kendrick Lamar and hip hop group CunninLynguists. She won a Grammy Award for her collaboration with Lamar, "These Walls". Wise began her musical career with the band Sonnymoon, a collaboration with Dane Orr, who she met while studying at Berklee College of Music. She was a part of the group Built to Fade alongside Dane Ferguson, Zoë Wick and Kno of CunninLynguists. While Wise was touring with Sonnymoon, Kendrick Lamar contacted her after hearing her music on YouTube through another emcee, Tunji. She now has become a regular collaborator with Lamar, appearing on 11 tracks. Since 2016, she has released four solo albums. Wise is married to musician Jon Bap (Maurice II) and the couple has a daughter.
Shares late night, voice as instrument, neo-soul, art pop (signature)
Shares sub-bass heavy minimalism, minimalist, neo-soul, empowering (detail)
Shares late night, neo-soul, art pop, candlelit (signature)
Shares art pop, voice as instrument, neo-soul, falsetto (signature)
Shares voice as instrument, neo-soul, art pop, falsetto (signature)
Shares art pop, minimalist, voice as instrument, falsetto (signature)
Shares neo-soul, art pop, falsetto, vocal layering (subgenre)
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