Annelise Noronha

Annelise Noronha is a multifaceted Canadian singer-songwriter, composer, producer and audio engineer. First earning recognition as an audio engineer/producer at Manta Eastern Sound in Toronto in the late ’90s and early 2000s her career has seen her share the stage with many talented artists, such as Ron Sexsmith, Whitehorse, The Sadies, William Prince, The Skydiggers, Charlotte Cornfield, Julian Taylor, Jenn Grant, and Sarah Slean – just to name a few.

With a number of her songs featured in television series and feature films on well-known platforms and channels like Disney, Nickelodeon, CTV, and Netflix, she’s enjoyed working with top Indie artists as well as internationally renowned artists like Jennifer Lopez and Canadian jazz pianist and composer, Oscar Peterson.

While her career in music takes her to many places, she enjoys being involved in her community and championing causes close to her heart, advocating for the underrepresented. This December, she’s returning to Slake Brewing for her annual Annelise & Friends Christmas Show Fundraiser in support of the Wellington Storehouse Foodbank. Last year, joined by several local musicians, they managed to raise nearly $800 for the cause over the course of a beautiful winter afternoon. There is no charge to come to the show but there is a tip jar where audience members are encouraged to donate generously to this important cause.

Read on to learn more about her upcoming projects, what has helped her the most in her career, and important advice to young artists.

What have you worked on recently that has you excited, either personally or professionally?

This last quarter of 2024, has been mostly filled with producing and mixing for me. I have been producing an EP for a young artist from Brockville named Zoe Ferris, and mixing albums for an Albertan artist named Ado NKemka, and a Toronto artist named Jennifer Foster. All three of these albums are very different but they are all masters of their craft so I have been very proud of my work. I’ve also recently gotten to play a rare Noronha-Bozikovic-Burns show. This band is the combined songs and performance of myself, Kat Burns (aka Kashka), and Lisa Bozikovic. Every time we play it feels magical. Playing with musicians you deeply connect with personally, shows in the music.

Which tools or resources have helped you the most in your artistic career? 

What has helped me the most in my career is always being open to learning and absorbing. We never know everything about anything, and having a mind open to opinion and education and constantly learning is key. Also, mentorship. Find people you admire and build relationships with them.

What advice would you give to artists just starting out in their careers?

Music is often a tough one. My advice to young music artists is to be consistent. Have a goal and continue to work towards it despite naysayers and critics. In both music and also the business of music, if that is important to you.

Where in the County do you find the most creative inspiration? This could be a
place, fellow artist, arts event, etc.

I find inspiration in pretty much everything The Department of Illumination does! Krista
and her team are constantly reminding me to do what I want as an artist, and if it means
something to me, if it’s inspired, it will most likely resonate with the public.