Soren Anders is a New York composer, singer, producer and instrumentalist.  Raised in a musical family in southern Illinois, he is the founder and driving force of the poly-genre band Shimmerplanet, and has recently embarked on a solo career.

 

As a child, Soren spent a lot of time outdoors, growing things and getting dirty. A bit of a hippy, he subscribed to Organic Gardening Magazine when he was eight years old. The winter months were spent playing the piano and violin, drafting maps of imaginary cities, and escaping into endless hours of TV watching.

 

At the age of 16, Anders turned off the TV for good, and wrote his first piece, a terribly melancholy instrumental composition for solo piano.  This sad little piece somehow helped him win the heart of his first girlfriend, who, it must be said, had a generous and pitying heart.  Nonetheless, Anders realized the great potential benefits of being a composer.

 

In college, Anders committed himself to the piano, studying under the acclaimed principal pianist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mary Sauer.  Anders possessed a special affinity for terribly melancholy Russian music, and spent long solitary hours with Serges and Dmitris in the practice rooms.  And then, one day he was asked to play non-classical music, with other people in fact, and he jumped at the chance.

 

The first band Anders’ joined was an electro band.  They had one sensational show in the college cafeteria, and then quietly disbanded.  Several other bands followed, all while Anders finished college and took up a varied and exciting career playing for Catholic masses and Improv Comedy shows.  He taught elementary school music in a dangerous neighborhood, formed an award-winning children’s gospel choir, and wrote music for a few plays and films.  And, in the middle of all this musical meandering, he moved to New York and created Shimmerplanet.

 

The music of Shimmerplanet has been called “a breakthrough creatively” and “brilliant”.  “It takes artistic courage to be this lyrically honest and musically experimental,” wrote Indie-Music.com.  Awards from The Songwriters Hall Of Fame, The Independent Music Awards, and Talent In Motion Magazine followed.

 

Anders has worked with 60s recording icon Lesley Gore, 80s recording icon Chris Stein (of Blondie), and recently scored and conducted a choir for one of his favorite bands, Menomena.  The recipient of numerous awards, international airplay and critical accolades, Anders has lately found himself very busy, not just with Shimmerplanet, but with various other collaborations (Darren Ockert, Carolyn Eufrasio, Molly Bea) and a solo project, out in 2008.

 

Anders’ current solo project is inspired by the work of Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy, Sufjan Stevens, and the piano trios of Brahms, Beethoven and Mendelssohn.  Stay in touch with Shark Meat Records for more information.