Singer Soothes Students' Spirits V C Press, November 3, 1997
by Waylisa Kessing-Saunders, Staff Writer
"Spreading some goodness and beauty around" were what Annie Rapid, a nationally recognized musician, had in mind when returning to VC on Oct. 16. Thatís exactly the atmosphere created at the midday concert in the quad, where students lounged in the sun and drank in the enchanting music.

"It was very soothing , relaxing, good for the spirit...it takes my mind off stress to enjoy the beauty of the day," student Nicole Brison-Chraniotis said. With guitar and dulcimer, Rapid accompanied her smooth voice with a folksy style reminiscent of the 60ís artists Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Joni Mitchell. Reviews in various cities have suggested that her style offers the compassion of the original folk spirit with a more complex and contemporary twist.

Rapid has been touring colleges campuses for the past four years and recently released a CD, "Roses And Ash" under her own label, Dirge Records. She decided it would be advantages to promote her own music, instead of "waiting around for someone else to do it." Set for national distribution it will be in stores after January 1998.

Born in Germany, Rapid also lived in Africa before settling in L.A. for the majority of her childhood. Having no formal training in music, she began composing by ear and feel in her teens. These talents went underground while Rapid pursued a bachelor's in architecture at Berkeley and her masterís degree at the Architectural Associationís Graduate School of Architecture in London. A world traveler, she still considers London her favorite city.

Returning to LA, Rapid set up a freelance architectural practice, but decided to follow her true passion, music. She relocate to New York City and became a strong presence on the music scene. Her words convey a sensitive view of life, and she has been advised not to "fix what isn't broken" by studying music. Rapid credits working with some great musicians for her terrific sound.

"Rapidís music reflects a rich life of travel in songs like "Madrid. Oh Madrid/You seem several years ago/Next stop Toledo/Sweet bravado/Won't you lift me higher still/Above the platues/Into a sky which clouds/ Forever fill..."

In her clear, sweet voice, Rapid swept those who took time to fly with her to another realm. Student Robert Durate said, "It is very therapeutic and soothing. It touches a part inside that lots of people hide. I can really relate to her. She has a way to get the skeletons out of the closet.î"

Touring 20-plus colleges this fall to promote her CD, Rapid is also active on the LA club scene, where she enjoys a different vibration. Catch her on Dec. 18, 8 p.m.at The Coconut Teazser on Sunset at Crescent Heights.

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Annie Rapid To Sing at UOP Today The Pacifician, November 13, 1997
by Lara Zamansky, Staff Writer
I would like to introduce you to a very special and talented lady. Annie Rapid is her name and with her album, "Roses And Ashî" she will defiantly make a name for herself in the crazy music world. Her album, "Roses And Ashî" is full of songs that present emotion and power to the listener. Miss Rapid has one amazing voice that has an appealing and soothing quality to it. Rapid is multitalented as she sings and plays acoustic and electric guitars throughout the entire album.

When I first played the album, I was completely swept away in her words and the way they made me feel. I felt completely relaxed and calm, the way you feel when you take time out for yourself and just totally relieve yourself from all worries and stresses in life. I found myself listening to her songs over and over again and the more I listened, the more I liked her music.

By now you are probably wondering what makes her music so good. The beginning of "Roses And Ash" starts off with a song about a far away place known as Iberia. "To Iberia" is about a place that once was visited and that was once loved as well. My favorite song is "The Promise". It is a simple song that seems like it has a lot of meaning behind it when Rapid sings about words getting stuck inside her heart and stuck inside her head. The title song "Roses And Ashî" is in one word: beautiful. Rapid sings of her memories of when she was young and spent time with her friends. Those good times she spent with them were fun but, time has past and everything is different.

Annie Rapid's "Roses And Ash" has fourteen brilliant songs that were produced by herself and B.M.I. Like I said before, this album is one of a kind and I hope that she will be coming out with some more music for all of us to enjoy.

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Annie Rapid To Sing at UOP Today The Pacifician, November 13, 1997
by Alex Zamansky, Entertainment Editor
Three weeks ago the Jennifer Farr band performed here at UOP and they were heralded. Today, UOP has the privilege of hearing a voice many of you may not have heard before. Her name is Annie Rapid and she has been singing professionally over the past three years at more than 95 schools cross-country. Last Wednesday, November 5th, Annie sang at Saddelback College in Mission Viejo. After UOP Annie will continue to tour at such schools as UC Irvine, Redlands University and Arizona State University, to name a few.

Annie does not only appear at colleges campuses, but at night clubs as well: many in the New York and Los Angeles areas. She has also been on television, radio, and performed at the Woodstock Anniversary Festivals in Bethel, NY.

A brief history of Annie shows that she was born in Germany, lived in Africa, and then moved to Los Angeles. She earned her bachelorís in Architecture and later earning her masterís at the Architectural Association's Graduate School of Architecture in London, as well as studying at the University of Madrid. She came back to the L.A. area to work on a project for Steven Spielberg, while setting up her freelance architectural practice.

Annie's musical talents were noticed by Eleven Records (a division of Geffen Records) and she was nominated by them for a Grammy related award for Best Unsigned Artist of the Year. Annie now has her own CD out in stores - Roses And Ash. I was given a copy of it and it is terrific; her voice is very enjoyable to listen to. For a review see adjoining article written by my kid sister. I encourage you to listed to Annie perform later today. You won't regret it. Guaranteed.

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Folk Singer Annie Rapid Performs in Quad at SRJC The Oak Leaf, October 23, 1997
by Arielle Kohn
The traditional quad atmosphere took a turn Wednesday when singer/songwriter Annie Rapid introduced her music to students. Rapidís autobiographical music style went hand in hand with Alcohol Awareness Week.

Rapid was nominated last year for Best Unsigned Artist of the Year by Eleven Records, a division of Geffen Records. When she moved from Africa to Los Angeles as a child, she soon absorbed the Californian singer-songwriter tradition.

Annie Rapid did not show up at SRJC with a huge entourage of band members and roadies. Instead she came by herself. While keeping the melody and rhythm with her guitar, Rapid's voice was the only other part of the music. The music was simplified and her voice sounded so clean and beautiful.

It didn't take screaming or jumping up and down to get the students to listen. Standing plainly at the mic, Rapid just tell stories that are set to music. This musician didn't seem energetic or overly-happy. Yet her comfortable presence was felt.

Rapid began playing guitar at age 17 and went on to college at UC Berkeley. After receiving a B.A. in Architecture, Rapid lived and worked in Amsterdam, Holland before undertaking graduate studies at the Architectural Associationís Graduate School of Architecture in London. There she earned her Masters Degree, as well as studied at the University of Madrid. Upon returning to L.A., Rapid set up a freelance architectural practice which included working on a project for Steven Spielberg, among others.

Rapid eventually decided that it was time to go back and pursue her true passion - music. Eight years ago, Rapid moved to New York to play music professionally. Architecture paid the rent while she got back into her music career. For the last three years, she has been supported solely by her music.

Rapid has toured over 95 colleges and universities across the country. Most of the songs written by this talented musician are inspired by her own life experiences. The lyrics are easy to hear and understand. One song titled, "New York Song" is about not fitting in. This ballad sets a calm mood as well as sending out a message.

Student Jason Gassman stopped to listen to Rapid's set. Gassman, a classical guitarist and environment major, said "Her music's got heart." Her song "Zuma Beach" is another ballad about a group of friends growing up on the West Coast. "Landslide" by Stevie Nicks was included in the performance. This tune has grown increasingly popular because of the Fleetwood Mac reunion tour. Annie Rapid showed the students her musical talents by also playing a dulcimer. The instrument gave her music additional originality and a unique sound.

The overcast weather along with the activities on Alcohol Awareness going on in the quad tied in with Rapid's music. There were important messages being put out to the students, such as the effects of drinking and driving. Those messages, along with Rapid's lyrics, made that one hour in the quad sort of a wake-up call into reality.

"This has been the most pleasurable lunch music Iíve heard on the campus," student Ahbra Peach stated. Rapid's new release, "Roses And Ash," is available through her web page at www.annierapid.com.

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Folksinger Annie rapid on Nov. 5 The Lariat, November 5, 1997
by Kerry Gray
Singer- songwriter, Annie Rapid, who established herself as a folksinger in coffee houses on the lower east side of New York City, will perform at Saddelback Nov. 5 during the student Art Presentation, from noon-1 p.m. at the Student Services Center, on her West Coast Tour of colleges campuses.

Her first CD, "Roses And Ash," was released this year on Rapid/s own label, Dirge Records. In a voice reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, Rapid sings of places, times, feelings, bittersweet memories and the passage of time in words that intimate a shared felling rather than a personal epiphany, forgoing pedantic politicisms and social criticisms.

Lyrics that read like free-verse poetry leave, sometime, illusive statements and sentiment lost in the music. Rapid sets the mood with her voice as in "A Seed Has Fallen To The Ground" sung acappella. It leaves, like all good poetry, interpretation to the listener in terms of personal worlds.

The title cut, "Roses And Ash," morns the passing of innocence. "I don't remember when everything changed, when we lost our light," she sings. "Zuma Beach," ending on a personal note, "When I stopped building buildings/You thought I was crazy/Well maybe I'm just more willing to/Hold onto dreams we dreamt/When we were only 22."

Born in Germany and raised in Africa and California, Rapid graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and received a master's degree from the Architectural Associationís Graduate School of Architecture in London. Rapid lived and worked in Amsterdam, Holland and furthered her studies at the University of Madrid in Spain before returning to Los Angeles. She then began a freelance architectural practice until she, "stopped building buildings."

"I decided it was time to start pursuing my true passion, music," Rapid said. She moved to New York City. "I spent the next several years immersing myself in the city's musical landscape and reinventing myself," she said.

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Annie Rapid *** Live Music Buzz Weekly, October 10, 1997
By Scott Lenz
This much traveled singer-songwriter was born in Germany and raised in Africa, has worked in Amsterdam, and studied in London, but she still conveys a secure down-to-earth feel through her varying degrees of acoustic alternative folk rock. Her degree in architecture hasn't gone to waste, as she has become quite proficient in designing a song from the ground up, to say nothing of her own label, Dirge Records. Be sure to pick up a copy of her CD, "Roses And Ash" on the way out. Luna Park, 665 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood: (310) 652-0611.

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Annie Rapid Sings at Coffee Grounds Coast Report, September 24, 1997
By Sharon Zarrinnegar, managing editor
Returning to Orange Coast College for a second time, Annie rapid will appear as the first Coffee Grounds entertainment for the season, Thursday at 5 to 7p.m., presented by Big Al Merryman, under the auspices of Campus Life.

Rapid has been on the college show circuit for four years, and has a CD on Dirge Records, titled "Roses And Ash." The recording was reviewed as "having a richness and range seldom achieved," without technical trickery. The CD, released this year, features 14 original songs, and will be available for purchase. Last year, Rapid was nominated for Best Unsigned artist by Eleven Records, a division of Geffen Records.

Born in Germany, Rapid lived in Africa as a small child with diplomatic service parents. They moved to Los Angeles where she spent the majority of her child hood. Here she was able to absorb the California singer-songwriter tradition. She attended college at UC Berkeley, earning a B.A. in Architecture. She lived in Amsterdam, Holland before her graduate studies at the Architectural Association's Graduate School of Architecture in London, where she received her masters degree. Later, Rapid studied at the University of Madrid. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Rapid began a freelance architectural practice, which included a project for Steven Speilberg.

After all her travels and experiences, Rapid decided to pursue her true passion, music. She relocated to New York City. Five years later, she had become a "strong presence on the New York City music scene." Rapid performed at such venues as CBGB, The Bitter End, and Tramps. In 1992, she was a featured performer at the Music Industry Showcase, The New Music Seminar, and was selected by Good Times magazine to perform at the 1993 and 1994 Long Island Music Festivals, where she became a finalist.

A demanding west coast schedule caused Rapid to move back to Los Angeles. Currently, she tours campuses nation wide, and performs regularly at L.A. clubs such as The Roxy, Genghis Cohen, and Luna Park.

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Annie Rapid Captivating Coast Report, October 1, 1997
By Martijn Kleepe
"I'm kind of upset. I'm here to study not listen to music," one student said as he left. But he left alone. After Rapid began to play her music and sing her songs, nobody left. She captured her audience. She created and atmosphere where people could drink coffee and study. When people walked into the Coffee Grounds to get a drink, they looked surprised because of the performance. Most of the time people stayed to listen to the music. Playing on her guitars and dulcimer, an Irish folk instrument, she sang a few songs from her first CD "Roses And Ash." On tracks like "Constantly" and "Tales Of Spain," it becomes apparent that Rapid has traveled a great deal and fallen in love. "I fell in love with men, cities, and Spain. So I wrote a few songs about it, she explained. Rapid's performance was the first Coffee Grounds Cafe entertainment for the season. Hopefully there will be more performances like this one.

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Rapid Set Mellows Crowd, The Sectrum, November 6, 1997
by Yolanda Morrow
Annie Rapid was the featured musician during this weeks' college hour. Her voice was strong, and melodious, and easily floated across the campus along with the gentle Santa Ana breeze. Her acoustic electric guitars nicely complimented her voice, and had mostly strumming rhythms.

Groups of students found refuge under the sparse patches of shade on the lawn to listen as they took a break between classes.

Her music, though soothing and relaxing, gave out subtle messages about needing to change our lives, or looking out for yourself. A few were about comparing real life experiences to natural phenomena.

She is a very down to earth person and you get from her songs that she enjoys spending time in nature. There were brief interludes during which she switched, and tuned her guitars, as she took a sip of her bottled water, and chatted with various students about her web sight, and her new CD coming out around January.

In general it was the most relaxing College Hour by far that I have experienced this year.

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On - Campus Entertainment
Clastop Community College, November 1997
You may be wondering who is Annie Rapid. I have an answer for you, she is a singer songwriter out of California. Over the past three years she has performed more than 100 shows at colleges and universities across the country. She has been in contact with ASBG about doing a show on the 5th of December.

Annie was born in Germany and lived in Africa as a small child. She eventually moved to Los Angeles where she soaked up the musical influences of the California singer songwriter until attending UC Berkeley where she received a B.A. in architecture. She moved to London and attended the Architectural Association’s Graduate School of Architecture in London earning her masters degree. Upon returning to L.A. she set up a freelance architectural practice which included working on a project for Steven Speilberg among others.

Annie finally decided it was time to start pursuing her true passion, music. She relocated to New York City and spent the next several years emercing in the city’s musical landscape reinventing herself. She became a strong presence on the New York city music scene. She was a featured artist at the music industry showcase The New Music Seminar as well as being selected by Good Times magazine to perform at the Long Island Music Festival for two years in a row where on year she went onto become a finalist.

Annie eventually moved back to L.A. continuing her West Coast touring schedule of colleges and universities. She released her first CD in 1997 Roses And
Ash.

I have had many phone conversations with this talented woman and am looking forward to meeting her on the fifth of December. I hope you can join us.

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Local Artists Worth A listen The Jersey Journal Friday, January 7, 1994
By Jim Testa Journal Music Reviewer
My traditional kick off to the New Year has always been to try and tie up all these loose ends from the year before. Despite my best intentions, there's always a stack of leftover demo tapes, press kits, and records, dutifully sent in by local bands, that manage to slip through the cracks. And the way new releases pile up it's now or never.

At the top of the pile is a new cassette by Annie Rapid, a singer-songwriter who has been a regular presence on the New York folk scene for several years now. Her voice reminds me of Joni Mitchell or Judy Collins, strong and richly musical yet with an undercurrent of sensitivity.

Unlike a lot of the folk singers on the Lower East Side nowadays, Rapid doesn't hit you over the head with some new-age psycho-social-political agenda. Mostly she sings about simple things, memories and relationships and the bittersweet revelations of every day living. Like all good poets her words occasionally hit home with the unmistakable ring of truths we've all experienced but have never been able to articulate as concisely: "Last time I saw you, you said 'The first one we love is a cross to be worn on the heart forever and forever,'" she sings in "The Deciding Factor" wryly noting, "Well surely you've nailed a cross to me."

On some songs, Rapid accompanies herself with acoustic guitar; on others, she fills the sound out with a small combo which includes members of the Jersey City-based group Woodpecker. Either way the songs wash over you with a gentle, lulling grace. Even the sad ones leave a sweet aftertaste.

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Self-Booking, College-Touring, Singer-Songwriter Annie Rapid, Invades Industry With Tour And Product
The Los Angeles Movie Gazette March 15 to 21, 1996
World traveled singer-songwriter Annie Rapid has spent the last two years booking herself and touring some of the nation's largest colleges, including Columbia University in New York City, Cal State L.A., Oregon State University, and over 60 others. She has opened for superstar comedian Pauly Shore for 15,000 people at Arizona State University at Tempe, played at the 1992 an '93 Woodstock Music Festivals in Bethel, New York, done TV and radio appearances and performed at well-known clubs throughout New York and Los Angeles.

Rapid along with Eleni Kelakos, has now organized the "Women On Top Showcase." A showcase for talented L.A. area musicians, which will take place at L.A.'s Coconut Teazer's "Crooked Bar" showroom.

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Annie Rapid Brings Complex Folk Music To The Coffee House
Wednesday, February 8, 1995 The California Aggie
By Russell Weinbergber Aggie Arts Editor
There's nothing quite like the soothing lilt of an acoustic guitar to soothe the savage, midterm-bedraggled soul, right. Nothing, of course, except the aforementioned guitar accompanied by an equally melodic voice. And that's exactly what you'll get if you make it to the coffee house this evening. The latest chapter in the ASUCD Entertainment Council's Acoustic Music Series features Annie Rapid.

Hailing from New York's Lower East Side, Rapid plays that special brand of folk espoused by the likes of Joan Baez- when she wasn't to angry- and Carolyn Hester. But this isn't just a simple rehashing of 60's hyper sentimental folk. Rather, it combines the gentility and compassion of the original folk spirit with the more complex and self-conscious melodies of contemporary folk artists such as the Indigo Girls.

Moreover, Rapid utilizes complex arrangements to fill any gaps which may be left by traditional acoustic folk arrangements. Layer after layer of guitar and vocal parts, all calculated and perfectly out of sync, give her music the richness and range that is seldom achieved without the type of high-end production usually associated with major-label recording. Numerous guitar styles - from simple bar-cord progressions to complex single-note runs and work with a slide - blend nicely with the variety of strings and percussion instruments that pop up throughout Rapid's songs. Lyrically, Rapid holds true to the folk tradition - telling personal stories and making social commentary addressing plights common to us all.

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Annie Rapid ( Three-Song Demo, 1991)
Dirty Linen Magazine
I expected an homage to Neil Young with song titles like "Zuma Beach" and "Like A Hurricane." Guess again. This City of Angeles transplant now sings on the Lower East Side and owes more to 60's folkies like Carolyn Hester than she does to the fast folk crowds. The promo material describes her as "introspective and articulate." Yeah. But she wins you over with a lot of Maria McKee attitude, traces of real emotion, and zero pomp.

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Annie Rapid: Demo Jersey Beat Issue #51, Summer 1994
The Lady is apparently involved in a a project with some other musicians who believe in beautifully written and performed songs with a message. I suspect her next release should be a 14 song CD. After all, she started... or should I say, our first contact with her was a three-song demo. Then she added three more songs to the first and released a six song tape. Now, she's written four more and tacked them on to make a ten song cassette. While I'm always happy to hear great songs like "To Iberia" and "Tales of Spain" again, I really think three different releases with those same songs are enough. The four new songs are all good as the earlier material, if not better. The Overtoom boys (from the Jersey City band Woodpecker) provide instrumentation and technical help.

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Annie Rapid
Good Times Magazine Long Island Music Festival Program, 1994
Annie Rapid, guitarist singer/songwriter blends the fluid sounds of open tunings with well crafted lyrics to produce her own unique and inspired brand of folk rock. Her performances have been a strong presence on the New York City music scene for several years and she begins national touring this fall.

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New York City Folk Singer Comes To Coffee House
The Santa Clara On The Town
By Amanda Wong
Folk singer Annie Rapid, who's making a west coast tour, will be making a stop at the Brass Rail Cafe to perform at Coffeehouse from 9 to 11 p.m. this Thursday, November 3. Rapid comes from New York City's Lower East Side and, unlike a lot of other folk singers, she doesn't sing on and on about society's problems. Instead, Rapid sings about everyday things that the average person can relate to - love, life and memories. Because of her choice of topics and her calming voice, her music is a pleasure to listen to. The acoustic instruments' melodic flow in the background just adds to the relaxing effect of her voice.

My personal favorite on the demo tape is "Zuma Beach," which follows the twists and turns of life and starts by telling the date of birth and follows with childhood memories, memories of friends, the death of someone close and the straying away of children. She sings, "The boys well, they're all married now/And I don't see them anymore/But their wives don't like me anyhow/And I don't what they're doing." At the end of the song, Rapid reminisces about dreams of the past. "And when I stopped building buildings/You thought I was crazy/Well maybe I'm just more willing to/Hold onto dreams we dreamt/When we where only twenty-two."

Another favorite is "The Promise." The acoustic guitar woven in with a cello and violins provides a bittersweet atmosphere that's beautiful to hear. I'm really looking forward to this performance.

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Annie Rapid
Good Times Magazine June 1 - 14, 1993
Annie Rapid sings the songs she writes blending acoustic folk sounds with a decidedly modern edge. Annie writes serious music while trying not to take herself too seriously - attempting to address the politics of the heart and mind thru intimate lyrics. She performed at the 1992 New Music Seminar and can be seen playing throughout the area.

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Annie Rapid
Jersey Beat, #47
It would be extremely easy to label this as folk/pop and to compare the lady to Joan Baez. However I'm not sure that would do this three song EP justice. Well-written songs delivered in a manner which makes one want more. If this were a full length album, it would get many hours of play in my house. Great stuff.

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Annie Rapid
Sound Views New York City 1994
Introspective, articulate folk-rock in the manner of the California singer-songwriter of the '70s. Not my usual cup of tea, but it's hard not to like the wistful "Zuma Beach," and it's to Rapid's credit that her songs a mercifully free of the fussy narcissism and mawkishness of much latter-day folk. Promising.

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Annie Rapid
Jersey Beat
We had a three song demo from this very talented lady a couple issues ago. She's added three songs to this tape, as well as some musicians. I dubbed the three songs off the first demo onto a C-90 for use in my truck. I believe I'll just add some stuff and have a good truckin' tape.

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Annie Rapid: CASS
Victory Review Laura Post
She has played at New York's famed and gritty CBGB club, though her approach is soft and smooth. In folk style, Rapid offers openness (the identity seeking "Yeah"), conviction ( "The Deciding Factor"), and the dialectic between pain and calm, self and other, flesh and spirit. "These Days" captures the polarity: "I took my dream to an island of noise/..../to where I'd find the angel inside of me."

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Annie Rapid
The Musicians' Exchange, June 1994 New York City
Rapid's folky rock ruminates on love, regret, loss of innocence, etc. A pleasant voice in the Merchant marine, with the brothers Overtoom she's made a polished recording. I was crushed by Rapid's relentless brooding, bur if you're in the mood, go for it.

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Annie Rapid
CSU, Fresno Volume X Issue VI April 1995
April 4, the series will continue with Annie Rapid. She describes her music as "singer-songwriter-acoustic." she said it's in the "folky vein," but doesn't like to categorize herself like that. Rapid stressed that lyrics are a very important to her music, "I think lyrics are an integral part of what I do." She said a lot of her influences come from Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.

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