Annika Chambers

Annika Shattrelle Chambers (born August 7, 1985) is an American soul blues singer and songwriter. Chambers has released three albums, and she won a Blues Music Award in 2019 in the 'Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year' category.

Her sophomore release, Wild & Free, debuted at number 7 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart.

Biography Chambers was born in Houston, Texas, United States. As she stated "I grew up singing in the church", and was inspired by the gospel musicianship of Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples and Whitney Houston. The ensemble entered the International Blues Challenge in late 2012, and, despite not proceeding beyond the final qualifying round, her talents were noticed by two of the judging panel. She recorded what was to be a demo with Larry Fulcher (of Taj Mahal's Phantom Blues Band) and Richard Cagle, but this was released as her debut album. Making My Mark (2014), credited to Annika Chambers & the Houston All-Stars, reached number 16 on the Living Blues chart. Chambers was nominated in 2015 for a Blues Music Award in the 'Best New Artist Debut' category.

This initial success was brought to a temporary halt. In 2015, Chambers worked as a recruiting assistant for the Texas National Guard, and she became involved with others in claiming fraudulent bonuses for acquiring new recruits. She pleaded guilty and served six months in prison. The twelve-track Wild & Free contained Chambers self-penned song "Reality" plus her cover of Katie Melua's "Piece by Piece". Subsequently, Chambers appeared at music festivals in South America, Europe and the US (the latter including Minnesota Bayfront Blues Festival, Las Vegas Blues Bender, Gloucester Blues Festival, and the Mississippi Delta Blues Festival). In 2018, this led to her being nominated again for a Blues Music Award.

Discography Albums Year Title Record label Notes 2014 Making My Mark CD Baby Billed as Annika Chambers & the Houston All-Stars 2016 Wild & Free Oarfin Records 2019 Kiss My Sass Vizztone Records