Anna Meredith

As one of Britain's promising young composers during the latter 2000s, Scottish composer and performer Anna Meredith first came to prominence within the classical genre before branching out into electronica. Born in 1978 in Edinburgh, she came from an artistic family background. At school, Meredith took up the clarinet and percussion and, later, composition. She studied at Napier University and earned a degree in music from the University of York. She attended the prestigious Royal College of Music (her teachers included David Sawer and Timothy Salter). In 2004, Meredith became a composer in residence with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the PRS/RPS Composer in the House with Sinfonia ViVA, a post she held until 2007. It was during this period that she was at her most prolific, composing several pieces for the BBC and more. She was also a judge for the BBC's Young Composer of the Year and a mentor for Goldie for his show Classic Goldie. In 2009, she was the only classical music nominee for the South Bank Show’s Breakthrough Award. She also won the 2010 Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers. Alongside her classical and acoustic work, she started a more eclectic electronic project. In 2011, she supported acts such as These New Puritans, James Blake, and Seb Rochford throughout Europe. Her offbeat, dark, yet joyful electronics found a home on label Moshi Moshi Records, with Meredith releasing her debut EP, Black Prince Fury, in December 2012. A sophomore EP, Jet Black Raider, followed a year later and showcased a more organic, orchestral sound. In 2016, Meredith delivered her first full-length album, Varmints, featuring the singles "R-Type" and "Taken." ~ Aneet Nijjar