Ana Popovic Likes It On Top

A super-talented singer, songwriter and guitarist, here is the latest news focusing on young blues great Ana Popovic... 

Ana Popovic Likes It On Top

Hits The Road with New Concept Album That Focuses on Empowered, Successful, Inspiring Female Role Models Who Want It and Can Do It All

Ana Popovic, the blues and rock guitarist and singer who is one of the world's most respected players, will release Like It On Top, a concept album in which she explores ten different aspects of women's empowerment on ten new songs. Just off a series of major European festivals, Popovic is on the road for a 35-date US tour (see dates below).

Recorded in Nashville, Tenn., and produced by four-time Grammy winner Keb' Mo', the blues influenced album features guest appearances from Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robben Ford and Keb' Mo,' and will be released worldwide Sept. 14.

"Being on top" is about achieving your own potential. Succeeding in juggling work, family, social life, expectations of the others, of the society, while pushing limits. Renewing yourself and inspiring others."

Like It On Top celebrates those women who take initiative, develop, inspire and motivate. It's about feeling good about yourself and what you do." Its ten songs cover topics that are partly autobiographical and partly broader statements aimed at every women -- desire and fantasy, feeling empowered about your craft, confronting dominant macho male attitudes, escaping an abusive marriage, and how to have a strong man as your partner.

Ana Popovic performing at Doheny Blues
Festival in Dana Point, CA in May 2011.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

But it also credits the men who are motivated and enlightened enough to support women in their quest to be their best versions of themselves. The first single, "Like It On Top," emphasizes that behind every strong, successful woman stands the man that understands the importance of having women be leaders in society. And the final track, the gentle "Honey I'm Home," gives a shout-out to an ever-growing number of families in which men give up their careers to support a woman's career.

"I hope that my music inspires others to motivate ladies all over the world to be successful, energetic, empowered women on a mission, and to motivate men to give them that chance," Popovic says. "The majority of women need to work harder than men to prove themselves or need to cope with a feeling of constant pressure to never make a mistake and be perfect. I believe that women no longer only have the right to earn a living and to take care of themselves and their families."

Ana Popovic has been moving West all her life. She fell in love with American blues as a kid, starting back home in Belgrade, Serbia (ex-Yugoslavia) during the fall of Communism, then moved to the Netherlands to study at the conservatory of jazz and world-music. She lived in Amsterdam for over ten years, and then in a single-minded pursuit of her art and career, she relocated to Memphis, TN to record and work with Southern musicians. Finally, two years ago, she moved her family to Los Angeles, California where she now lives.

"The time has come to step it up," Popovic says. "Becoming the outstanding leaders of tomorrow. Corner-office ladies in business, politics, and the electric guitar!"

Ana has recorded nine studio album and been nominated for six Blues Music Awards, and has appeared on the covers of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazines. Her albums Can You Stand The Heat and Unconditional were USA Today Picks-Of-The-Week and featured on NPR Weekend Edition, who praised her "Fiery technique on the [Stratocaster] . 

Nearly all of Ana's albums reached the top of the Billboard Blues Charts. She and her six-piece band have toured tirelessly, sharing stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and many others.

'Like It On Top' Track List:
1. Lasting Kind Of Love (ft. Keb' Mo')
2. Like It On Top (ft. Robben Ford & Keb' Mo')
3. Sexy Tonight (ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd)
4. Slow Dance (ft. Robben Ford)
5. Funkin' Attitude
6. Last Thing I Do
7. Virtual Ground
8. Brand New Man
9. Matter Of Time
10. Honey I'm Home

Upcoming shows:
Aug. 7 - Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
Aug. 8 - Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
Aug. 15 - Dakota Jazz - Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 16 - Dakota Jazz - Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 17 - Fargo Blues Festival - Fargo, ND
Aug. 18 - Ann Arbour Blues Festival - Ann Arbor, MI
Aug. 24 - Dosey Doe - Woodlands, TX
Aug. 25 - Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, TX
Aug. 26 - One Theatre - Austin, TX
Sept. 2 - American Music Festival - Virginia Beach, VA
Sept. 8 - Big Blues Bender - Las Vegas, NV
Sept. 9 - Tin Pan - Richmond, VA
Sept. 11 - Rams Heads On Stage - Annapolis, MD
Sept. 12 - City Winery - Washington, DC
Sept. 13 - Sellersville Theater - Sellersville, PA
Sept. 14 - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
Sept. 15 - Whitaker Theatre - Harrisburg, PA
Sept. 16 - Bull Run - Shirley, MA
Sept. 17 - The Loft @ City Winery - New York, NY
Sept. 18 - The Stanhope House - Stanhope, NJ
Sept. 20 - Stageone at FTC - Fairfield, CT
Sept. 21 - Flying Monkey - Plymouth, NH
Sept. 22 - Funk N' Waffles - Syracuse, NY
Sept. 23 - Tralf Music Hall - Buffalo, NY
Oct. 3 - Yoshi's - Oakland, CA
Oct. 4 - The Siren - Morro Bay, CA
Oct. 5 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
Oct. 6 - Blue Note - Napa, CA
Oct. 8 - City Winery - Atlanta, GA
Oct. 9 - City Winery - Nashville, TN
Oct. 10 - Songbirds Guitar Museum - Chattanooga, TN
Oct. 12 - The Blind Tiger - Greensboro, NC
Oct. 13 - Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival - Kure Beach, NC
Oct. 14 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC

Follow Ana Popovic here:
Official Website: anapopovic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AnaPopovicMusic
Twitter: twitter.com/anapopovic
YouTube: youtube.com/user/anapopovicband