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Who is Anohni?
Anohni, originally named Antony Hegarty, is a renowned English-born singer, composer, and visual artist. Born on October 24, 1971, she first gained recognition as the lead vocalist for the musical group Antony and the Johnsons. In 1981, her family relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area from Chichester, England, and she later moved to Manhattan in 1990 to attend New York University.
During her time there, she co-founded the performance art collective Blacklips with Johanna Constantine. Anohni’s musical style is distinctive, marked by her unique voice and the fusion of electronic and symphonic elements. In 2012, she publicly came out as transgender, having previously identified as a transgender person. However, in a 2016 interview with the Guardian, she clarified that she identifies as a trans woman.
What made Anohni famous?
Anohni, a renowned artist, achieved fame not only through her immense talent but also her unique identity. Her identity as a transgender woman is indeed a significant part of her narrative, but she emphasizes the importance of recognizing her primarily as a woman. Anohni’s sexual orientation, on the other hand, is less distinct. She is often characterized as queer, acknowledging her attraction to both genders. Yet, she expresses discomfort with such categorizations, asserting that she does not neatly fit into the conventional labels of gay or straight, whether as a man or a woman. This nuanced perspective on identity has been a key component of Anohni’s rise to fame.
Is Anohni trans?
Anohni’s rise to prominence can be attributed to her unique blend of music and visual art, which often delve into profound themes such as gender, identity, and human rights. Her 2016 album “Hopelessness” made waves in the music industry for its bold political stance against ecological disaster, surveillance, capital punishment, and war, earning critical acclaim and a nomination for the prestigious Mercury Prize.
Anohni’s visual art, displayed in renowned spaces like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, has also contributed to her fame. Her song “Manta Ray,” featured in the 2015 documentary “Racing Extinction,” earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. She had previously won the Mercury Prize in 2005 for her album “I Am a Bird Now,” which delved into themes of gender identity and transformation. As a transgender woman in the arts, Anohni continues to challenge societal norms and advocate for human rights through her impactful work.