History
Singer/songwriter/dancer Christine Anu was born in 1970 in Cairns, Queensland to Torres Strait Islander parents. She first came to prominence as a graduate of the Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre. She also appeared as a guest of the Bangarra Dance Company in the ballet Praying Mantis Dreaming. Anu toured as backing vocalist with Neil Murray and The Rainmakers for a year, then issued her debut single, a dance-oriented remake of Paul Kelly's `Last Train', in December 1993. Kelly sang backing vocals on the single. 1994 saw the release of her second single, `Monkey and the Turtle' for the White label. An infectious mix of urban dance grooves, traditional Islander stories and funky riffs, it augured well for the future.

Not drowning, waving member David Bridie produced Anu's acclaimed debut album, Stylin' Up (May 1995), which spawned two hit singles in `Party' and `Come On'. With the album Anu won the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) award for the Best Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander release of 1995. Her version of Neil Murray's `My Island Home' won Song of the Year at the 1995 Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) Awards ceremony. Anu saw out 1995 with successful tours of South East Asia and Australia. Her backing band comprised Bridie (keyboards), Leroy Cummings (guitar), Stephen Hadley (bass; ex-Black Sorrows), Peter Luscombe (drums; ex-Black Sorrows), Anita Spring (backing vocals) and Michelle Lee (backing vocals).

In May 1996, the ABC profiled the singer in a television special called Saltwater Soul, which also featured concert footage. At the tenth annual Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards (1996), Anu was named Best Female Artist, ahead of the likes of Kylie Minogue, Tina Arena, Wendy Matthews and Kate Ceberano. Anu also took out Best Indigenous Release for `Come On'. Anu sang on `Now Until the Break of Day' (September 1997), the first single lifted from the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's feature film, A Midsummer Night's Dream. She shared the vocals with Kiva's Royce Doherty and David Hobson.

Christine Anu was quiet on the recording scene for 1998, but re-emerged in March 1999 as a cast member (in the role of Mimi) of the hit stage musical Rent. Following that, Anu began recording a new album for release in 2000. The first single, ‘Sunshine on a Rainy Day’, came out in April 2000. Produced by Scotsman Stuart Crichton, the single harked back to her debut album, Stylin’ Up. As well as singing, Anu has put in guest appearances in Baz Luhrmann’s much anticipated new feature film, Moulin Rouge, and the ABC-TV drama series Wildside.