Mixing soul, funk, and gospel inspirations into her lively blues songs, vocalist Annika Chambers embarked on a music career in the early 2010s following two tours in the army. After debuting with 2014's Making My Mark, her third album, 2019's Kiss My Sass, reached the Top Five of the Billboard blues chart. A native of Houston, Texas, Chambers grew up singing in church and was inspired by gospel singers including Shirley Caesar, Whitney Houston, and Yolanda Adams. Later, while serving in the army, a colonel overheard her singing and suggested she perform the national anthem at one of the ceremonies on base. She was soon in demand for music-related events and eventually joined a touring band that entertained troops across the Middle East. When she returned to Houston in 2011, she formed Annika Chambers and the House Rules Band, which made fans of Blues Hall of Fame inductee Larry Fulcher (Phantom Blues Band) and producer Richard Cagle, owner of Montrose Records. Credited to Annika Chambers & the Houston All-Stars, her full-length debut, Making My Mark, arrived on Montrose in 2014. It resulted in a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2015 Blues Music Awards. The production team of Cagle, Fulcher, and drummer Tony Braunagel recorded the follow-up, Wild & Free, with Fulcher and Braunagel also serving as rhythm section. Released by Under the Radar Music Group and billed to Chambers alone, it debuted at number seven on the Billboard blues albums chart and led to festival appearances in North and South America as well as Europe. Along with the singer, the same crew produced 2019's Kiss My Sass, Chambers' third album and first for the Vizztone label. It landed in the Top 25 of the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart on its way to the number four spot on the blues chart. ~ Marcy Donelson, Rovi