White girl who sings like a black

Born in New York to Greek parents and growing up among blacks and Hispanics, Annet Artani risked suffering from an identity crisis, but instead she used all these influences to create her own style of music.

Despite her Greek blood, Annet is thrilled to be representing Cyprus in May's Eurovision Song Contest with her song Why Angels Fly, especially since she will be performing on home ground in Athens.

So is she guaranteed the full 12 points from Greece?

"True, political voting does exist, but I truly believe that it's the best song that wins in the end. Look at Malta. Nobody can deny that Chiara had an amazing voice, so I believe that no matter what, the winner will finally emerge," she said in an interview.

In Malta for two days to kick-start her promo tour, Annet, 26, has her head screwed on in the right place and despite achieving fame in Greece and Cyprus, she is constantly counting her blessings.

The Eurovision is a humongous in both these Mediterranean countries and she is eager to get Cyprus through the semi-finals and on to the big night.

"I want to put Cyprus up there with the top countries. I feel humbled and recognise that this is a huge experience," she said, pointing out that the Eurovision is a good launching pad for her career and to show Europe what she can do.

Many would think it strange that Annet is looking at the Eurovision as a stepping stone to bigger things, especially since the young woman has already achieved what many singers can only dream of - being a back-up singer to pop princess Britney Spears.

Annet actually spent a year touring with Britney when the latter was promoting her hit single I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet A Woman in the US and across the globe.

The two quickly hit it off and became very good friends, doing girly things and writing songs together. Their ballad Everytime was also included on Britney's In The Zone CD and skyrocketed to number one in the music charts, receiving the MTV European Music Award for Best Song in 2004. She describes this moment in her life as a "cool experience", especially since at the time she was actually the antithesis of Britney.

It all happened when she was showcasing her music at a venue in Manhattan - she was spotted and immediately asked to audition as Britney's backing vocals.

"They called me anti-Spears. My music was very anti-establishment at the time, but they were looking for a white girl who sings like a black. I felt hypocritical auditioning at first, but my friends thought I was mad so I went. I landed the deal on my 23rd birthday," she said, her big brown eyes, widening in a smile.

Having been brought up in a Greek environment in New York, Annet was dying to rediscover her parents' roots and when George Bush was elected President of the US, she felt it was time to make a move.

She went to Greece, equipped with the full knowledge of the language and a background of singing traditional songs, a passion sparked by her family who hailed from the island of Kefalonia.

"Everybody from Kefalonia is a musician. My dad played the guitar and my mother would sing. We always had music in our home."

She started playing the piano and performing at the age of seven, after she was pushed into singing a duet by her boisterous sister Diane.

"I was extremely shy and refused to sing. I'd be belting it out in the basement unaware of the fact that my family were listening in - I always denied it was my voice they were hearing," she said laughing.

Then one day, her sister, who is only 16 months older, insisted that she sing with her at school - it proved to be the push she needed and a moment that changed her life.

"The teachers were not so sure I could sing, especially since I barely talked. I was so shy. But at the end we got a standing ovation and it proved to be all the encouragement I needed. I was being embraced by a bunch of strangers whom I had never managed to connect with until I sang," she said.

Annet and Diane went on to form a band, which they named Nootropia (Greek for state of mind), but while Annet found strength in it, her sister preferred to sing for fun, rather than make a career of it.

Annet is on the path to following her dream and yesterday was the first step in the journey ahead as her first album, Mia Foni (one voice) was launched in Greece.

She has penned most of the songs and her favourite one is Mine (Stay), which she wrote together with her former sweetheart when she was leaving New York for Greece.

"I'm getting to know my style and I think my next album will be in English, because somehow my voice comes out much stronger when I sing in this language," she said.

"Both Jennifer Lopez and Shakira made the cultural crossover into the pop world. I want to bring my Greek influence into the pop world."

Annet incorporated influences of singing in her college Gospel choir, as well as listening to R&B, pop and rock music. She has also begun to experiment musically with some of her Greek roots and is now studying the dumbek, a Middle-Eastern percussion instrument, as well as the sensual art of belly dancing.

But for now she is focusing all her efforts on promoting her song for the Eurovision, excited that she will be visiting so many countries and meeting different people.

"It's important to aim to win, but not at the expense of forgetting what an amazing experience this is. We have to relish the moment, but look at the bigger picture to enjoy the moment - it may not come again."