ANA POPOVIC "STILL MAKING HISTORY" Source: United Jersey Blues Network Date: 08/2007 Writer: John Muller

First American release for Ana on a new label , Electo Groove , a new subsidiary of Delta Groove out of California .  While there is some controversy over her being labeled a " blues artist " , by some blues fans , you can't deny her credibility : Ana Popovic is the only European nominated in the " Best New Artist " category for a Handy Award ; first European artist to perform at the W . C . Handy Award Show ;  has toured with Bernard Allison and Solomon Burke ; appeared on the Jimi Hendrix tribute CD project of a few years back , " Blue Haze " ; and has released 3 critically acclaimed and widely popular albums on the RUF label .  If the blues is indeed a reflection of life ,  the fury of passion and the whirlwind of despair , Ana has lived the blues lifestyle more so than most - A survivor of the horror that was war-torn Serbia , raised under the tyranny of war criminal and despot Milosovic  , conditions that were oftentimes appalling and degrading . As Ana states , " ....when you're born and raised in a third-world country , you do not belong anywhere . You need a job to survive , but you can't get permission to do the work you've trained for . Doctors become secretaries , attorneys become cleaning ladies , and architechts become hotel staff " .

She began taking guitar lessons as a teen in the early 1990's , picking up her dads guitar at the age of 15 . It wasn't long before the student out-distanced her teacher , striking out on her own by her early 20's . Ana's first band , " Hush " , released their first album soon after, " Hometown " , and Ana became a fixture on Yugoslavian television . In the 1990's Ana relocated to the Netherlands where she passionately and enthusiastically studied jazz and world music .  Ana continues " Still Making History " .

Ana draws from life experiences , the essence of all true blues music , roads traveled , paths taken , It is Ana's extraordinary spirit , her courage ,  passion , unstoppable determination , that separate her from the ferocious wolf pack of wanna' be , bad-ass guitar slingers.

To be honest , Ana Popovic is a PR Director's wet - dream - a bodacious beauty with the drop-dead gorgeuos looks of a supermodel , plenty of cross-over appeal , the potential to cross-over towards more rock-orientated markets , finally connecting wary blues fans towards a face that they can identify with .   Not ony that , but the girl can play her shapely booty off !

Great band - John Cleary , piano ; Mike Finnigan on B-3 ( by the way , is it just a coincidence that Mike backed Hendrix on " Voodoo Chile " ) ; and the Texicali Horns - that really supports Ana from start to finish on the many moods and emotions that color this superbly produced effort .

We can argue for days about Anas birthright into the blues . However , listening to tracks like " Hold On " ; "My favorite Night " ; " U Complete Me " ( extremely interesting is that there are two opposite takes to this particular song - the first shows Anas obvious rock roots while the 2nd take is more bluesy - the perfect relection of her electic talents) ;
" My Favorite Night " showcases Ana's impressive slide-guitar work-outs ; and " Between our Worlds " - " We are building ..bridges of compromise...we are building whispers of acceptance...we are building understandings..." - shows that she is a multi-talented song-writer who writes with deep passion and emotion ,  a satisfying singer , and an amazing guitarist .  Ana is a sensual romantic who is living her dream  , speaking her mind on messages of social importance , and having a great time  wherever the music takes her.

Drawing inspiration from rock , blues , and jazz , Ana Popovic continues to impress fans around the world .  You can't take away herastonishing passion and deep-felt musicianship .  She is certainly a far cry from the " same old "  school of blues that many have grown accustomed to.

Ana has a fiery comet-screaming future ahead of her .