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It’s time to celebrate greatness! 🥳 Click to nominate someone special for the 2025 Pump It Up Magazine Awards and let’s recognize their hard work together!

Love Sade, Norah Jones, Basia, or Lisa Stansfield? You’ll Love This! (Special Playlist)

Hey there! It’s Anissa Sutton, and while many of you know me as the founder of Pump It Up Magazine, you might not know that I’m also a singer 🎤. I go by Aneessa, and I’ve spent years creating music that blends smooth jazz, R&B, and soul. Honestly, it’s been an amazing journey, and I thought I’d share a bit about it with you.

My Journey Through Music

I started my musical path in Saint-Étienne, France, and over time, I’ve lived in Paris, France Manchester, UK, and now, Los Angeles, California. Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to work with Michael B. Sutton, a former Motown producer who’s collaborated with legends like Smokey Robinson and Michael Jackson. Together, we’ve been working on music that means a lot to me, blending influences from my travels and experiences.

Aneessa and Michael - plaque - just to be with you
DRT Chart and Plaque – #15 – International RnB Chart For The song “Just To Be With You” With My Husband Michael B Sutton – www.aneessa.com

If You Like Sade, Norah Jones, Basia, or Lisa Stansfield, You Might Feel at Home with My Music 🎵

As part of Generation X, I grew up with the soulful sounds of legends like Sade, Brand New Heavies , Basia, Norah Jones and Lisa Stansfield. These songs shaped my love for music and continue to inspire me today.

I have so much admiration for their work, and if you’re a fan of theirs, maybe you’ll find something in my songs that resonates with you too:

  • Sade – Her peaceful yet powerful sound is something I’ve always admired, and I try to capture that same calming energy in songs like “Satisfied” and “Back to Life.”
  • Norah Jones – I love how Norah blends jazz, pop, and soul effortlessly, and I strive for that balance in tracks like “Just to Be With You.”
  • Basia – I’ve always loved how Basia’s bossa nova sound connects different cultures, and I try to bring that multicultural influence into my own music, especially in “Saint-Étienne.”
  • Lisa Stansfield – Lisa’s mix of soul, jazz, and R&B has always inspired me. You can hear some of those emotional, smooth rhythms in my songs “Gonna Be Alright”, “I Found Myself in You” and “Miles Away.”


A Milestone Moment for Me 🚀

One of the most exciting things that’s happened for me was when my song “Back to Life”—my take on Soul II Soul’s iconic hit—reached #5 on the Most Added Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart (along with “Saint-Etienne,” “Just To Be With You,” “Gonna Be Alright”). It’s still hard to believe, and I’m so grateful for all the support that’s helped me get there.

Right now, my album “Back to Life” is available as an MP3 download on my website before it’s released on CDs, vinyl, and streaming platforms later this year. If you’re curious to hear it, you can check it out directly on my website.


Where You Can Listen 🎧

For now, you can grab my album “Back to Life” exclusively from my website. CDs, vinyl, and streaming platforms are coming soon, but I wanted to make it available to my listeners in this special format first.

👉 Visit www.aneessa.com to download it now

“A Tribute to Smooth Queens: 80s/90s R&B & Jazz”

I’m excited to bring you “A Tribute to Smooth Queens”, celebrating the incredible female artists of the 80s and 90s. As part of Generation X, I grew up with the soulful sounds of legends like Sade, Anita Baker, Basia, and Lisa Stansfield. These songs shaped my love for music and continue to inspire me today.

In this special show, I’ll take you on a journey through the smooth R&B and jazz hits that Gen X grew up with, while also sharing these timeless tracks with a new generation. Whether you’re reliving the classics or discovering them for the first time, you’ll feel the magic of these iconic songs.

I’ve put together a Spotify playlist that includes some of my songs along with tracks from the artists I admire. It’s got a little bit of everything—smooth jazz, R&B, and soul—so I hope you enjoy it!

Here’s a Playlist I Made Just for You – Smooth Queens (Which is The Name of my New Show “A Tribute to Smooth Queens” – Subscribe to my newsletter www.aneessa.com to be the first to get tickets for my upcoming shows

🎧 Listen to the playlist on Spotify!


Let’s Stay Connected

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the playlist, the new album, or anything else! Feel free to follow me on social media, where I share updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and more:

Thank you so much for your support, whether through Pump It Up Magazine or my music! It means the world to me. 🎶


If you’re a fan of Sade, Norah Jones, Basia, or Lisa Stansfield, I hope you’ll give my music a listen. Check out my latest album “Back to Life” now, available exclusively on my website before it’s released everywhere!

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