Ana Egge

Born in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Ana Egge spent her early years in Ambrose, a modest town in northwestern North Dakota where her father worked the wheat fields. The Egges, whom Ana has characterized as latter-day hippies, crisscrossed the distance between North Dakota and New Mexico for much of her childhood in a '69 Dodge van before establishing themselves in Silver City, New Mexico, where they founded an alternative school once she turned 12. Those formative experiences, combined with her sharp observational skills, steered her toward songwriting; with encouragement from Sarah Brown, she traveled to Austin in 1994 to lay down a demo. The recording attracted supporters including Dave Sanger, drummer for Asleep at the Wheel, who later produced her debut album and prompted Egge to relocate permanently to the Texas capital. She soon claimed first place in the 1995 Village Voyage Songwriter Search, which included a journey to New York City. Following additional honors on the Austin music circuit, she issued her debut album, River Under the Road, in 1997. By 1998 she was on the road with Grammy-winning pop/folk artist Shawn Colvin.