AnNa R.

Andrea Neuenhofen (née Rosenbaum, born 25 December 1969), better known by her stage name AnNa R., is a German singer and songwriter who provides the lead vocals for German pop group Gleis 8. She was previously the main vocalist of Rosenstolz, a German pop duo that was active between 1991 and 2012 and had chart hits in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Early life

AnNa R. was born Andrea Rosenbaum on 25 December 1969 in Berlin-Friedrichshain and grew up in the former East Germany. She sang in a choir during her youth. After she had finished her secondary education, she auditioned for a place at Musikschule Friedrichshain (Friedrichshain music school), but was not accepted. Consequently, she took up private singing lessons. She also trained as a laboratory assistant after finishing her secondary education, but soon changed career to become a sheet music salesperson.

Music career

1991–2012: Rosenstolz

Looking for a pianist to help her to realize her aim of becoming a bar singer, AnNa R. was introduced by a friend to Peter Plate, a keyboard player who had just moved to Berlin and needed a singer. Although they had different musical aspirations, with AnNa R. preferring to sing chanson and Plate wanting to make English-language pop music, the pair got together to write songs, performing them as pop duo Rosenstolz.