Launceston performer Annie Medling won’t let anything stand in the way of her dreams, after a rare neurological condition changed her life forever.
Ms Medling was only 20 years old when her heart stopped during an afternoon jog.
A year later, she was fitted with a pacemaker.
The Hip Hop dancer and self-taught RnB singer said the experience had forced her to step out of her comfort zone and ten years later she has taken the music industry by storm and released her debut album.
“So it’s a positive thing for me, it reminds me to push through and always go after your dreams.”
Opening Tasmania’s first Hip Hop dance studio, Ms Medling said it was her students who encouraged her to pursue singing.
“They gave me a big speech about how I always told them to believe in themselves, so they used my own advice on me,” she said.
“So I felt like I had to practice what I preach.”
After posting a video to Youtube, Ms Medling was approached by a New York rapper who wanted to collaborate with her.
“For about six months, he messaged me everyday and became a mentor to me, encouraging me to start writing songs, to do covers and post more videos online,” she said.
“I’d never had somebody push me like that and he completely changed my life.
“He’s actually on the first track of my album as a feature artist, so he recorded it in New York and sent it over which was really cool. ”
I can feel my pacemaker in there all the time, so it’s a constant reminder that life is short.
- Annie Medling, singer
She began working on her first EP ‘Elusive’ at the end of 2014, and it was launched on July 17 this year.
“It really has been an amazing journey,” she said.
Keeping busy since the launch, Ms Medling has been teaching singing lessons while studying music at TAFE.
She said her other focus would be promoting her album and working towards releasing music videos for her tracks.
“I’m hoping to be able to combine my two loves, dancing and singing, in one project,” she said.
“I’d also love to do more live gigs around Launceston.”
Her EP features four tracks and is now available on iTunes and at her website www.anniemedling.com.
Melissa Mobbs
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
