About

Photo by Anthon Smith

Anomie Belle is a female multi-instrumentalist, film composer, producer and vocalist from Seattle. She is known for creating a down-tempo, sexual and cinematic sound that blends acoustic and electronic instrumentation, and for her unique and versatile vocal style. Her collaborators range from the Sneaker Pimps to Mr Lif (Thievery Corporation), Jon Auer (The Posies), and Yppah (Ninja Tune), and she has toured with Tricky, Little Dragon, The Album Leaf, and Bajofondo. Her music has been featured in film, television and videogames, from Xbox’s Alan Wake to MTV’s Jersey Shore and Showtime’s United States of Tara.

The themes of her music are fit for her moniker. “I chose the alias ‘Anomie Belle’ to speak to the decadent alienation of the American dream,” she explains. “I am perplexed by the ways that, though we may be critical of them, we are still shaped by and complicit in the perpetuation of oppressive, unjust, and unsustainable ideologies and ways of life that driven not by values and ethics, but by profit and power.”

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“Anomie Belle has proven herself to be a legitimate quintuple threat as a masterful composer, producer, programmer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. Her sultry, smoky vocals combine with her slithery, seductive programming for the perfect balance of sexiness and darkness. Having toured with the likes of electronica stalwarts Tricky and Little Dragon, Anomie Belle is poised to find herself among the most revered names of the genre” - URB Magazine

“Anomie Belle is a gorgeous curio of the Seattle scene with her Sia meets Portishead meets Björk sound - otherworldly music that transports me from my own skin to somewhere other than here. Featuring classical composition as a foundation, the Oregon native layers everything from violins to electric guitar to glitchy bleeps under a vocal style that vacillates between neo-soul and something more dramatic.” - 303 Magazine

“Anomie Belle broke onto the scene in 2008 to rave reviews, opening for a span of different acts including the Album Leaf and Tricky. Anomie Belle is a classically trained violinist, and approaches drums, synths and guitars with similar attention to detail. [How Can I Be Sure] is looped and layered delicately, swirling soulful vocals together with percussion that carries a moody sadness.” - Tom Tom Magazine

“She sings with such soul, it is difficult not to be captivated. Her voice is a perfect marriage of Beth Gibbons and Amy Winehouse. In fact, Belle nearly manages to convey the pain of emotional desolation on par with the aforementioned musicians. Along with the downtempo structure, her carefully restrained vibrato, and the dreamy backing ambiance, [Slither] is not one to be missed for those familiar with trip hop and minimalism.” - In Your Speakers

“Anomie Belle is a musical mastermind, creating layered, ethereal music completely on her own. The beauty is in the layering of electronic and acoustic instruments, weaving an engrossing musical tapestry. How Can I Be Sure is a four-song EP by the Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist. Belle is in complete control of her music, handling all the performing as well as the recording and engineering. Her Renaissance woman take is so refreshing in this day and age of auto-tuned singers dominating the music charts.” - Innocent Words Magazine

“The world of Anomie Belle belies everything you’d instantly conjure when told about a classically trained violinist from Portland, Oregon. She’s played with Grieves and Mr. Lif for some hip-hop cred. She’s composed film scores and worked with Anna-Lynne Williams of Trespassers William for the folk side of things. She’s toured with Tricky, the Album Leaf and Sea Wolf and collaborated with The Posies. Forget the box at this point and just enjoy the music.” - Stereo Subversion

“Her voice is very rich, very distinctive, very soulful at times, and once heard, easily identifiable (and no, I don‘t mean it sounds exactly like Bjork, it sounds like Belle). Her playful use of electronics accentuates her lyrics and vocal stylings, rather than rigid songs with words spat out over the top. The tracks seem very organic, and quite unlike anything I’ve heard recently.”
- Release Magazine

“[She’s] a rare breed of artist that cracks into my cynicism. As indie music becomes a fragmented jigsaw of hi-fi and lo-fi, remixes and mashups, she releases The Crush with a full spectrum of whimsical electronic effects, strings, and grainy allegorical vocals. Far from recycled pop hooks, her music is ominous and theatrical, composed layer by layer, somewhat like Zola Jesus.” - Indie Shuffle

“Atmospherically dense, female fronted pop is as common-place these days as lager driven guitar pop was in the mid 90’s but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still room on the bandwagon for a rebel. Portland born musician, composer and ‘activist’ Anomie Belle might be just that rebel with her androgynous good looks, peerlessly strange, intoxicating and beguiling voice and (most importantly) her keen melodic sense and experimental spirit.” - Subba Cultcha

“I haven’t been this excited about a new artist in years. Anomie Belle is one of the most interesting indies out there right now — no allegiance to genres, instruments (acoustic or electronic), or even to her own voice. Her only loyalty appears to be to the songs, and each one is a perfect little snow globe of a world ranging from the ethereal and moody to some of the most challenging experimental (yet melodic) stuff I’ve heard in years.” - James Stafford

“She’s a quadruple threat; she plays multiple instruments, sings, composes and produces her own music. With smooth, sultry vocals and dark, sexy instrumentation she owns any stage she touches. Definitely not a newcomer to the west coast music scene, Anomie has toured and performed with some amazing artists, including Yppah (Ninja Tune) and the Posies. Talking to her, you can sense the confidence of a seasoned musician, and the intelligence of someone who knows exactly where she’s going.” - Epic Van

“Beautiful Desocialization and is a moniker quite apropos for the identity donned by the multitalented Toby Campbell. This translates generously to the juxtaposition of devolution and utopia; a dichotomy I love to debate. Her songs are critical of blind adherence to consumerism. They’re swanky and sexy, but they also champion individuality and critical thinking.” - Hellbomb

“She makes dark social issues eerily lovely.” - KEXP

“Anomie Belle’s music is notable for its individuality, the structure of the compositions and the skilful arrangements in which Anomie’s voice is allowed to shine. She’s the main element tying everything together, pulling nearly all the strings and handling every tune with the care of someone who’s solely responsible for their creation. She may still derive some inspiration and influence from the likes of Beck and Radiohead but her electro leanings are brought to the fore and her vocal style is somewhere, very pleasantly situated, between Bjork and Julia Stone. Crush is also where Anomie Belle graduates into musical maturity as a refined and challenging contemporary artist.” - Contact Music

 “There it is straight away that sexy, fragile voice that we love about Anomie Belle taking over […] just another perfect example as to why this artist deservers a place in the music scene. We are simply amazed and captivated by this woman.” - Entertainment Focus

“Violins deliver seemingly mournful harmonies, opening up into wider string arrangements, and all the while the leading lady continues to captivate with a vocal style that sits somewhere between the Coco Rosie sisters, Bjork, and star of Agoria’s third album, Kid A. All of which will be welcomed by any fan of light, evocative and engaging lyricism that has a few otherworldly traits to its delivery and tone.” - Plain and Simple

“Am I calling Anomie Belle a genius? Yes I am. [How Can I Be Sure] knocks the socks right off of any trip-hop fan. Whatever you like about trip-hop - it’s all there: the fattest slowly progressing beat, amazing vocals, instrumental parts that are appropriate and organic, a bit of static noise and an eerie sample.” - Trippin’ the Rift

“Anomie Belle does a gorgeous job of creating atmospheric electronica.” - Three Imaginary Girls

“Anomie Belle has shared the stage with the likes of The Album Leaf, Phantogram, Asobi Seksu, Little Dragon, and the list continues to grow. With beautiful vocals and a mix of dark sounding ambience/trip hop, there’s no doubt this artist will be featured in countless shows and movies. With her latest release How Can I Be Sure dropping March 29th and a highly anticipated second album coming out Summer 2011, this dark ambient artist has a lot to look forward to.”
- Back-Pocket Letters

“She combines electronic and experimental elements with sensual beats, lush strings and layered vocals, dropping the listener into the melancholy heart of her beautiful symphonies. Anomie Belle will dissolve you.” - Performer Magazine

“Her music delves into a darker spirit for an unsettling but beautiful balance of classical strings, trip hop beats and icy vocals” - WMSE Music News

“Piecing her name together from words meaning social unrest and a beautiful and charming woman, Seattle trip-hopper Anomie Belle has lofty aims echoing her view of music as a more powerful vehicle for education and enlightenment than classroom teachings. Meshing sultry vocals and moody instrumental programming, with a healthy amount of layering added to both, Anomie Belle tackles spectacle and alienation both lyrically and sonically.” - Seattle Weekly

“It’s a beautiful fist that this belle shakes at the public.” - Performer Magazine

“With traces of trip-hop and synth-pop imbedded in these highly engaging and haunting arrangements, [The Crush] is a very unique and creative disc of genre meshing at its finest.” - In Forty

“Anomie Belle is one talented woman. [Her] voice is effortlessly sexy, silky and slithering, drawing out the words into a breathless conclusion.” - Cat on the Wall

“She’s an intriguing mix — a political and social consciousness set to a down tempo trip hop, heavily layered with strings and vocal textures.” - Seattle Times

“Machine’s marriage of synthetic backdrops, organic flourishes and haunting vocals creates an aesthetic that is at once eerie, melodious and at times, a little disconcerting, but is invariably unique. In the album’s title track, featuring Boston-born hip hop artist Mr. Lif, the songstress dissects the dangers of ambition based on materiality and self-absorption, over deceptively smooth beats and tastefully applied instrumentation.” - Deli Magazine

“Anomie chews her words in a strange sort of way, with tones, pronunciations, and articulations the conventional singer wouldn’t go near. In a way it’s very similar to what Joanna Newsom does, but in place of Joanna’s folky innocence Anomie has a cool similar to Bajka (known for her work on Bonobo’s ‘Days To Come’).” - Tasty Fanzine

“Campbell creates eerie auras of dislocated symphonic elements, effects, and muffled hip-hop beats, at the center of which is always Campbell’s highly capable and slightly jazzy singing voice.” - Seattle Stranger

“Her mixture of organic instrumentation – guitar, piano, violin and other strings – with inhuman drumbeats and synthesized textures suggests a dualism between guards old and new. She walks a balance, and the results speak volumes.” - Venus Zine