An is a Belgian singer/songwriter who accompanies herself on piano, which of course means she has suffered endless comparisons to Tori Amos. An’s got her own thing going though, which is accurately described by the Belgian Pop and Rock Archives as “very tense music, alternately controlled and energetic, sweet and violent.” An received quite a bit of press in her native Belgium back in 1996, when she submitted a tape to Humo’s Rock Rally that included a cover of Tubeway Army and Gary Numan’s “Are Friends Electric” (Gary, by the way, has gone on record saying he loves An’s version). In 1998 An signed with Warner Music Benelux, and last year released Mud Stories, an amazingly strong album of delicate ballads that contrast with her piano-pounding and belting on other songs. These styles don’t clash however; An moves smoothly between softness and anger with grace and style.

There’s not much available online about An, and her music is next to impossible to find around here, but to get a taste of her music try this fan’s site: http://mudstories.cjb.net/