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Annie Zaleski

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Annie Zaleski
Zaleski at the 2017 Pop Conference
EducationHarvard University
OccupationMusic journalist
SpouseMatt Wardlaw

Annie Zaleski is an American music journalist and writer.[1][2]

Career

[edit]

Zaleski is a regular writer for mainstream media outlets such as The Guardian and NPR Music, and a columnist at Salon.[3][4][5] She is based in Cleveland, Ohio where she has won first place awards from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, including Best Arts Review (2017) and Best Feature Writing (2019).[6] Her book, Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs, debuted on USA Today's Best-selling Booklist in October 2024.[7]

Zaleski was previously an editor and music writer at the Riverfront Times in St. Louis, where she also hosted a radio show on KDHX called International Pop Overthrow.[8] She moved to Cleveland Ohio to become managing editor at Alternative Press in 2011.[6][8] She's written liner notes for various artists and bands including the 2016 reissue of R.E.M.'s Out of Time[1] as well as Game Theory's 2020 collection Across the Barrier of Sound: Postscript[9] and the 2023 deluxe edition of Jason Mraz's We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.[10]

In 2022, she was commissioned by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to write Duran Duran's induction essay.[11] She's continued to write additional essays for the Rock Hall ceremonies, including George Michael's 2023 induction and one for Cher in 2024.[12][13] In addition to her work as a writer and author, Zaleski has been a frequent guest on both radio and television, including international appearances on the BBC and CBC.[14][15]

Books

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Zaleski has written a number of books, including one in the 33⅓ series about the Duran Duran album Rio which was published in May 2021.[16]

Her additional books include:

  • Lady Gaga: Applause (November 2022) [17]
  • P!nk: Raise Your Glass (July 2023) [18]
  • This is Christmas: Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits (October 2023)[19]
  • Harry Styles: A Sign of the Times (September 2024)[20]
  • Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs (September 2024)[21]
  • We Found Love, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Romantic Hits (December 2024)[22]

She has contributed essays and other writings to Taylor Swift (Spotlight on a Legend),[23] How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History From NPR Music,[24][failed verification] Go All the Way: A Literary Appreciation of Power Pop,[25][failed verification] Remember the Lightning: A Guitar Pop Journal: Vol. 1,[26] Women Who Rock,[27][failed verification] Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes,[28] and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 40 x 40: Bad Reputation[29]

Her upcoming books for 2025 include I Got You Babe: A Celebration of Cher.[30] She is working on the book Why the B-52s Matter for University of Texas Press.[31][32]

Personal life

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Zaleski grew up with her parents and brother near Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Rocky River High School and then Harvard University from 1998 to 2002 where she wrote for the Harvard Crimson and was a DJ on the college's radio station.[33] She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in English.[34][33] She collects records and is on the board of directors for Lake Erie Ink.[8][35]

Zaleski married Matt Wardlaw, who is also a music journalist and radio personality,[36] in July 2013.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Annie Zaleski". Bloomsbury. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "YP Helpful Habits Q&A: Annie Zaleski, freelance music writer". Crain's Cleveland Business. September 21, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "Annie Zaleski". Salon. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Annie Zaleski". AV Club. December 15, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Annie Zaleski". NPR. January 22, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Annie Zaleski - Cleveland, OH". This Is Cleveland. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Scorfina, Jon (April 15, 2011). "Annie Zaleski on music writing, DJing and, of course, REM". Riverfront Times. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  9. ^ Wilson, Seth (March 11, 2020). "Game Theory 'Across the Barrier of Sound: PostScript' Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "Jason Mraz Releases We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "Duran Duran". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "Cher". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "George Michael". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  14. ^ "Threads". www.threads.net. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  15. ^ CBC Radio (June 19, 2015). "Proving the existence of Rush's female fans". CBC.ca. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  16. ^ "Duran Duran's Rio". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "'Face Time: Pebbles, "Girlfriend"". Popdose. July 12, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  18. ^ Annie Zaleski (July 11, 2023). Pink: Raise Your Glass. Palazzo Editions. ISBN 9781786751263. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  19. ^ Annie Zaleski (October 17, 2023). This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits. Running Press Adult. ISBN 9780762482726. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  20. ^ Annie Zaleski (2024). Harry Styles: A Sign of the Times. Palazzo Editions. ISBN 9781786751577. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  21. ^ Annie Zaleski (September 24, 2024). Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs. Thunder Bay Press. ISBN 9781667208459. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  22. ^ Annie Zaleski (2024). We Found Love, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Romantic Hits. Running Press Adult. ISBN 9780762487004. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  23. ^ Beatrice Forman; Maura Johnston; Scott Raab; Annie Zaleski (October 1, 2024). Taylor Swift (Spotlight on a Legend). Hearst Home. ISBN 9781958395684. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  24. ^ Alison Fensterstock (October 1, 2024). How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music. HarperOne. ISBN 9780063270336. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  25. ^ Paul Myers; S.W. Lauden (November 12, 2019). Go All The Way: A Literary Appreciation of Power Pop. The Mixtape Series. Rare Bird Books. ISBN 9781945572784. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  26. ^ S.W. Lauden; Mo Troper; John M. Borack; Mary E. Donnelly; Annie Zaleski; James Goodson; Mike Randle; David Laing; Rob Nesbitt; Paul Myers (April 11, 2023). Remember The Lightning: A Guitar Pop Journal: Volume 1 • Spring/Summer 2023. ISBN 9798389846517. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  27. ^ McDonnell, Evelyn, ed. (October 9, 2018). Women Who Rock: Bessie to Beyonce. Girl Groups to Riot Grrrl. Black Dog & Leventhal. ISBN 9780316558877. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  28. ^ Tori Amos; Neil Gaiman; Margaret Atwood; Cat Mihos; Marc Andreyko; Annie Zaleski; Derek McCulloch; Leah Moore; Kelly DeConnick; Gibson Twist; Gianna Meola; Rantz Hoseley (December 6, 2022). Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes. Z2 Comics. ISBN 9781954928619. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  29. ^ Jazzlyn Stone; Amanda Deibert; Evgenia Vereli; Jamaica Dyer; Wiktoria Radkiewicz; Cat Mihos; Annie Zaleski; Winner Twins; Laurenn McCubbin; Desi Alicea Aponte; Barbara Kesel; Pau Scorpi; Leah Moore; Catherynne Valente; Camilla Zhang; Leonie O'Moore; Norzine; Hannah Templer; Joan Jett (July 5, 2022). Joan Jett & The Blackhearts 40x40: Bad Reputation / I Love Rock-n-Roll: Bad Reputation / I Love Rock-n-Roll. Z2 Comics. ISBN 9781940878546. Retrieved September 18, 2024 – via isbnsearch.org.
  30. ^ I Got You Babe: A Celebration of Cher. Running Press Adult. May 6, 2025. ISBN 9780762489800. Retrieved September 18, 2024. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  31. ^ "Annie Zaleski". The Coda Collection. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  32. ^ "Fall 2019" (PDF). University of Texas Press. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 15, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.[page needed]
  33. ^ a b Sebille, Dave (April 15, 2019). "The Ballad Of Annie Zaleski". PressureLife. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  34. ^ "Annie K. Zaleski - Writer Page". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  35. ^ "Board of Directors". Lake Erie Ink. October 25, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  36. ^ "Ultimate Classic Rock Radio News". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
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