Ana Ivanovic

Ana Ivanovic is a well-known Serbian-American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She grew up in the USA but was inspired by her years in Europe. Having started her music career in her teens, she released her debut album, Unfinished Business, in 2010. She is currently signed to BMG and Syco and has achieved a total of 7.9 million views on YouTube as of June 2020.

Early Life & Education

Ivanovic was born in the USA to a Serb immigrant father and an American mother. She grew up in Los Angeles with her younger sister, Suzana, and attended university there. She began performing as a child, playing in her high school’s production of Chess, and made her professional debut in 2007 in the role of Trina in the Sacramento production of Miss Saigon. At the age of 14, she recorded her first demo, which led to her signing a record deal with BMG. In 2009, she released her debut single, “Free,” and in 2010, her self-titled album. In 2014, she collaborated with rapper Yelawolf on his track “My Neck, Your Neck.”

Music Career

Ivanovic’s music career started somewhat unexpectedly. While recording her debut album in 2007, she met producer Jim Jonsin, who had previously worked with artists such as 50 Cent, The Black Eyed Peas, and Justin Timberlake. She recalled how Jonsin helped her bring out her “inner diva”:

“He helped me find that middle ground between being too shy and being too much of a party girl. When I found my voice, Jim Jonsin and his team of professionals helped me refine it and gave me the tools to express myself through my music. And still, to this day, he’s one of my best friends,” she told Rolling Stone magazine. “I owe a lot to Jim.”

Jonsin and Ivanovic worked together on her debut album as well as her second and third, Unfinished Business and Born to Dance. She also credits him with helping her grow as a songwriter:

“I was never really confident as a singer,” she told Rolling Stone. “But being a songwriter has changed my whole outlook. Now when I look in the mirror, I see my songs.”

Ivanovic released her debut single, “Free,” in 2009. It became her biggest and most successful hit to date, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Top 100. The song’s music video, which features cameos from 50 Cent and DJ Khaled, has attracted over 11.7 million views on YouTube as of April 2020. “Free” was followed by a string of top 40 hits in the US, including “Locked Out Of Heaven” and “Scared To Die.” Her debut album, Unfinished Business, was released in 2010 and entered the Top 50 of the Billboard 200 chart. It also became her highest-charting album in Australia, Canada, and the UK, peaking at Nos. 11, 37, and 21 on the Billboard Top 100, respectively. The album’s first single, “Locked Out Of Heaven,” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 100 in 2010. The track was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling over a million digital copies in the US.

Awards & Accolades

Ivanovic has received a number of accolades throughout her career, including a 2010 Grammy Award for Best New Artist and a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Hip Hop Album. In 2014, she was named one of the Top Women In Music by Rolling Stone magazine.

Ivanovic has also collaborated with some of the biggest names in music. She produced and co-wrote Kesha’s hit song, “Praying,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top 100 in 2012. She also produced and co-wrote Rihanna’s 2012 single, “S&M,” which made its way to No. 2 on the Billboard Top 100. Additionally, she worked with the Diddy on his 2012 album, The New Classic, on a track called “Not Your Woman.”

Ivanovic has received several awards for her humanitarian work. In 2016, she was recognized with the Berklee Global Jazzmaster Award along with her band, the Yanks. This award is given to musicians who have dedicated themselves to spreading awareness about climate change. In 2017, she received the Skanderbeg Award, the highest humanitarian honor in Macedonia. The award is given to people who have contributed to the country’s development while also promoting tolerance and respect for all human beings.

Not content to rest on her laurels, Ivanovic is currently working on new music. She told Rolling Stone that she wants to challenge herself as a songwriter and producer, exploring “different sounds and experimenting with different melodies.”

Regardless of whether or not you agree with her politics, it’s safe to say that Ivanovic has accomplished a lot in her musical career. By any standards, she’s a force to be reckoned with, and her accomplishments speak for themselves.