Meet Anne House | Vocalist & Livecaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anne House and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, why did you pursue a creative career?
While I’ve sung all my life, up til now, my career has not been a truly creative one. I was offered a buyout from my company just before covid. At the time, I’d been with them about 16 years and I thought I would regret it if I didn’t try singing. So, I crunched the numbers and came up with a way to make it work. Ultimately, I wasn’t able to exercise the right (I was considered essential personnel) but I still wanted to pursue music. Then Covid hit. I plugged along, singing and trying to learn about the business. We even tried to make a TV show out of it for the local music community in our area! Even though that didn’t work, I kept on. I finally alit on a podcast, which morphed into the livecast that is Open Mic w/Anne House

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets my show apart from others is the fact that it concentrates on a fairly small geographical area that is simply bursting with talent. Texoma is one of the only places I know (aside from Tennessee Brew Works in Nashville) where you can find live music every day of the week.
Getting where I am professionally – wow, that’s a hard one! I feel like I have such a short path behind me and several miles ahead of me. But to get there took perseverance. Was it easy? No, and it still isn’t, especially on the shoestring budget we have right now. This show is fully funded out of my own pocket.
Lessons learned? Gathering musicians is like herding cats!

I want the world to know that the big names will get what they need, but if you could take the cost of one of those high dollar tickets, and instead attend a local musicians gig, paying the $5 cover or the $20 for a few drinks and/or a meal, that leaves you about $80 that you could tip the waitstaff and more importantly the musician. Keep local music alive!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In my area – Denison TX
On Sunday, there’s no telling – someone will have a gig or a gig, or maybe one of the Marinas
Monday – the Horses Axe is a delightful gem! Now, initially I thought “beer + hand axe throwing = bad idea”, but the people are very friendly and the site is Very Safe – and on Monday, there is an open mic!
Tuesday – Tour Split Window Studios, and then hang out during my livecast of Open Mic w/Anne House – listen to this week’s guest! After, we’ll go to Mell’s Grill and have some of the best soul food around – and another Open Mic!
Wednesday – Kickbacks Backyard here in Denison has the biggest and best Open Mic in North Texas – we have people come from as far as Ardmore OK and Sulpher Springs TX for this one. The appetizers and the burgers are pretty great and the jams just become a religious experience
Thursday – Late night! Open Mic with Jonathan Van Huss at Kiotee Club – more live music
Friday – the end of the week! Let’s hit Ivanhoe for locally made wine (Homestead Winery) or beer and either Jazz or Country depending on the week. Or maybe Say When Brewing Company – best beer in the area!
Saturday – We start with the Farmers Market in the spring and summer months, and then head down to the Katy Depot and the train museum. In the afternoon, we’ll head out to one of the many marinas (my personal favorite has live music twice a month with free swimming, cabin rentals and a lot of friends – Little Mineral Marina). Later we can hit Tanglewood resort and stop in at the Whisky Tower

Just a small sample of what’s available here in our little area!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The music community in the Texoma area is very diverse, ranging from Death Metal to Jazz to Country. The support of all the folks in the area has been amazing. This particular thing, livecasting, is new for the area – The Podcast on Main is the podcast studio for Split Window Studios, a video and recording studio here in Denison TX and I was their first customer! Chris Romain of Split Window has been one of the most helpful people and has great vision. The ways that he has helped have been amazing. Oliver White is a local Blues musician who has a very deft touch when running an Open Mic that makes it a safe space to find ways not to do something. He ran the open mic I first went to and was willing to learn songs that I knew so I could succeed. Add to that Paul Noel, Jonathan Van Huss (or as we know him Jon the Revelator), Tim Rogers……………….the list is too long, really

The person who has supported me most, who has encouraged me the most and loved me the most is, of course. my husband Christopher House. To quote him “the oldest dreams are the best!”

Website: https://www.annehousemusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isingsoprano51/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openmicwannehouse/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annehousemusic/podcasts

Image Credits
Christopher House, Kelsey Rae photography, Monica Babin Muil