Anjulie
Anjulie Persaud, known professionally as Anjulie, is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Oakville, Ontario. She first gained significant attention with her 2009 self-titled debut album, which reached number two on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart and produced the number-one dance single "Boom. Anjulie is also a prolific songwriter for other major artists, having co-written tracks for Nicki Minaj, Fefe Dobson, and Kreesha Turner, among others. Her music has been featured extensively on television networks including MTV, ABC, and HBO, and she has been nominated for several major awards, winning a Juno Award in 2013. Anjulie's career exemplifies the reach of Canadian pop and dance music talent into the international market.
Early life and education
Anjulie Persaud was born on May 21, 1983, in Oakville, Ontario, where she was raised as the youngest of four children. Her family background is Indo-Guyanese, reflecting a cultural heritage from Guyana. For her secondary education, she attended St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School in her hometown. A defining moment in her youth came from watching Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope Tour, which inspired her to pursue a career as a performer. This early exposure to a major pop spectacle solidified her ambition to create music and perform on stage.
Music career breakthrough
Anjulie's professional career began to take shape in 2008 with the release of her debut extended play, Boom. The title track became her first major hit, reaching number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 2009. Her self-titled debut album followed in August 2009, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and number 108 on the broader Billboard 200. The album's success was bolstered by several singles receiving prominent placement on popular television series. Songs like "Rain," "Crazy That Way," "The Heat," and "Boom" were featured on MTV's The Hills, while "Addicted2Me" appeared on The City, significantly expanding her audience.
She supported her early releases with extensive touring, opening for American pop singer Jesse McCartney on his 2009 US tour. Later that year and into 2010, she toured with Raphael Saadiq and also opened for the Canadian band Hedley on their Storms tour. In 2011, she released a series of new singles including "Brand New Bitch," which was certified platinum in Canada for digital sales exceeding 80,000 units. This track earned a nomination for Dance Recording of the Year at the 2012 Juno Awards. The following year, she began her own headlining You and I Tour to promote the single of the same name.
- 2008: Releases debut EP Boom.
- 2009: Debut album Anjulie charts on Billboard 200. Single "Boom" hits No. 1 on US Dance chart.
- 2009: Opens for Jesse McCartney's US tour.
- 2009 to 2010: Tours with Raphael Saadiq and opens for Hedley.
- 2011: Single "Brand New Bitch" certified platinum in Canada.
- 2012: Nominated for Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year.
- 2012: Headlines the You and I Tour.
Songwriting and collaborations
Parallel to her recording career, Anjulie established herself as a sought-after songwriter for other artists. She began composing her own music as a teenager and her professional songwriting credits are extensive and significant. She co-wrote the single "Don't Call Me Baby" for Canadian artist Kreesha Turner's album Passion. For fellow Canadian singer Fefe Dobson, she co-wrote the track "I Want You" which appeared on Dobson's 2010 album Joy. One of her most notable co-writing credits is for the Nicki Minaj single "The Boys." Her work also extended into film, as she wrote and performed the song "Big Things" for the opening scene of the 2009 musical remake of Fame.
Her song "Stand Behind the Music" was later covered by British singer Cher Lloyd for her 2012 album Sticks & Stones. Anjulie has also collaborated directly on tracks with various electronic and pop producers. She co-wrote and sang on "Arrows in the Dark" for Cash Cash's 2016 album Blood, Sweat & 3 Years. Throughout her career, she has worked with prominent figures in dance music including Diplo, Zedd, Boombox Cartel, and Benny Benassi, contributing vocals and songwriting to their projects.
Later releases and projects
Following her initial burst of activity, Anjulie continued to release music independently. An album project initially titled Rainbow, Bullets was planned for release in 2012 or 2013 but was not officially issued as a complete body of work. Instead, songs intended for it were released as standalone singles over subsequent years. In 2019, she released the extended play How It Feels to Lose You, Pt. 1. She finally released a full-length project, the album Loveless Metropolis, on digital platforms on March 16, 2022. The album consists of eight tracks, marking a return to a more complete album format after a period of single releases.
Chart performance and recognition
Anjulie's chart success has been primarily in the dance and emerging artist categories in the United States. Her debut album Anjulie reached number 108 on the Billboard 200 and a strong number two on the Heatseekers Albums chart. The single "Boom" was her biggest commercial hit, topping the US Dance Club Songs chart. Its follow-up, "Love Songs," reached the Top 10 on the US Hot Dance/Club Play chart in October 2009. Another single, "Rain," debuted on the same chart in November 2009 and climbed to a peak position of number three after nine weeks.
Her work has been recognized with several award nominations and one major win. In 2009, she received nominations for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Breakthrough Video and an mtvU Woodie Award for Best Video Woodie, both for "Boom." At the Juno Awards, she was nominated in 2012 for Dance Recording of the Year for "Brand New Chick." The following year, she won the Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year for her single "You and I." This award highlights her sustained impact within the Canadian dance music scene.
Discography
Anjulie's primary releases include one studio album, several extended plays, and numerous singles. Her debut studio album, Anjulie, was released in 2009 and served as her major label introduction. She has released three notable EPs: Boom in 2008, How It Feels to Lose You, Pt. 1 in 2019, and Loveless Metropolis in 2022, with the latter also being categorized as an album on digital platforms. Her singles have seen consistent placement on dance charts and use in television and film, forming the core of her recorded output.
| Title | Type | Release Year |
|---|---|---|
| Anjulie | Studio Album | 2009 |
| Boom | EP | 2008 |
| How It Feels to Lose You, Pt. 1 | EP | 2019 |
| Loveless Metropolis | Album/EP | 2022 |
Media placements and cultural impact
Anjulie's music has found a significant secondary audience through placements in television and film, which has been a consistent thread throughout her career. Beyond her early placements on MTV's The Hills and The City, her single "Boom" was also featured on ABC's Eastwick, The CW's Melrose Place, and The Vampire Diaries. This widespread use across network and cable television introduced her pop-dance sound to millions of viewers. Her contribution to the Fame soundtrack further connected her music to a major motion picture. These placements have ensured her songs remain in circulation and associated with popular media long after their initial release, contributing to her longevity in the industry.
Questions about Anjulie
What is Anjulie best known for?
Anjulie is best known as a Canadian singer and songwriter who achieved a number-one dance hit in the United States with her 2009 single "Boom. She is also recognized for her songwriting work for major artists like Nicki Minaj, for whom she co-wrote "The Boys," and for Canadian singers Fefe Dobson and Kreesha Turner. Her music has been widely featured on television shows such as The Hills, The Vampire Diaries, and Melrose Place. She won a Juno Award in 2013 for Dance Recording of the Year for her single "You and I."
Where is Anjulie from in Canada?
Anjulie was born and raised in Oakville, Ontario. She attended St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School there. Her family background is Indo-Guyanese, meaning her parents originate from the Indo-Guyanese community in Guyana. Oakville, a suburb of Toronto, is where she spent her formative years before launching her music career.
What songs did Anjulie write for other artists?
Anjulie has co-written several songs for other recording artists. She co-wrote "Don't Call Me Baby" for Kreesha Turner's album Passion and "I Want You" for Fefe Dobson's album Joy. One of her most high-profile writing credits is for the Nicki Minaj single "The Boys. Her own song "Stand Behind the Music" was covered by Cher Lloyd on the album Sticks & Stones.
What was Anjulie's biggest hit song?
Anjulie's biggest hit song is "Boom," released in 2008 as the lead single from her debut EP. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 2009. It also gained massive exposure through placements on numerous television series including The Hills, Eastwick, Melrose Place, and The Vampire Diaries. The single's success helped drive her debut album into the Billboard charts.
What album did Anjulie release in 2022?
In 2022, Anjulie released the album Loveless Metropolis on digital platforms on March 16. The project consists of eight tracks and represents a full-length release after a period where she released singles and an EP. It follows her earlier extended play How It Feels to Lose You, Pt. 1 from 2019 and her debut studio album from 2009.
Has Anjulie won any Juno Awards?
Yes, Anjulie has won one Juno Award. In 2013, she won the Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year for her single "You and I. This win followed a nomination in the same category the previous year for her single "Brand New Chick," which was also known as "Brand New Bitch. That 2012 nominated single was certified platinum in Canada for selling over 80,000 units. These achievements show her recognition within the Canadian music industry, specifically in the dance genre. Her career includes other notable nominations, such as for an MTV Video Music Award in 2009.
Sources and further reading
- Anjulie (Wikipedia)
- A Juno Award-Winning Canadian Singer (anjuliemusic.com)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-07.
