Annie Elise Turns Colour Into Sound with “make a wish”

For Annie Elise, music has always been more than something to listen to. It is something she can see. Her latest release, “make a wish”, reflects the unique way she experiences the world, transforming emotions, memories, and colours into a sound that feels personal and immersive.

Through a life of seeing sounds and hearing colour, 25-year-old artist and producer Annie Elise has built her creative identity around her synesthesia, a neurological condition that influences the way she experiences music. She describes herself as a “conductor for colour”, creating songs that produce the colours and feelings she wants to see. With “make a wish”, Annie brings listeners into that world, turning her own perspective into a shared experience.

Originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and now living in New York City, Annie Elise’s journey in music has taken an unexpected route. She began as a classically trained violinist, with her early connection to music shaped by the instrument. However, after being diagnosed with focal dystonia in her left hand, her classical violin studies were interrupted. Instead of leaving music behind, Annie shifted her focus towards production and discovered a new way to express herself creatively.

Production allowed Annie to explore sound without limitations, combining her love for colour, emotion, and storytelling. “make a wish” represents this evolution, capturing the freedom she found in creating music on her own terms.

Alongside her own artistry, Annie has built a career supporting and developing other musicians. In 2022, she was handpicked to join Nettwerk Music Group’s A&R team, where she worked with eclectic indie pop and alternative artists including PEGGY, Chris James, and Fish in a Birdcage.

“What I love most about A&Ring is getting to be a part of a wider creative network,” Annie says. “I love when I can see the vision of an artist and really understand them on a creative level. That’s why I love being an artist, I can add something meaningful to that conversation.”

Her work as an artist has continued to grow through official remixes for Old Sea Brigade and Axel Flovant, both of which found success on streaming platforms and introduced a new chapter in her sound. These projects also allowed Annie to reconnect with her violin after years of feeling uncertain about returning to the instrument.

“For so long I didn’t want to play my violin, because of the effect focal dystonia has on my playing. I thought it wasn’t good enough. But I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out how to play my instrument and I got to really explore that with the remixes.”

Beyond production and performing, Annie is also a talented string arranger, lending her skills to artists including David Archuleta, Mon Rovia, Lily Meola, and Orville Peck. Whether creating her own music or helping bring another artist’s vision to life, Annie’s approach remains focused on emotion and connection.

In 2025, Annie Elise unexpectedly reached a huge new audience in China after appearing in short videos with her husband, Z, also known as zfromthealphabet, on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Their honest and cross-cultural storytelling quickly resonated with viewers, growing their following to more than 1 million people. Known online as “安妮和老张”, the couple have been featured in media and tabloids, with Annie using the platform to introduce her music and creative journey to a global audience.

With “make a wish”, Annie Elise brings together every part of her story. From her classical training and production work to her experience with synesthesia and her growing international community, the song reflects an artist who has learned to embrace a different way of creating. For Annie, music is not just heard. It is imagined, felt, and seen.