Norwegian DJ Annie’s Goldfrapp-tinged album Don’t Stop is earning her an army of fans. She talks about why she nearly quit music and working with Girls Aloud.

So Annie, you started out as as hugely successful DJ before releasing your own music…
I started this club called Pop Till You Drop, where I was DJing once a month, as well as booking lots of artists, like Peaches. It was great fun and I did that for about a year. In 1999 I released a song called ‘The Greatest Hit’ on a friend’s label. It came out on vinyl- remember vinyl records? [Laughs] People loved it and it sold out it one day. It was very popular in Britain and Norway. It made me realise I could make a living out of it. My first album came out in 2004 but it’s now that people are starting to know who I am.

There was a sad story attached to that debut single, wasn’t there?
Yeah, I worked on it with my boyfriend [Norwegian house producer Tore Andreas Kroknes, aka DJ Erot] and he died of heart disease in 2001 when he was only 23. That was a real struggle and I often thought music would be too hard to do without him, but I got through it. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never meet anyone like that again, because he was such a good friend as well. I often think about him when I’m writing. I’d like to think he’d be proud of me. He wrote ‘Two Songs For Annie’ for me, which was a big club hit in 1999. I’ll never forget that.

Are you dating anyone now?
No, I’m single, but I like American-style dating. If I go out to dinner with someone, why does that mean I can’t see anyone else?

Fair point! Who’s your ideal man?
I used to like tall, skinny dark-haired men, more emo boy, but now I just want someone who’s burning with ambition. I find that really attractive. Maybe because I’m a bit like that and it’s hard for one to have it and not the other. He’s got to be a looker, of course!

We love your look, Annie. Talk us through your personal style?
Going out, I love to wear dresses, but every day it’s jeans with a cool T-shirt. I love my leather jacket, it’s from Cos- the cut is really good. I also love Jean-Charles de Castelbajac- I’m wearing one of his dresses on my album cover.

You’ve got some big names working on your new album, like Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand. You nearly had Girls Aloud on it too- what happened?
Girls Aloud were in the studio next door recording ‘Can’t Speak French’ and we needed some backing vocals. They were up for it and we had a great time. They’re all really sweet. But unfortunately we had to take their vocals off the song ['My Love Is Better'] because of the record label. It’s a shame, but I’m really proud of the album. It’s more pop than anything I’ve done before and it’s a lot more fun too.

Fast facts
Age: 31
From: Norway
Listening to: Empire Of The Sun and Mini Viva (Annie co-wrote their hit ‘Left My Heart in Tokyo’).
Music icon: Gwen Stefani and Bjork. “They both push boundaries.”
Fave fashion item: “My pink Luella dress. If my house was on fire, I’d grab that and my cat.”
Style icon: Chloe Sevigny.

Thanks to Anniemaniac definitely hype