Annie Clark—known as [St. Vincent](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/st-vincent-teaches-creativity-and-songwriting)—was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in Dallas, Texas. Inspired by the unforgettably cool Fender Stratocaster that Ritchie Valens played in the biopic *La Bamba* (1987), she started making toy guitars out of cardboard and rubber bands before she eventually got her hands on a real guitar at age 12. Her [stage moniker](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name) is borrowed from a Nick Cave lyric—“And Dylan Thomas died drunk in St. Vincent’s hospital.”

Annie has won two Grammys and countless critical accolades, she’s scored films and produced albums for other artists, and she’s shared a stage with everyone from David Byrne to Dua Lipa—even temporarily fronting Nirvana for a night when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Annie eventually joined the choral rock group the Polyphonic Spree and toured in indie singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens’ backing band. In 2020, Annie and Carrie Brownstein wrote and starred in *The Nowhere Inn*, a mockumentary feature film that satirically explores the personas of musicians on and off the stage.

Some of St. Vincent’s top singles include: 

1. __“Cruel” (2011)__: Driven by a simple chorus with a catchy guitar riff, “Cruel” is the first track off of St. Vincent’s third studio album *Strange Mercy*. In 2012, she sang the song when she appeared as the musical guest on the CW teen drama, *Gossip Girl*. 
2. __“Digital Witness” (2014)__: “Digital Witness” is an art-pop track with lyrics that address dependence on social media. The song peaked at number 17 on the *Billboard* sales charts in 2014 and was one of the tracks she performed live during her first appearance on *Saturday Night Live*. 
3. __“Birth in Reverse” (2014)__: Released on a gold vinyl alongside her other single, “Digital Witness,” this track is the lead single of St. Vincent’s fourth studio album, *St. Vincent*. St. Vincent also performed this vibrant, rebellious track during her 2014 *SNL* musical guest appearance. 
4. __“Los Ageless” (2017)__: “Los Ageless” is a new wave, dance-rock track that pokes fun at LA’s obsession with appearances. The track made *Billboard*’s 25 Best Rock Songs list of 2017.
5. __“Masseduction” (2017)__: The groovy track “Masseduction” was released as the title single of St. Vincent’s 2017 album *Masseduction*, but it wasn’t until 2019 that the track won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. 

Here is a list of St. Vincent’s studio albums. 

1. __*Marry Me* (2007)__:*Marry Me* is St. Vincent’s debut studio album. A number of tracks from the album—like “Paris is Burning” and “All My Stars Aligned”—feature arrangements of different woodwind, brass, and string instruments to deliver a full and unique sound. 
2. __*Actor* (2009)__: *Actor* is the second studio album release by St. Vincent, peaking at 90 on the *Billboard* 200, and earning a best new music tag from *Pitchfork*. 
3. __*Strange Mercy* (2011)__: Before the subsequent albums *St. Vincent* and *Masseduction*, Strange Mercy was St. Vincent’s highest-charting album at its point of release. It peaked at number 19 on the *Billboard 200* and was named one of the best albums of the decade by *Pitchfork* in 2014. 
4. __*Love This Giant* (2012)__: St. Vincent collaborated with David Byrne, the legendary frontman of the Talking Heads, on *Love This Giant*, which was released in the United Kingdom and the United States. The songs have strong brass instrumentations, with soft, seductive lyrics that lend to a funky and cerebral sound. 
5. __*St. Vincent* (2014)__: St. Vincent’s self-titled fifth studio album boasts popular tracks like “Birth in Reverse,” “Digital Witness,” “Prince Johnny,” and “I Prefer Your Love.” The album won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, making St. Vincent the first female winner in the category since Sinead O’Connor won it in 1991. The album peaked at number 12 in the *Billboard 200* and number 21 on the *UK Albums Chart*. 
6. __*Masseduction* (2017)__: *Masseduction* was produced by Jack Antonoff and featured Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis on guest vocals. The title track “Masseduction” won a Grammy for Best Rock Song in 2019. The following year, Loma Vista Records released a piano-driven acoustic version of this album, *MassEducation*.

Become a better musician with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including St. Vincent, Christina Aguilera, Sheila E., Timbaland, Itzhak Perlman, Tom Morello, and more.
St. Vincent is an avant-garde musician who has made her unique mark on the musical landscape with a sound that combines acrobatic guitar riffs, indelible melodies, and flashes of absurdist humor.


St. Vincent is an avant-garde musician who has made her unique mark on the musical landscape with a sound that combines acrobatic guitar riffs, indelible melodies, and flashes of absurdist humor.


About St. Vincent: St. Vincent’s Top Tracks and 7 Studio Albums

Annie Clark—known as <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/st-vincent-teaches-creativity-and-songwriting' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/st-vincent-teaches-creativity-and-songwriting","linkCopy":"St. Vincent","category":null}'>St. Vincent</a>—was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in Dallas, Texas. Inspired by the unforgettably cool Fender Stratocaster that Ritchie Valens played in the biopic La Bamba (1987), she started making toy guitars out of cardboard and rubber bands before she eventually got her hands on a real guitar at age 12. Her <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name","linkCopy":"stage moniker","category":null}'>stage moniker</a> is borrowed from a Nick Cave lyric—“And Dylan Thomas died drunk in St. Vincent’s hospital.”Annie has won two Grammys and countless critical accolades, she’s scored films and produced albums for other artists, and she’s shared a stage with everyone from David Byrne to Dua Lipa—even temporarily fronting Nirvana for a night when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Annie eventually joined the choral rock group the Polyphonic Spree and toured in indie singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens’ backing band. In 2020, Annie and Carrie Brownstein wrote and starred in The Nowhere Inn, a mockumentary feature film that satirically explores the personas of musicians on and off the stage.

A Brief Introduction to St. Vincent

Some of St. Vincent’s top singles include: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. “Cruel” (2011): Driven by a simple chorus with a catchy guitar riff, “Cruel” is the first track off of St. Vincent’s third studio album Strange Mercy. In 2012, she sang the song when she appeared as the musical guest on the CW teen drama, Gossip Girl. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. “Digital Witness” (2014): “Digital Witness” is an art-pop track with lyrics that address dependence on social media. The song peaked at number 17 on the Billboard sales charts in 2014 and was one of the tracks she performed live during her first appearance on Saturday Night Live. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. “Birth in Reverse” (2014): Released on a gold vinyl alongside her other single, “Digital Witness,” this track is the lead single of St. Vincent’s fourth studio album, St. Vincent. St. Vincent also performed this vibrant, rebellious track during her 2014 SNL musical guest appearance. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. “Los Ageless” (2017): “Los Ageless” is a new wave, dance-rock track that pokes fun at LA’s obsession with appearances. The track made Billboard’s 25 Best Rock Songs list of 2017. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. “Masseduction” (2017): The groovy track “Masseduction” was released as the title single of St. Vincent’s 2017 album Masseduction, but it wasn’t until 2019 that the track won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. </li></ol>

St. Vincent’s Top Singles

Here is a list of St. Vincent’s studio albums. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Marry Me (2007):Marry Me is St. Vincent’s debut studio album. A number of tracks from the album—like “Paris is Burning” and “All My Stars Aligned”—feature arrangements of different woodwind, brass, and string instruments to deliver a full and unique sound. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Actor (2009): Actor is the second studio album release by St. Vincent, peaking at 90 on the Billboard 200, and earning a best new music tag from Pitchfork. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Strange Mercy (2011): Before the subsequent albums St. Vincent and Masseduction, Strange Mercy was St. Vincent’s highest-charting album at its point of release. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard 200 and was named one of the best albums of the decade by Pitchfork in 2014. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Love This Giant (2012): St. Vincent collaborated with David Byrne, the legendary frontman of the Talking Heads, on Love This Giant, which was released in the United Kingdom and the United States. The songs have strong brass instrumentations, with soft, seductive lyrics that lend to a funky and cerebral sound. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. St. Vincent (2014): St. Vincent’s self-titled fifth studio album boasts popular tracks like “Birth in Reverse,” “Digital Witness,” “Prince Johnny,” and “I Prefer Your Love.” The album won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, making St. Vincent the first female winner in the category since Sinead O’Connor won it in 1991. The album peaked at number 12 in the Billboard 200 and number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Masseduction (2017): Masseduction was produced by Jack Antonoff and featured Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis on guest vocals. The title track “Masseduction” won a Grammy for Best Rock Song in 2019. The following year, Loma Vista Records released a piano-driven acoustic version of this album, MassEducation. </li></ol>

St. Vincent’s Discography

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St. Vincent is an avant-garde musician who has made her unique mark on the musical landscape with a sound that combines acrobatic guitar riffs, indelible melodies, and flashes of absurdist humor.