Ann Sophie Dürmeyer was born on 1 September 1990 in London, England, to German parents, and later settled in Hamburg. She began ballet at four and studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City after completing her abitur in 2010. Her musical career commenced with the release of the single "Get Over Yourself" in 2012, followed by the digital album Time Extended under Polydor and Island Records. The album’s lead single, "Black Smoke", was issued on 2 March 2015 and charted within the top 30 in Germany and the top 60 in Austria. In May 2015, she represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Black Smoke" after the original winner declined the invitation; the entry finished last with zero points. Despite the outcome, the single achieved moderate commercial success and reinforced her presence in the German pop scene.
