What is your name?
Anna Elyse
What is your genre of music?
I’d say indiefolk or folkpop
Give us a little bio about you.
I’m a poet, singer, songwriter and producer from Southern California that takes influence from folk songwriters of the past and hopes to modernize with production influences stemming from a more hip-hop sound.
What made you go into music?
I’ve always wanted to be a part of music. I’ve written stories and poems for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories involve wanting to jump inside one of my favorite songs and look around. A huge part of why I loved dancing and choreographing was because it was another way for me to interpret a song and turn it into this whole atmosphere. And then in audio engineering school after UCLA, I got to dive that much deeper into crafting the sound. It’s just an obsession that I was born with, telling stories and evoking emotion. Music is a universal language and it can be healing to so many people.
Who are your influences?
Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Dave Matthews Band
Are you a signed?
No, I am independent.
You released your new single ‘Faster Than We Ran’, tell us more about the single and the meaning behind the song.
“Faster Than We Ran” is about looking back on a whirlwind relationship or situation and feeling gratitude for the time spent in that other world. It’s about diving in, holding nothing back, and not waiting for anyone else to approve. It may not have been the most stable situation or the “right” thing, but it lit you up inside and made you feel alive. I think it’s so important to let things be what they are and embrace the intensity and well as the fleeting nature of life. Some things are better when they come in and out of your life quickly.
Describe the track in two words.
haunted, hopeful
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote this after a particularly foggy morning at the beach. I love the inherently poetic feel of the beach when it’s stormy or foggy out. Scenes from this certain time in my life started playing out like they were coming out of the fog. I romanticized the memories 100% but it was the feeling that I found myself bathing in, that no inhibitions intense feeling of being alive, of going with what moves you, unafraid of the consequences. I went home, wrote the song right then, and recorded guitar and vocals quickly thereafter. I then sent it to the producer I co-produced this track with and we went back and forth adding different elements until we landed here!
Who did you work with on the single?
I co-produced the track with Arthur Pingrey
Will we see a music video for ‘Faster Than We Ran’, and if so what can we expect from the creative process like?
Not yet, but I’ll keep you posted!
Can we expect an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect from it.
In the near future, but no date yet!
What else can we expect in early 2023?
More music! I have so many songs that I can’t wait to flesh out. And I am looking to start working with other songwriters and musicians.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
I see myself as a songwriter, producer, and recording engineer for my artist project as well as for others. I see myself playing live shows all around!
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Just do it. Better done than perfect. And keep going! Grit is the most important quality.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
I look forward to reporting back after I’ve played my first live show! But I’d imagine:
1) favorite crystals
2) meditation track
3) notebook & pen
4) Mountain Valley Spring Water
5) way too many extra picks
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you? Instagram:
Twitter
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