The first thing I heard about Anna Rose was that she was Alan Menken's daughter. (You may know him from Disney fame - he wrote the score for Newsies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin..you get the idea)
Anna Rose isn't stepping out of her father's shadow. She's standing right along side him casting her own shadow that is about to get a lot bigger.
Her music stands apart from singer-songwriter normality and takes you into a world that is entirely her own. Her songs are beautiful, whimsical, and amazingly crafted. She has the gorgeous voice and guitar chops that subtly make her music haunting and captivating.
I spoke with Anna Rose on Memorial Day weekend, about her album, experiences, motivations, and other randomness that goes along with good conversation.
C: So how long have you been working on this album?
A: This album is really a collection of songs that I've been writing for years. You know how people say you have your whole life to write your first record?
C: Yeah.
A: well, I think that's probably the case for this record. It's sort of, it's become a compilation of songs from different periods in my life, that's why I called it Nomad, cause at the time that I was recording it, I wasn't really living in particular place, I was traveling around a lot and moving around, and all of these songs ended up taking on different meanings, and they took on different meanings I worked with a different producer, and this was the final incarnation of these songs where it finally felt right. So, I'm just really proud to have them out, and have them out of my system.
C: It's like giving birth to a child, that's what some people have compared it to.
A: So much better than a child! I'm one of those people who's a secret-child hater.
C: Yeah i think we should start a club, I'm the same way.
A: Oh my God, It's like I came out of the womb, I was like a 15 year old, and then went from there.
C: So when did you know that you wanted to pursue music as your living? I know that you grew up in an artistic household, so it's always been in your life, but was there a specific point when you just, knew?
A: Um, yeah, I was two.There's been a lot of passions in my life, I rode horses for a long time, I did a lot of different forms of dance, and I still choreograph and take dance classes and things like that. But I always knew that music was going to be the career path that I would pursue, and I prepared for that. I think, starting in middle school actually, my dad would take me out of school sometimes and take me to LA when he would have recording sessions. So I could the orchestras working, I could see what it would be like to produce, you know, produce a record, and he really gave me the experience and the opportunities that I needed to be able to pursue this from any kind of intelligent place.
C: That's awesome. Yeah, I'm jealous, because just being able to go see professionals at work is an amazing thing. It really is.
A: Yeah, I remember I was so, as a kid, I was so in awe, but it was just something that, it just clicked with me, I just understood. And it felt right. I mean, I started writing when I was 12, and before that was singing all the time, before that I was playing guitar. I mean I was singing way before I was playing guitar, but I think it was just there for me. That was just what was gonna happen, it wasn't a choice in my mind. It's not because anyone else forced me into it, it just felt…it was the right thing to do..it was my destiny, so to speak.
C: There was no avoiding it, it was just going to happen.
A: Yeah, exactly, I don't know. You know, I come from a land of Disney, so everything is destiny and faith and miracles.
C: I was going to ask you, how that influenced your music growing up, because I know a lot of kids tend to rebel from what their parents think. So, being around that Disney stuff all the time, did you have you know, one reaction or another to it?
A: Um, I always appreciated it, and I appreciate what my dad does and I think he's brilliant at it, but I was obsessed and still am obsessed with Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and I mean, I think that when I was a kid, I was really, really, really, really into Nine Inch Nails. There's this great story, I think I was in 6th grade, and my dad was doing something like Good Morning America or one of those shows and they asked him do your kids listen to, do your kids listen to your music? And my dad said no, my older daughter, she's into Ten Inch Nails. And, I did not live that down! That was not something that I lived down. But that was, my dad always approached me almost as a colleague, daughter yeah, but he always asked me what I thought, and when I got old enough, I started singing demos for him. I just did it for another film that's coming up, so I still do it to make a bit of money sometimes. We're just very different, and I think we have different aesthetics for what we look for in sound in general.
C: Ok, change of directions..so you're a big Doors fan, big Jimi Hendrix fan, what was it like to work with Bruce Botnick?
A: Ah! Ah! I died! I died several times during those sessions. I mean, Bruce very much approached me…I've known Bruce since I was a kid, and I think he really didn't want to come anywhere near my career until he really felt like I would be able to really..I don't know, I can't speak for him. I think he wanted to come into my recording life and my music life at the right time. And you know, Bruce was my godfather of rock and roll. I used to just sit around as a little kid and listen to these stories…that he would tell, and I was just in awe….I remember when I finished the record, I asked Bruce…During the recording I wouldn't really bring up The Doors ever, because I'm like I've gotta be my own artist, I've gotta be my own artist! And then by the end of the process, I think it was by the end of the basic tracking…And I saw down and I said "Bruce, I really have to ask you…do you think Jim Morrison would like my record?" And he said, "I think he would appreciate your neuroses." And that's pretty much speaks to exactly who I am! But, Bruce is, forever helpful and just, he always steers me on the right path, and usually the right path is just, follow what you think is right and be patient, and really dedicate yourself to the work. And that's what I naturally feel anyway so it was very inspiring to work with Bruce and also easy and fun and he's the one who brought Billy Sullivan to me, my co-producer on the record. So, Billy and I had been working together for a while because Bruce introduced us. And then when we started recording the record, we really wanted Bruce to be the Executive Producer and kind of, keep us in line, he was the one who was out of the studio, to come in and listen to the basic tracks and really…kind of enjoy things from afar…who wasn't/didn't have their head so much in it. That was definitely Bruce.
C: Yeah, like a neutral third-party.
A: Yeah, because I was in a place where I was on the record, and I was also co-producing it, and Billy was very much the producer, the actual technical producer of the record. I was co-producer because "I want this, I want this and this and this" and I think this would sound better here and I want this level and….things like that. But the actual technicalities of the recording was very much Billy. And so, once you get your head into those technicalities it's kind of difficult to pull yourself out. And so having Bruce to be the neutral party was really good. It was a long process, but it was a great process, and now I'm just getting ready to make my next one.
C: DId you learn a lot more of the technical side of the recording?
A: [laughing] I'm sorry. I am distracted by my father, who is holding up a giant martini glass. We're in an antique store, and he just held up the martini glass and giggled. Um, Can you repeat the question?
C: Did you learn a lot more of the technical side of the recording? I know Billy was handling a lot of it, but were you specifically learning about the technical process?
A: Yeah, I'm definitely learning about it. It's something that I'm starting to do on my own, we recording the whole album on Logic, and Billy was very adamant on me sitting down and taking control of the faders sometimes, as I was too. I think it's really important to know and appreciate the technical side, and to be able to do it on your own, especially now, in an age where you know, major labels are not really the way to go anymore, it's important. So I was really happy to do it. And Billy in general has made me laugh/cry/scream during the process and before and after, you know he's been a really great asset to me and he's pushed me really hard and I don't think that I would be the artist that I am without Billy, or without Bruce.
C: That's good. Yeah, you've gotten really involved in the whole, creative process and the production process. I had read that you established your own production company? Is that correct?
A: Well, it's my publishing company.
C: Ahh…different articles say different things.
A: Oh oh...I have my own publishing company but I also have my own record label. So basically I'm distributed by Sony/RED...RED distribution, which is a Sony distribution. Um, the small label that I'm with under RED, being Megaforce records, but the actual label is my own label which is White Pony Records. Which, pretty much just houses my own stuff at this point, but once I start…I mean, it would really be a dream of mine to have that be a real working label, and to have other artists…because, I think I have a good head on my shoulders for that, and I'd like to be involved..I just, I love music, I love the music industry…I love and hate the music industry. But, I'm very passionate about it.
C: Well, it's good because you could be a driving force for change in the industry too. And that's really awesome to see, you know, you're young, you've got a lot of experience already but it could definitely be a positive change.
A: Yeah, I mean, I would love to be a part of those changes that do need to happen. I mean, I think there are so many artists at this point who are struggling, who are brilliant artists, and then artists who rise up so quickly and I have no idea why. So, you know, and it has to do with marketing, and whether…um…you know, I don't know. Sometimes it doesn't have anything to do with the music, you know, I don't want to say anything negative.
C: Yeah, I agree, I know where you're going.
A: Sometimes it has less to do with the music and more to do with the image. And I'm not so much an image person, although you know, I'm like any other girl, obsessed with my weight and my looks and shit like that, but…
C: Yeah, it makes perfect sense I see where you're going.
C: Alright, let me ask you a couple of questions just about your songwriting. Do you have a certain process that you use when you're writing songs? Or just it just come to you, or how does it work for you?
A: You know, it's really changing right now. When I was younger, it very much just came to me. And there have been certain songs where a melody will just come to me, or I'll have written a whole book of poetry and those little snippets from each of those poems will become the lyrics for just one song. I think, it's relatively the same, I just think I'm becoming more critical of my own work. I'm like, OK, my first record is out, I'm not a child anymore, I have to release something smart. And, I really can't tell yet what it'll be like, because I feel like my taste is changing a little bit, but I don't know, I'm just excited because I have the opportunity to really explore all these different areas of music right now, and to explore the way that I'm writing songs. My dad definitely helps me a lot with that, if I'm stuck, my dad will push me. Definitely like "Sit down and write!"
C: That's always good to have someone who'll keep you on track like that.
A: You know, everyone does…my dad, my manager, my boyfriend, everyone. They all just [bully] me more to believe in myself, which I think makes it easy to be lazy sometimes actually.
C: Well, you're obviously not that lazy, because you did manage to put out an album, which is a great accomplishment.
A: I feel like I've achieved something really great, and now I just want to continue. I hope that this record will be my calling card in some way, and that I'll be able to move forward and increase in some way. And I'm not looking for a one-album wonder, and to make tons of money. That's never been why I've been in it, and I don't know, I just love it.
C: Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: OOO! Lately, I think a lot of the inspirations on Nomad are the relationships with my friends and family, and various people in my life, and a lot of times I think I actually exploit those to certain natural phenomenon, and I'm kind of a little hippie child, and I think that's kind of the way all those things mix together for me. I usually end up just trying to write, freeform writing, and see what comes out of it, and usually within that freeform there is some kind of linear idea, and I usually condense it down, and really try to figure out what I want to say. I've never really been one to just, write some lyrics down and not really understand what they mean.To me, anyway.
C: Yeah, it's like a research process kind of…
A: Yeah, I tend to…at this point to, like I said, now that the first record's over and I'm sort of approaching things from a different point of view, I'm doing a lot of research and a lot of reading. Um, I get a lot of inspiration from films to, I think sometimes the character portrayal is so incredible, and when someone portrays a character that hits you so hard it can, it's just been inspiring to me, on different films.
C: LIke what kind of films in particular? Any…top 3?
A: Top 3? I love Bertelucci films. Really love Bertelucci films, like Stealing Beauty with Liv Tyler. Have you ever seen that? I'm really attached to landscapes. A landscape in contrast to a character is so amazing to me. Lately I've been doing a lot of reading though. The Alchemist, and The Fountainhead, and all that stuff. So lately it's been more in my head than it has been on screen.
C: Whatever works, right? I mean hey, everybody goes through phases.
A: Yeah, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm a little bit all over the place right now. Because I'm just, sort of, I feel like I'm searching for something different, something to inspire me in a new way. This record, as everyone's been saying, and as I'll say again, it was a collection of a lot of songs I'd written throughout my life. And, from different points in my life, and there was no pressure to get a second record out. And now I find that I'm putting the pressure on myself to really get a second record out, get it written, have it be something I'm really, really proud of, and really just continue forward. I think, when you end up seeing so many people in the music industry fail, I hate to use that word, but most people don't succeed, and you start to take off your artist hat and put on your business hat and say ok well, the people who have succeeded have just done, their second records have been amazing, so obviously it's my goal to make a great record, at least for it to be something I'm proud of.
C: Yeah, well, it sounds like you’re well on your way. I mean, you just put out your first one you're already on the second one, and I think you'll be good to go once you actually have an idea of where you want to go with it.
A: That's what I think too. But, I don't pretend to hide my nervousness. I'm very open about my feelings, being that I am an artist, I'm very, naturally, very very nervous about the way this record will be received, and I just, I'm just trying to be patient. I have a problem with being patient.
C: Well the release date in the US is almost here, so you don't have to be patient for much longer.
A: I know!! June 8, I'm so excited! June 8th!
A: Sorry, it's motorcycles. I like to sit on the street and people watch. I'm up in Millerton, New York today with my parents doing some antiquing.
C: Oooo.
A: I know, giving the parents a little attention. They need it, they need it.
C: They do, you gotta pay attention to the parents, take care of them, spend time with them.
A: Well, my dad needs enough inspiration and I need enough inspiration from my dad, so… you know. Someone's gotta make me laugh.
C: Exactly. We talked about The Doors earlier, who are some of your musical influences, like who would you say, you know, really does it for you?
A: You know, I think the people who really do it for me actually, it's harder to hear those influences on Nomad. And I think, as I move forward, more of those influences will definitely be heard. But, definitely Hendrix, I'm listening to a lot of Sunhouse lately, a lot of like, old Delta Blues. Anything Jack White does, I know that's, I'm one of those people who's very dedicated to the classic rock and the blues and you know, CCR, and the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles, but I don't know. Jack White. And the Kills. Allison Mosshart is amazing. I don't know, I feel like Nomad was definitely influenced by a lot of the stuff I listened to in the 90s, a lot of like Pearl Jam and Sarah McLachlan and Nirvana, Alanis Morrissette, things like that that I listened to then. Classic rock has always been a consistent…but I think Nomad definitely speaks to more of the things…that I…I think I digested those things a few years ago. And this is what came out of it.
C: Ok. I was going to ask you, besides the one you mentioned, are there any other artists that you're currently listening to? Getting into them?
A: Right now, what did I just download? I just downloaded the new National Album, High Violet. I've been listening to that, that's beautiful. I've been listening to The Dead Weather, all the time, every day, I love The Dead Weather. I love The Kills. I just downloaded the new LCD Soundsystem.
C: Dude, this is getting really weird. You're mentioning all the things that I've just downloaded too.
A: Really? SWEET! Do you have the new Sleighbells album? have you heard of sleighbells yet? They're like MIA on crack, they're amazing.
C: Sleighbells, I'll check them out.
A: Oh my God listen to Treats. Well, the album is called treats. Um, but I think there's a song called Treats? I'm not, I left my iPod in the car, so.. You could get me talking about other people's music all day, I'm like my music, whatever! Let's talk about other people's music.
C: Well, we've been talking about your music, and whatever you're listening to influences what you're going to put out in the future.
A: Definitely.
C: You gotta geek out every once in a while.
A: Oh my God, I geek out all the time. I definitely, I distinctly remember an interview where I actually turned around and was asking the interviewer questions, cause I said I didn't really want to talk about my own music.
C: Wow…
A: Yeah, so at least I'm not doing that, I'm not being a pain in the ass today.
C: I would've been like…"uuuuh..wait a minute"
A: You would've been like no…this is not…we're not playing that game so..Anna Rose is it? Never gonna talk to you again.
C: [laughing] (both)
A: Oh, who else…the new Exile on Mainstreet. What else….oh, what is the Hendrix album that was released a few months ago, had some unreleased versions of things on it…omg..what is it called? That's been on repeat.
C: I'll look it up on amazon.
A: Yeah it's the one…which, I'm on Amazon now for pre-order, which is so cool!
C: Oh that is cool, that's very cool.
A: Yeah, I'm excited, for some reason I'm really excited about preorders right now.
C: Well, it's a way to gauge interest to, I mean, you can tell…Um, Valleys of Neptune, is that the Hendrix one?
A: Yes, yes! Valley of Neptune, omg! When I am having a bad day, or when I feel a little bit lost, and I'm a very, uh, I'm a person who likes to plan things, I like to know what's going to happen in the future, at least try to know what's going to happen in the future. and, when I am not feeling like I can control anything, I will listen to Jimi Hendrix. I don't know why? It's just -
C: And everything's all better –
A: Yes, I don't know why, it's just..he was just the most amazing artist. What he did for the guitar itself, I can't even, let's not even go there. We can go back to talking about me now, I'll be narcissistic for a day.
C: Ok. Ok, next question! What are your goals for your music and your career?
A: Um, I want to have a long career. I want to be able to do this for my whole life. um, I'd love to be able to support myself, that would be awesome. Um,
C: Just the little things right?
A: Oh, the little things. You know, i think they're practical things that everyone wants, but you know I just want to, I want to make music but I also want to…I just want to have an influence in some way. I feel, I think when I was a kid I felt very, uh, cause I started writing when I was 12 and I was processing all these feelings and stuff, that I think I felt very, wise beyond my years or something and now I feel very juvenile because I want, I just want to make a different you know? No, I just want to make music that has an impact somehow. And, um, you know, and not create music that doesn't have anything to say. That's always sort of been my goal. I never want to record a song that I don't feel like has anything to say. Even if it's just saying something to me. or to one other person. I just want to continue to make music, and hopefully have that, make a difference in the music industry in some way. I would love my label to turn into a haven for other artists, and to be able to support other artists as well as myself, and um, yeah. I just want to do it for my life. That's sort of my goal right now. To set myself up to be able to do this forever.
C: Well, that's good, and like I said, you're well on your way. You know? You really are.
A: Thank you. Well, I'm also keeping my options open too.
C: That's good too. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. So, that's definitely good. Um,
A: Well
C: um, go ahead?
A: well, um, actually..I have no idea what I was thinking, now I forgot. Next question!
A: No, [laughing] it's not your fault, it's actually my father's. He came outside to check his cellphone. He's obsessed with watching the, he keeps watching the Yankee game on his iPhone. I don't know, he found some application where he can actually watch the game. And so, he keeps telling my mom "oh, this looks really nice, this looks really nice" and then walking out to try to listen to the game, and then he always makes fun of me when I'm talking about my own music because he thinks it's funny.
C: Of course he does, that's his job as a dad, he has to give you crap.
A: He has to give me crap and then he's proud papa.
C: Exactly. That's just how he shows it, he gives you crap.
A: yeah, but I'm a proud daughter though too, believe me I do not underestimate the talent of the genepool that I come from.
C: Yeah, I mean it runs in the family..I mean, I'm familiar with his music, growing up with it and stuff, and listening to your album, I'm just like "Damn!" It's like, whoa! Ok, it just keeps coming!
A: It's different. I mean, what I do is definitely different from what he does, but the reason why the skills were in my life when I couldn't even speak yet is because of my dad, and led zeppelin and the stones, and just..you know, my dad is just, a very very major part of why I am the artist that I am, and esp because he gave me the freedom to be whatever artist I wanted to be. I mean, I was playing piano, they started me in piano lessons when I was really really young, and then when I was 5, I just found the guitar and I loved it. And, they gave me the option to switch instruments, there was no keeping me in one place, and I think that was always really really important to me. Um, and it really helped with my development, because I could explore pretty much anything that I wanted to.
C: Yeah, and it's always, it helps you out when you have supportive parents that will encourage you to do things rather than try to hold you back.
A: Yeah, and I think about that now too, because so much music education is being taken out of schools, and out of budgets and stuff. And it just breaks my heart. I mean, I was in an after school program in middle school where I was in rock bands with a bunch of different people, a bunch of different students. and I did a few different ones every day after school, I just loved it. And, you know, to think that those things can't happen anymore is really sad to me.
C: Well, it's something else that everyone needs to work on changing.
A: Yeah, exactly. So, maybe at some point I'll be able to have an impact on those things. Maybe at least me even talking about it, is a good thing.
C: Yeah, anything that brings attention to it is a good thing, yeah definitely.
A: Yeah.
C: Yeah. So in terms of promoting the album coming out on June 8, you're playing a few shows in New York City. Do you have any plans, or is there any other tour coming up or anything?
A: You know I'm trying to set it up. Mostly it's in New York right now, I want to tour sooo badly. It's one of those things that takes a lot of organizing. It's, that's something I'm not necessarily good at, but You know, and trying to get my whole band together in a van will be an interesting feat...but I do want to tour some other cities. New York has been wonderful to me, and so has LA. And I lived in LA for 5 years and I actually recorded nomad in LA. So, yeah. LA has been a really great city to me too, but I've done 2 coasts and nothing in between. I would love to just tour around with it. We'll see what happens. A lot of it does depend on how well it's received, and getting interest with a tour. I'm still very much a "baby" artist, I don't pretend to be bigger than my pants size. [laughs]
C: Well that's awesome though, I'm in the DC area so I was like well, you know are you ever coming down here because there's a lot of interest in new music down here.
A: Cool! My college roommate is from virginia, right outside..she went to PC william…what town is it? Right outside of DC..that's where she grew up…[..]Alexandria! A couple of my friends, I'm actually playing with a couple of my friends from DC, at the Canal Room on July 9, so yeah! They're these guys called the Morrison Brothers, 2 brothers, and they're also pretty classic rock influence and Citizen's Cope and people like that. Um, But yeah they're really cool. I went down to DC to do Voice of America when my EP came out. And the music scene down there is definitely alive and well. I think there's this place called the Birchmere?
C: Yup!
A: Have you seen shows there, at the Birchmere?
C: I've seen one show there a long time ago. It was a converted movie theater I think.
A: Yeah that sounds awesome, I wanna play there!
C: Well, you should definitely play at the 9:30 Club.
A: The 9:30 club?
C: Yes, you have to play at the 9:30 Club if you come through here. It's a big deal for DC. It's not so much a big deal anywhere else, but that's the club where most people go in DC.
A: The 9:30 Club, ok I'll remember that. Yeah, I just, you know, setting things up, finding out what the good venues are in each city, and getting someone placed in there. At the very least, I'm confident that some kind of East Coast tour will happen. I don't know about the whole country right now but definitely the East Coast.
C: Cool. Well, if you come down here I'll definitely show up and say hi. Bring some friends.
A: Yeah, please do!
C: Ok! Well it's been really good talking to you, do you have anything else that you want to mention? Or final words?
A: Final words….record comes out June 8th! Go and buy it, please. Buy music! Buy music, don't download it illegally. Those are my final words! June 8th, and I am very excited about the future. Those are my final words.
Noman, Anna Rose's first full-length album, is out in stores on June 8, 2010. It is currently available for Amazon.com pre-order.
Comments