Hi Ana, how are you?
I’m doing well. Excited to be releasing “Bleeding Pen,” but also have some of those release jitters!
Congratulations on the upcoming release of “Bleeding Pen,” how does it feel to put this song out?
Insane, honestly! I’ve been really looking forward to putting this one out. I’m very proud of this song because it came out how I envisioned it—although my producers and the musicians on this one somehow still surpassed my expectations! It’s one of the songs on my album that I feel really encapsulates my sound, so I’m excited to showcase that.
What’s the story behind the song?
“Bleeding Pen” was the last song I wrote for the EP. By then, we had already established the other songs and the overall direction, but I still felt like something was missing. I remember talking to my producer about it, and he told me, “truth is what moves people.” I had been truthful in the other songs, but I realized I hadn’t really touched on guilt.
When I went through that breakup, I was told not to feel guilty and that I hadn’t actually done anything wrong. So instead of letting myself just sit with the feeling, I rationalized it. That logic kept me from fully processing the fact that I had still hurt someone. And since it had already been a year, I was in a different phase of life and even more disconnected from that feeling. But deep down, I knew guilt was something I needed to write about.
Then something bizarre happened earlier that week and it pulled me right back into the emotional state I was in during the breakup. I took advantage of that rush of feelings coming back, but I was also writing from a new perspective, as someone who had grown since then. That shift really shaped the song.
The song became about guilt through different perspectives: the simple “I’m sorry I hurt you and I hope you forgive me,” but also the realization that guilt taught me a lot about myself. Without it, I wouldn’t have done the work that helped me grow into who I am now. With time, new experiences, and distance, the song also became a reflection on the future—how relationships eventually turn into memories. Some become meaningful, some fade, but my hope is that this one becomes a memory where we forgive each other and accept that we were just kids who didn’t know better.
You’ve got an album coming out this year too. What’s it been like recording it?
It’s been crazy. I originally wanted to release it in fall 2024, but we were nowhere near finished. When we first started, my schedule was hectic—I was wrapping up school in LA, flying back to Boston for graduation, then spending some time at home in Paris before moving back to LA. To make it work, we had to cram recording it into just two days. We had already laid down piano on most of the tracks and locked in the tempos, so I recorded all my vocals over that. The idea was that the production would follow my voice. While I was away, my producers started sketching out ideas, and when I got back we really dove in. We actually re-recorded “Bleeding Pen” three times, but for the other songs we kept my original vocals.
It’s been exciting, overwhelming, and honestly enlightening. Hearing songs I wrote on piano start to take shape—sometimes exactly how I imagined, other times completely different—has been surreal. It feels like my inner child’s dreams are coming true.
What’s your favourite track from it?
I can’t pick just one, so here’s three of my favorites: “Daddy’s Empire,” “Can we pretend we just met at a bar?,” and “Bleeding Pen.” Honestly, I like all of the songs on the album for different yet specific reasons!
What’s been the easiest and most challenging part of working on it?
The easiest part was that we all shared the same vision and intention for the EP, so there wasn’t a lot of conflict or disagreement. My producers, Kraig Tyler and Alexandre Burke, are incredible at what they do, and their different strengths and perspectives really helped shape the album. Even though I wrote the songs and ultimately had the final say, I wanted to keep an open mind. As Kraig always said, “follow impulse”—and that mindset helped us focus on the art and what the songs could mean not just to me, but to anyone who listens.
The most challenging part was recording vocals. We only had about two (not even full) days to get everything recorded, and I was sick, exhausted, and getting more run-down as we went. That made me overthink and feel insecure about how I sounded. But my producers kept reminding me they wanted honesty and emotion, not perfection. In a way, being sick and worn out actually worked in our favor, because it added a rawness and vulnerability that served the songs.
You’ve been releasing music since 2023, what’s the biggest lesson that you’ve learned in the process?
I’ve learned not to overthink and to trust what I feel in the moment. I’ve grown so much as an artist since I first wrote these songs, so sometimes it feels like I’m showing people a past version of myself rather than who I am right now. But at the time of writing, I was deeply connected to what I was creating, and that honesty matters more than whether I’d approach it differently today. Even if the sound or lyrics don’t resonate with me in the same way anymore, they were true then, and I’m learning to embrace that.
Another big lesson has been letting myself evolve without forcing a fixed identity. Instead of trying to lock into one genre or style, I’ve started to see change and fluidity as part of my artistry.
You’re an artist based in LA, how did it all begin for you?
I studied acting and did my last semester of college in LA, which is where I began to actually try and make something of my music. I knew one of my producers before that, but met Kraig during that time. I was juggling both acting and music for a while, but after I graduated I decided to focus my full attention on music (for now at least).
What did you listen to growing up?
I listened to a lot of Adele growing up!
Living in LA what are your three favourite things about it?
Silver Lake, the beach, and the artist community.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I listen to different things all the time. I have my headphones on 90% of the time, but right now I’d say I’ve been drawn to a lot of pop and dance/electronic vibes.
What are you looking forward to doing next?
I am excited to continue exploring where my sound and music will take me. I feel like I’ve learned a lot and am so much more open to exploring new things. Lyrics have always been my main focus but I really want to challenge myself next to experiment more with melody.
