Project Description
Interview with
ANNA DELLARIA
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did that become a serious concern for you?
Yep! From the time I was 6 I was running around making my younger sister sing harmonies I had mapped out to songs like “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson and “Oh Happy Day” from Sister Act haha. I’ve always loved entertaining, and most especially music. I was given a toy piano when I was about 7 and I fell in love with making noise and music on it – singing along. I’d put on plays and force everyone to buy tickets and watch (yikes!).
It became a serious concern since I was 6 because when I was singing I felt free. To this day, singing is the only way I feel free and feel alive, as cliche as it might sound. So there really hasn’t been another “option” or “plan b”. It’s just what fuels the flame inside of me and I’m so grateful for it every day.
What kind of music did you grow up listening to? How did the music of your childhood influence or inspire you?
Oh man, many kinds! My mom was a fitness instructor in addition to her very cool broadcasting job at the news station, and she’d always prepare her mixtape in the mornings. I think I was exposed to a lot of hip-hop and upbeat, anthemic pop from that because it’d always be the most popular songs that I would then fall in love with. Once I watched Sister Act and heard Lauryn Hill’s voice I became obsessed with R&B and Soul. Something about the agility of her voice and the strength made me want to learn it. I was then drawn to singers like Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson because they displayed some of that soul in a pop setting.
Later on, in middle school, I became really good friends with a crew of people that were obsessed with 60’s 70’s rock: The Doors, The Beatles (my crush was obsessed with them), Ramones, later on Nirvana and more. I found that the fire inside the soulful voices I was drawn to, like Aretha Franklin, was actually just as transparent inside the voice of Kurt Cobain or Robert Plant – just presented differently.
You are releasing the first single, “At My Worst”, from your new album. How would you describe the single?
It’s a fun, pop/R&B driven record that I love and am so excited to finally share. It has elements of Pop Production & Songwriting, with what I hope is an empowering message. I just came to this realization that the “crazy” or “quirky” things about myself are actually what allow me to be more kind, giving, and empathetic to those I’m around and that I should celebrate those perceived “flaws” regardless. Most of the time we’re convinced that our insecurities or oddities justify us lowering our standards or settling for less, when in reality they enable us to grow and showcase the more positive sides of ourselves. I hope “At My Worst” motivates people to own their “crazy” and celebrate it while dancing along.
You attended USC’s prestigious Thornton School of Music. What kind of student were you? What opportunities has the school opened up for you career-wise?
I was seen as a bit “extra” my Freshman year haha. Half of the time I was living in the practice rooms, which I think made me come off as “a lot” to other people who were out with friends, enjoying college life and taking it all in. I was determined to be better at music as fast as I possibly could: whether songwriting, voice training, production, etc. Growing up, I didn’t go to an art school or have experience collaborating or learning how to be in a band, etc. The second I got that opportunity at school I was so, unbelievably excited and so determined to learn it all and be good at it. I actually ended up with callouses on my vocal cords from over-practicing, so I don’t recommend going too extreme!
Studying there allowed me full training in not only stage performance, voice, songwriting and so much more. But also a formal music training in composition, arranging, music directing, etc. Although I don’t use as much of that now, it definitely helped prime my ears to where music wants to go a lot of the time and how best to present it in all formats.
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What kind of voice training do you do now?
I live by a combination of techniques and exercises from Jeffrey Allen, Sean Holt, and Amber Morris. They are vocal gods and I’m so grateful to have studied with them. Lately, I’ve been going back to a lot of Classic Soul Music and drilling down on dynamic control and refreshing my agility. I’ll pull up a Kim Burrell run and slow it down with a metronome and grind it out until I can do it in time, and then start again. I really love the voice as an instrument and am always looking into the science of it and how to take care of it, etc. (It’s nerdy I know!)
Who are your music idols?
I truly don’t know if I can list them all, but I’d say: Stevie Wonder (for everything), Beyonce (she’s everything and more), James Blake, Carol King, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Kurt Cobain, Jazmine Sullivan, Jeff Buckley, Sufjan Stevens, D’Angelo, and so many others.
What would you say to any aspiring singers out there?
Understand your voice as an instrument and practice. Challenge yourself to learn how to sing in different genres because it’ll arm you with more tools to apply to your genre of choice and create a more authentic voice and sound. Try new techniques, stay hydrated, do things that scare you! haha
What else have you got planned for 2019 in your music career? Will we get to see you live anytime this year?
Absolutely! My first show is this Saturday, June 8th at The Peppermint Club! Definitely come out – it’s going to be a really great show with all of the songs off the EP, and a completely new set up. The Debut EP will be released in The Fall, with a few singles between now and then. I’m looking at a few shows up and down the West Coast to come to see listeners live, as I really do feel there’s a much more authentic connection when performing live and I love meeting listeners!
Where do you see yourself in three years time?
Making even better music, touring around the world, and hopefully with a dog (or two!). My biggest goal is just to be able to keep making music and for that, I’m eternally grateful.
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVORITE:
Album – Songs in the Key of Life (this is terribly hard and will change tomorrow morning!)
Artist – Beyonce (again, so difficult)
Movie – Dream Girls
Place to visit – I love Manhatten, but I’m sure nothing beats The Bay Area.
Venue to play – The Hotel Cafe as of now.
Food = Anything in Sandwich form. Huge fan of turkey on sourdough with all the works + veggies.
Drink – Titos Vodka with Berry LaCroix (Thank you Reese A.!)
Person in History – My mom
Tattoo – (if you don’t have one, one you would get?) Ah I have two that I love equally. I’m waiting to get my next one, and I think it may end up being my favorite. It’s my grandma’s interpretation of music and feminity (which is this gorgeous little symbol).
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Check out ANNA DELLARIA below
Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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About ANNA
San Francisco-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and performer Anna Dellaria uses her flaws to start a fire. Translating lyrical singer-songwriter catharsis a la Jeff Buckley through bold Aretha Franklin-style delivery, she doesn’t back down from darkness; rather, she turns it into light.
That approach has unassumingly drawn the spotlight to her after a lifetime dedicated to the craft. Growing up in a “non musical” household, she taught herself how to sing by studying the likes of Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Cobain, Robert Plant, and even the Sister Act soundtrack. Amidst a tumultuous upbringing beset by physical and mental abuse and bouts of anxiety fueled by a broken home, music became a refuge.
Accepted into USC’s prestigious Thornton School of Music, she devoted ten hours a day to honing her voice—often sleeping in the practice rooms. Through the program, she caught the attention of early supporters and industry icons Lenny Waronker and Rob Cavallo, while performing backup vocals for John Fogerty, Chaka Khan, and more. By sophomore year, she released her debut single “Sudden” produced by Brian Jones (Vampire Weekend, Gwen Stefani), which garnered coverage from DJ Booth, The Four Oh Five, and Indie Shuffle, among others.
2017’s voice note recording of her demo “Bolder” landed a prominent sync on Younger and surpassed 385K organic Spotify streams in a matter of months, in addition to igniting collaboration with Shazam and Apple Music for the songs official release. With a rising profile, Ethan Allen tapped her to sing during a national campaign aired during the 2018 Academy® Awards. Everything set the stage for the release of her single “I Choose Me.” Selected for 6 New Music Friday Playlists across Spotify – her voice captivates during intimate verses before booming with unbridled power on the refrain. With raw emotionality and practiced delivery, she strikes the perfect balance between intensity and talent. Now, with over 950k Digital Streams to date, Dellaria is set to release her first 3 singles from the debut EP expected this Fall.
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