LOS ANGELES, CA- Last year, we had a powerhouse of a singer, Anna Dellaria, grace our showcase stage Madame Siam. The San-Francisco-born and Los Angeles based singer/songwriter studied at USC’s Thornton School of Music and caught the attention of early supporters and industry icons like Rob Cavallo, while also performing alongside artists like John Fogerty and more. We had the good fortune of being able to see why Shazam and Apple Music were eager to have her featured on their platforms.
Dellaria’s latest single, “Cut You Loose”, released earlier this month, debuted on Spotify’s acclaimed New Music Friday US and Denmark and has racked up over 80K streams on Spotify alone, and even got into the top 10 of Amazon Music’s “Girl Power” Playlist.
She recently released an official music video for “Cut You Loose,” and we were able to check in with her to see how she’s been doing.
*****************************
First off, I want to thank you so much for participating in our showcase last year. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that you literally sang the roof off of the house and that minds were blown when you hit all of the key changes of Beyonce’s “Love On Top”. 2019 was been a pretty busy year for you. You dropped three singles (“Baggage”, “Mama Said” and “At My Worst). “Mama Said” is a banger. Are those tracks, and the new singles you’ve dropped this year, all parts of an EP or future album?
Thank you so much for having me! I had so much fun performing in your showcase and appreciate you jamming with me on “Love On Top”! 2019, In my opinion, was definitely a nice warm-up to what I have planned for this year. [I’ve been releasing music once a month beginning in February. Ideally, I’d love to release a collection of the singles in an EP format. I’m mostly excited just to share all of the music I’ve been sitting on for a minute now
Is there an overall theme for the tracks you are planning to release? I mean… were the songs written during a particular time in your life that you derived inspiration from, which kinda makes it a concept album type thing?
Honestly, I started out with concepts and messages that I feel strongly about. Most importantly: Mental health awareness, perception of ourselves in the world (meaning day to day struggles with our purpose, happiness, etc.), and probably relationships just because those are built into my life. In regards to cohesively trying to tie the songs together – I honestly just went and have been going with my gut. Things that I feel I need to say now, or that seem appropriate are the ones that will be released. In short: the primary thing or factor that has really sewn these all together for me is that they feel the most like me. They’re individual representations of myself in day to day life – and I get to share that with listeners. Some songs are more stripped and vulnerable: me late at night trying to wrangle in my anxiety about what I’m doing with my life. Others are more playful and fun: a side of myself that you might meet if we were out at dinner or met at a party. It’s almost as though the listener and I are introspectively walking through a day together.
That might seem so obvious – right? Of course, we should all choose to share the parts that feel the most like “us” or our “authentic selves”? For me, it actually was a bit harder. I would go to really awesome sessions to write, but come out with a song that maybe sounded really nice, but didn’t feel like something I had to say or that was really representative of me. Even if that “me” has a “let’s go out and have fun!” vibe AND an “I feel alone and lost and what am I doing with my life?!” vibe. Normally we’re told to only share one of those sides as artists – are you a sad singer-songwriter or pop dance? I decided to take the risk and portray what I think is real: a multidimensional presentation of songs that reflect the complexity in each of us.
Of all of the songs that you’ve put out so far, which song do you think you were most revealing or vulnerable on? Would you care to explain?
I would say “Sorry Doesn’t Work” has been the most vulnerable one yet. mostly because the production was also different and much more stripped from some of the others, and then of course the story itself is a real-life experience and challenge I’ve encountered when it comes to feeling desperate and helpless in the face of an issue.
It’s crazy times we’re living in right now. Is everything good with you and your loved ones? How has creativity been for you in quarantine? Have you written more new music that you’re excited about and would you care to share what’s on your mind?
It really is strange, to say the least! So far everyone has been alright… so thankful. I think the most painful part is the isolation and staying away from one another, which I’m sure many people are finding to be extremely painful and difficult right now. Creativity has been really good! I released an official single, “Cut You Loose”, on June 2nd [and I’m super excited to share the video I made for it]. Otherwise, I’ve also been writing a LOT [Laughs]. It’s been fun to explore and catch up on songs.
*****************************
Follow Anna Dellaria on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*********************
