Coming from God, Country, and Football, Anna Thoresen is Airing Out Her Musical Talent

Photos by: Sarah Coleman @silhouettesbysarah

Artist: Anna Thoresen @annathoresenn

Interviewer: Gracie Kahn @graciekahn

Gracie: Hi Anna!!! Thank you so much for being here today. To start I wanted to have you tell me about yourself and who you are

Anna: Thank you so much for having me! Hello! My name is Anna – I am a very new indie-pop artist. I’m on a very new musical journey, I did music theater for most of my life and I never really thought making my own music was a possibility. It seemed like something that was so beyond me and what I was capable of. Growing up, I didn’t have a musical family at all, like my family plays soccer – I am such an odd ball in my family, even just like growing up people played sports. My school was god, country, football. I got made fun of for doing music theater and choir all the time so I didn’t think making music was a thing for people like me. I didn’t give a shit and I still did theater and choir anyway and I had fun and I’m glad I didn’t to anyone and continued to do my thing. I learned a shitton in choir about harmonies and the proper way to sing so I’m grateful I had that. The one thing I will say is that my brother has special needs and is the most perfect angel boy ever. I love him so much. He used to sing a lot when he was younger, and I was very very shy (I still am) when it came to performing. Otherwise, I’m a social butterfly like I’ll talk to the wall, you know? I’m a gemini and I can't help it. But it was really my brother at his school. They were doing a production of Beauty and the Beast and that was just the best experience of my life and was so formative for me.

Gracie: Tell me about this relationship with music. How did this journey begin as an artist when breaking off from musical theater?

Anna: Again, I really didn’t even think making my own music was something I could ever do, I didn’t think it was something that was possible even though it was my biggest dream since I can remember. I’ve always wanted to be a singer and I’ve always loved music. I think I’ve always been subconsciously settling on musical theater because I knew it was attainable and knew how to get into it. All the stuff was already written there for me – it was easier that way to say “I’m here! I’m ready to learn my lines!” Once actually, it was my freshman year of college and we were stuck in our dorms. I was lucky enough where my school allowed us to stay in our dorms during COVID and online learning which meant I had a lot of time on my hands. During quarantine I had this “come to jesus moment” about me and what the fuck I’m doing with my life and why I’m listening to anyone. If I listened to the people around me, I would be an entertainment management major in Orlando Florida – which is great but not for me.

Gracie: I don’t know I feel like that sounds fun, minus the Orlando part. But I really look up to you for acknowledging what was right for you. 

Anna:  No yeah I just knew in my gut that this shit was not for me. Billie Elilish is a huge inspiration for me and she’s one of the only gen-z celebrities we really have. Her and her brother were just making music in their room – I didn’t even know that was possible, I didn’t think I could make a song like “Ocean Eyes” on my computer, like what? So one day I said fuck it and went onto Garage Band and just wanted to see what happened, and then five seconds later realized  had student packages for Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro. I used to make Vine edits of One Direction when I was younger so I already knew how to use platforms like this. The first beat I made ended up being “i think this is love” and was reworked and reworked for like a year and was so scared and embarrassed to show it to the world.

Gracie: No no I promise you I am playing that song all the time, at least a few times a week since I first heard it. It’s so perfect.

Anna: Thank you :’( I just kept it to myself and was terrified – it was done for a whole year before I released it. Every time I showed it to a friend they told me to put it out or to do something with it which I eventually did. So that was my first beat, my first song, I had never really tried writing a song before that. I have a lot of “ehhh’s” about it but people seem to like it so I decided to keep it up.

Gracie: Definitely keep it up! It gives your audience the opportunity to see your growth as an artist and as a person

Anna: That’s exactly why I’m going to keep it up because I want people to see my growth. I think a lot of artists are afraid of that but you have to start from somewhere. I think that also discourages a lot of people from even starting. 

Gracie: Who are your biggest music inspirations and specific artists that influence your sound? I know you mentioned Billie Eilish but if there is anyone else you want to include

Anna: I’m very open with music – I like to be inspired by anybody and everybody. My favorite all time artist is Amy Whinehouse, she just speaks to me on a soul level. Billie yes, in regards to believing I can do it but when it comes to writing and being authentic I think of Amy Whinehosue, Alanis Morsette, Ms.Lauryn Hill, Stevie Nicks, etc.  A lot of female artists. Recently Erykah Badu. Bands like Wet Leg and Måneskin, a dream of mine is to produce for Doja Cat. I try to take things from every genre and make it my own. I never try to sound like someone else. I usually find a sound that's inspiring and it snowballs. 

Gracie: I love that. It was all over the place which is just like me! Okay, next question. How would you describe a studio session? What does it look like? Who is there? Where is it? How long does it take to complete a single?

Anna: It's just me, in my room, by myself, only. I’m still afraid to work with other people. I want to work out of that but it’s always just me at my desk with my little set up. I usually just fuck around with my piano and little beat maker. It’s always just me trying to see what happens. Sometimes I can finish a song in a day or sometimes it can be a year. 

Gracie: What do you hope the future holds for you as an artist? Do you see yourself continuing this journey? 

Anna: My goal I think is the same as any artist's goal: I want people to know who I am and I want my art to speak to people and I have long ways to go but I am also the type of person who will not let myself fail at this. I will break my back for this to work. My true goal is to end up at the Grammys. Although the Grammys are a bunch of bullshit, I still want one. The recognition and form of validation of being seen as important and valuable from other executives within the industry. I don’t need a Grammy to do that but if I had to set a goal for myself that would be it. I think music is so powerful that if I could just be a beacon of love, light or a vibration you need, I would love to provide. 

Gracie: Tell me about your new EP. What inspired you to write these three songs and is there a reason you’re releasing them now

Anna: It was supposed to be like twelve different things before I decided to make it a three song EP. I had “help is something we both need” finished first, and I really like that song and I regret listening to other people because if I did my own thing I would’ve released it as a single. I’m not upset about how things turned out and believe things happen for a reason but right after I finished “help is something we both need,” I was still on this creative high and wanted to do something with it. I wrote and finished the first draft of “i hate you” that night. I was going to wait and make the EP longer but because I had these songs done and didn’t want to wait anymore, I said screw it and scheduled them to be released. All of them are about different situations and different people I’ve encountered in the past year and a half. I write all the time – whether its a sentence or a poem and I just find a sound I like, take those bits and pieces, and make something happen. 

Gracie: What can we expect from you within the next couple of months?

Anna: More music! My goal is to release something new once a month to keep the people interested. I’m looking to start playing some live shows and definitely learn more. I’m consistently trying to evolve as a person so I’m really looking forward to seeing where I end up within the next few months.