Ana Cristina Cash – Winter

By starrymag | January 16, 2024

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I would describe my sound for the upcoming record that I am currently making now as Country with Pop influences. It is very rhythmic and really is sonically positive and upbeat. There are also some beautiful ballads on there as well, but there is nothing overly melancholic on the new upcoming record that I will be releasing.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I grew up listening to vocalists such as Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire and LeAnn Rimes, but also Latin artists such as Gloria Estefan and Shakira because I grew up in Miami. The geographical locations that I have lived in in my life have definitely shaped my musical sensibilities. I am an interesting mix of all of those things. I have always been drawn to country music from the start due to the storytelling and powerful vocals. Yet the rhythms of the Latin music I grew up with because of my Cuban background and growing up in Miami have influenced my style. I have lived in Tennessee, Los Angeles and Miami. When I lived in California, I took in a lot of the arthouse cinema culture and approached songwriting from a broader perspective. California dream pop and music from the 60’s and the 70’s such as Simon and Garfunkel and The Mamas and the Papas have influenced me as well. Also, I love the use of a strong and simple melody, such as with the songs from ABBA.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your haunting new song “Winter.”

 

A) My talented friend, Caitlin Evanson, and I were in the Cash Cabin Studio working on a recording for another project last year and we were chatting with my husband, John Carter Cash, about how much we love Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes album, each of us got to chatting about how the album influenced all of our lives in different ways. Caitlin and I decided to duet on “Winter” and release it as a single just for fun! The song is so meaningful and haunting both lyrically and melodically. This song was beautifully written and crafted by Tori Amos several years ago. This was a collaboration that was special, meaningful and appropriate for us to do together. Singing it as a duo with Caitlin felt magical. I love harmonies.

 

q) How did you come to connect with Caitlin Evanson to collaborate with her on the song?

 

A) John Carter Cash, my husband, who is a producer and musician has known Caitlin through the music business in Nashville for years. I got to work on some background vocals together with her for a song that John recorded years ago called “The Packaging Committee.” The song required us to voice several strange characters and we both could not stop laughing. The moment she and I met and worked together that day, we realized that we both share the same kind of humor and weirdness, in a fun and cool way. She has also played with me on live shows, and it is so wonderful to have a supportive friend and collaborator like that who has such positive energy.

 

Q) What do you think it is about “Winter” that fans connect to?

 

A) “Winter” really touches upon the fragility of time and how it is fleeting. It is very rich in depicting detailed visual imagery. It follows daughter’s relationship with her father from the time that she is very young until time passes and he is now older, and she comes to the realization that he will not be around to protect her forever, and that she must learn to stand up for herself in the world.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) The video was directed by Joseph Cash, and I very much love that it is a performance- based video at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, TN where we originally recorded it. I play guitar in the video and Caitlin plays her fiddle. We were each very aware of the lyrical content when we performed for the video. We wore dark colors to set the mood.

 

Q) The video features the historic Cash Cabin. Why was it so important for you to include this iconic location?

 

A) Filming the video in the location where the duet was recorded was very special and the earth tones of the natural wood of the walls worked very well for the visual presentation.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) It’s interesting because there is no rhyme or reason for what comes first each time I write a song. For the unreleased album that I am currently working on, I have done co-writes with very talented songwriters in Nashville. I love the energy of bouncing ideas back and forth and writers feeding off of each other creatively. I have also written a few for the record alone. The album is being produced by both my husband John Carter Cash and Willie Breeding. It is fun and modern and has beautiful Country-Pop songs.

As far as what I gravitate towards working with first for a song, I believe that the melody is extremely important. You have to have a catchy hook melody and also a song title that grabs attention and is unique. The human brain remembers melodies quicker than lyrics, although the lyrics are very important to me as well.

 

Q) I know your talented husband John Carter Cash worked on the production for “Winter” along with you, Caitlin and Trey Call. Why is it so important to you for you to have a hand in the production of your music?

 

A) It is something that has happened naturally over time. I have always had ideas with regards to how I want things to sound, and I know that Caitlin feels the same. We both have been working in the music industry and recording for a very long time, and as you progress in your career, you really get to know yourself and your creature comforts as a musician and as an artist. You learn where your strengths lie. Working with Trey Call on this has been so wonderful as well as working with John Carter.

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the future?

 

A) Yes! I am working on another solo album project, and I am incredibly excited about what is to come. There is a whole other side to me musically that I feel will be a fun journey to share with others soon. I have been in the process of writing for the project for about a year and a half and we are putting the final touches on everything.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) The Opry will always be one of my favorites in Nashville as well as 3rd and Lindsley and The Bluebird Café. In Los Angeles, The Hotel Café is really special to me. I am happy to connect with an audience wherever I can.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I am really loving Lainey Wilson’s music right now. Morgan Wallen has such great songs too, and I love The War and Treaty, who are friends of mine and John’s. I am honestly open to collaboration if it makes sense creatively and feels right. I love when artists can merge ideas and create something special.

 

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) I am listening to just a lot of Country overall both male and female artists, old and new. I am going to throw you for a loop here because I also love the melodies of Swedish pop bands like ABBA and Ace of Base and that has really influenced my writing as far as connecting with universal melodies that can win over an audience. My two young children, who are age six and two respectively, love the song “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I. It’s on repeat in the car.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I am on Instagram, X, Threads, and have a Facebook music page. I am starting to do more on TikTok but haven’t done as much as a probably should. I really do love connecting with people and it’s a big part of what I do. There is also a side to me that is more introspective. I guess it’s more of my introvert songwriter persona.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I would like to say thank you, first and foremost. The encouragement I receive in messages and comments about my music keeps me going. The music industry is a fickle beast. Artists are expected to be vulnerable creators that put their art out there for everyone but are also expected to have thick skin and take criticism. It is an interesting paradox. The positive feedback has been incredibly supportive and meaningful.