Anna Akana – Intervention

By starrymag | July 15, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects you are working on? 

 

A) As a musician, I’m wrapping up the very last tweaks of my visual album! Animation has been the longest part of the process and it’s all coming together.

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Pop with an alt influence.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I love Paramore, K. Flay, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Halsey, Bishop Briggs, Charlotte Lawrence, Zara Larsson.

 

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

 

A) “Intervention”is about empowering yourself and taking ownership of your issues. It’s about making a change because you want to, not because of the influence of others. Though the music video portrays a very different side of that message that we’re all familiar with, the song itself comes from a place of personal accountability.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I’m most known for not shying away from serious issues (depression, suicide, abortion). For those fans who may struggle with substance abuse, poor boundaries or even finally have self-awareness over areas in their life where they want to empower themselves, I think “Intervention”strikes a chord.

 

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

 

A) I wanted the video to showcase the other side of addiction; highlighting all the terrible things that would ultimately lead to the decision that the song conveys. Though I haven’t had a DUI or gone to jail, I know so many people who have made poor choices that have forever altered the way they behave. Plus, it’s more visually engaging to watch someone fail and pull it together than to convey them already past the hardest parts of their journey.

 

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

 

A) Usually I create a concept first. I may have some lyrics on hand or a rough melody. I’ll talk to my producer about the kind of sound I want or provide references. Once he/she builds a track, I’ll often come up with lyrics based on the audio then come together with my co-writers with ideas for all of us to shape together.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

 

A) I don’t produce (Yet? [laughs]), but I heavily steer the direction or lane I want the track to be in.

 

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

 

A) There’s a visual album on the way.

 

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

 

A) I love Lizzo. I think her self-love anthems are just brilliant.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) I’m listening to the new X Ambassadors record. I love those guys. Their sound is so driving and fun.

 

Q) We recently saw you in the film Go Back to China. What made you want to be a part of the movie?

 

A) I loved the story. Emily Ting has an amazing story and vision and I loved the script. I wanted to be a part of something that explored complicated family dynamics within an Asian heritage household. I also loved that Sasha didn’t have a love interest in the film at all.

 

Q) How was your character Sasha originally described to you?

 

A) Sasha was described as someone with privilege but who is well-intentioned. She’s naive since she’s always had money and she has a lot to learn. But she’s got a good heart.

 

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from seeing this film?

 

A) I hope viewers will get to see the dysfunction of an Asian family and relate it to their own. Though it’s a very specific lens of Asian culture, I think these kinds of universal themes are applicable to everyone.

 

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

 

A) Social media is an amazing platform to get your message out there immediately and intimately. It’s important for me to have a way to communicate the topics and stories that have an impact on my life.

 

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

 

A) I’ll be playing the Moroccan Lounge on 7/24 in Los Angeles. It’ll be my first headlining experience and I hope they can come out