By: Jamie Steinberg
Photo By Ben Cope
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I would describe my sound as organic and real. Even when there are synths or other production elements, I almost always want the foundation to come from organic instruments like piano, guitars, real bass and real drums.
I also love big vocal stacks and harmonies and lyrically I’m drawn to honesty and vulnerability. There’s an ethereal quality that I like to bring into the music too, but I always want it to feel rooted in something real and human.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Olivia Rodrigo has been a huge influence recently. I think her songwriting is brilliant, not only the lyrics and storytelling but the chord changes and the way an entire album can have such a clear emotional arc.
I’m also a huge Ariana Grande fan. I love vocal harmonies and vocal stacks and the way she builds those without ever overwhelming the lead vocal is incredible.
Billie Eilish, Hozier, Fleetwood Mac, Queen and Dolly Parton are influences as well. I’m really inspired by artists who use organic instrumentation and make the music feel alive.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Toxin.”
A) I was in a relationship that seemed really good on paper. He was a good person and he cared about me, but we realized that the ways we needed to receive love were very different.
I needed words, reassurance and emotional support. His way of showing love was giving me his time and being physically present, even when he had very little time to give. Neither of those things are wrong, but it just wasn’t always what the other person needed.
“Toxin” came from that confusion of asking yourself, “Is this person bad for me or are they actually a good person who just isn’t my person?” The line “speak of the devil, you walk right in” really sparked the idea because I loved that contrast.
The most honest part of the song to me is the idea that this person simply doesn’t speak your love language. You care about each other, but something still isn’t connecting.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think it’s a situation a lot of people can relate to. I write about depression and some heavier experiences, but “Toxin” isn’t necessarily about being in a terrible or abusive relationship. It’s about being with a good person and still having this feeling that something isn’t right.
You can love somebody and enjoy being with them while also questioning whether the relationship is actually right for you. I think that confusion is a really common experience.
It’s also just a fun song, which I think makes it easy to connect with in a different way.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) There’s an IV bag in the video that became a metaphor for the relationship. An IV is supposed to restore or replenish you and I liked the idea of it representing those moments where I would focus on all the good parts of the relationship and almost use them to recover from the parts that were hurting me.
We wrapped flowers around the IV bag and around a television. There’s this contrast between something beautiful and something that isn’t necessarily what it appears to be. Even the television plays into that because what you see on a screen isn’t always real.
That was very similar to the relationship. On paper it looked beautiful and there genuinely were beautiful parts of it, but that didn’t mean it was right for me.
Q) Your upcoming EP, Once in a Blue Moon, explores a new chapter in your life. What are some of the themes you will be exploring on it?
A) A lot of it is about growing up. Not necessarily being unsure of who you are but wondering if the way you’re navigating life is actually the right or most effective way to get where you want to go.
There’s a song about turning twenty years old and being terrified of getting older. It explores that fear that time is going to pass you by before you feel ready for everything you want to accomplish.
There are also a lot of songs about relationships, healing from trauma and learning what is and isn’t healthy for you. “Object of Affection,” for example, deals with what it’s like to love someone who is struggling with an addiction and how that addiction affects the people around them.
Overall, I think the EP is about growing up, persevering through difficult experiences and learning from them instead of allowing them to weigh you down.
Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) It completely depends on the song. Sometimes I’ll start with a melodic idea, sometimes chords and sometimes lyrics.
I usually like to lay down a basic chord progression pretty early because it gives me something to build the lyric or melody around, but I don’t necessarily need the music first.
I also have a note in my phone called “Titles and Song Things,” which is basically a giant collection of lyrical ideas, song concepts and even random words I like. If something inspires me, it can be as simple as seeing a tree and having a thought, I’ll write it down. A lot of songs eventually grow out of those little ideas.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) A very big hand. If I’m working with another producer it’s obviously collaborative, but I’m extremely involved in every creative decision.
I might not be the person physically operating the computer in that moment, but I’m saying, “I like this sound,” “I don’t like this,” “Change this chord,” “Try this strumming pattern” or “This needs to feel different because of what the lyric is saying.”
When I produce something myself, I’ll often create the demo and then send it to professional musicians to add live drums, guitar or bass. That part becomes collaborative, too.
I work with some wonderful people and I would never say I do everything myself, but ultimately it’s my song and my artistry, so I’m very hands-on with how it takes shape.
Q) You have worked with artists like Vinnie Colaiuta, Rhonda Smith, Gary Novak and Vixen. How did they elevate your EP?
A) I absolutely love organic instrumentation because there’s so much humanity in the way a real instrument is played. Working with musicians at that level brings an entirely different dimension to the songs.
There was one song, “Willing to Give,” where I felt like something was missing from the production. The song itself was completely written, but I sent it to Vixen and a producer I work with named Matthias because I couldn’t figure out what the production needed. Vixen added a guitar part that suddenly brought the entire thing together.
That’s what these musicians have been able to do throughout the project. They bring the songs to life. There are still synths and other production elements, but I love having real instruments at the heart of the music.
Q) You’ll be celebrating the release of “Object of Affection” with a show on August 28, two days before your birthday. What can fans expect from a live Anna Duboc performance?
A) They can expect some new songs that haven’t been heard before, incredible live musicians and hopefully a really fun time.
I love the people that I perform with. Some of them are people I go to school with or who have gone through the same program, so there’s a real connection between us onstage.
But I also think live music is supposed to give you space to feel something. If you relate to one of the songs and you need to cry to it, you can cry to it. That’s part of what I love so much about performing.
Q) What songs off your EP are you looking forward to performing live?
A) I really love performing “Willing to Give.” All of these songs are honest, but that one might be one of the most honest songs I’ve performed so far.
I’m also excited to perform “Object of Affection.” That song is very personal too, although it was inspired by experiences beyond just my own.
Really, I’m excited to perform all of them. I’m incredibly proud of the music I’ve been making, and a lot of these songs were written very recently, so being able to bring them from the writing process to a live audience is really exciting.
Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to Once in a Blue Moon as a whole, either as a message or emotion?
A) I hope people hear it and feel like it’s okay to be honest and vulnerable. I also think I’m learning that creativity doesn’t always have to come from being sad. You can be vulnerable and still have fun.
More than anything, I want listeners to hear their own experiences somewhere in the music.
With a song like “Object of Affection,” I also hope it gives people some understanding of what it’s like to be close to someone who is struggling with an addiction. Addiction doesn’t only affect the person experiencing it. It can deeply affect the people who love them too.
And with the rest of the EP, I hope people take away that growing up can be scary, but there are beautiful parts of it too.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I’ve performed at Hotel Cafe several times and The Mint has also become a really special place for me. They keep inviting me back and I’ve had so much fun performing there.
The Mint, in particular, has become a place where I’ve been able to start sharing this newer music and grow into the performer I want to be, so I’m excited to continue building those memories there. I will actually be performing there on August 28!! So, to anyone who is in town, please come see me live!! It will be a fun night.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) There are so many! Olivia Rodrigo would obviously be incredible. I’d also love to work with Role Model, Noah Kahan or Hozier.
I’m drawn to artists whose songwriting directly inspires me. I think it would be really interesting to bring two different voices and perspectives together and create something that still feels natural for both artists.
Q) What artist or musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I absolutely love Ariana Grande. I’m probably her biggest fan! I’ve also been listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s new music and Role Model a lot.
I wish I had a really niche answer, but I’m honestly a mainstream girly. If something great is being put out into the world and people are loving it, there’s a good chance I’m listening too.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) First, thank you. I’m incredibly grateful that people are listening and that they’ve been along for this journey as I’ve grown. Hopefully, as I grow, they feel like they’re growing with me too.
I would also say to be honest with yourself and with the people around you. A lot of my newer music, especially “Toxin,” has come from realizing that sometimes you know deep down what is right or wrong for you, but being honest with yourself about it can be difficult.
It’s important to recognize what is genuinely helping you and what may actually be hurting you, even when something looks like it should be good for you.
And come see me live! August 28 at The Mint in Los Angeles!