Check out our interview with one of LA’s most promising rock virtuosos – Ania!
For the unfortunate few who don’t know who you are, would you mind introducing yourselves?
Ania: My name is Ania. I’m a guitarist, composer, producer and collaborator based out of LA and Chicago. When it comes to my music, I blend melodic aggressive female vocals, modern synth textures, and guitar solos in my music. I love Nine Inch Nails, Tool, L7, Alice in chains, St. Vincent, Le Butcharettes, and many more bands.
Pizza or pasta? If you were a type of pizza, which pizza would you be?
Ania: Pizza is better. I love pizza with pineapples and veggies. Unusually, cauliflower crust is my preferred option since i’m a vegetarian.
Your song Poison has recently been released. For people who haven’t heard it, what can they expect?
Ania: It is a song about a breakup. I tried to write a dark pop song something in the veins of Nine Inch Nails “the hand that feeds” that has a dark pop element to it and synths similar to what St Vincent writes.
How did you find recording Poison, did it differ from previous songs?
Ania: I engineered and produced Poison by myself. Had two of my friends from music theory class who are both named Matt learn the bass and drum parts. They came one Saturday morning and I forced it out of them at the studio haha.
What is your usual process (guerilla style) videos? Can we expect an album anytime soon?
Ania: Currently, when it comes to making music, I’ve been asking friends to help out and have been recording at their houses/studios where they work! Everyone has been supportive and helping me out.
Yes! [The] EP is coming soon called Ania in Chains while I’m writing another one right now.
Talk to us about the project Gritty in Pink and the thoughts behind that.
Ania: Before Covid, I was a part of Gritty in Pink which was a female community platform to empower female musicians. We had a monthly residency at a venue called the Satellite and first Tuesday of each month we would have female fronted bands/ artists play and at the end we would have an all girl jam. I would play guitar in the jam along with other badass female musicians. Now the project turned into a live streaming performance every Tuesday. I hope the project performances will resume after it is safe to go to concerts.
Here at UDS we don’t just talk about music we talk about a variety of subjects from Video Games, Films & TV shows. With that in mind if you could be in a soundtrack or part in anything what would be your dream?
Ania: Yes it is a dream to do film scoring and composing similar to what Trent Reznor does. I look up to him and his music career a lot. I would love for my music to be in games such as Grand Theft Auto and really anything that I think is good! I also would love for my songs to be featured in podcasts, films and tv shows that could all be indie. (I just want the collabs to make sense with my brand).
We also like to advocate positivity here, and one of the ways we like to do that is through inspirational quotes, my personal mantra being “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”. What would be your inspirational quote to share with the world?
Ania: I love that quote Craig. That’s literally the story of my life. So far all the decisions i’ve made have chosen music over everything else but yes making music is a sacrifice. It is all a game of choosing one thing over the other. Some days I doubt myself, but you gotta keep going and trust yourself.
I think a good quote is “shit happens.” Because it happens and it is ok. Nothing goes perfect for anyone. I like that quote because it reminds me that nobody has a perfect life and we all have obstacles. Also, shit just happens to everyone.
We all know 2020 has been a blazing year for staying in doors. What do you have planned for the rest of the year if anything.
Ania: For the rest of the year I’m releasing my full EP Ania in Chains with one more music video for my upcoming single Tuesdays. By the end of this year, I plan to finish another EP of 5 or 6 songs I’ve been working on during this quarantine.
What’s your favourite shark?
Ania: My favorite shark is Wobbegong because it is such a bizarre creature being different from all the other sharks. The shark is considered to be a carpet Shark that lives on the bottom of the ocean and can camouflage. In this picture, the shark looks like a piece of pizza on the bottom of the ocean.
I find that kinda funny. I love that these sharks are different and they are not afraid of being who they are. I also think it is amusing that they’re called “Shaggy Beard” in Australian.
Many thanks to Ania for sitting down to chat with us! Check her out on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
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