With a voice that will stop you in your tracks, well-crafted songs and honest lyrics, Anna Waters is an emerging Australian artist with a big future.
Finding her feet in internationally acclaimed Australian band ‘Sons of Korah’ as backing vocalist in 2016, Anna stepped up her intent to begin her journey as a recording artist with the launch of an EP later that year and has been on the upward trajectory ever since.
Continuing to deliver the beautifully lush music she’s become known for; Anna’s most recent release ‘Sunshine’ captures you right from the start. With dreamy pop-inspired melodies, serene vocals, absorbing production and infectious beats, Anna has crafted a hopeful and buoyant ode to opportunities and second chances.
We sit down with Anna to delve into the details of her new release, collaborations, musical therapy and growing up in Geelong.
Hey Anna! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat! First up, can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about your music?
Hi, I’m Anna and thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself to your readers! I’ve played and been involved with music since I can remember. I started writing a while ago and have had so much fun getting to sing my songs for people in all sorts of places and settings. My music is mostly written with a purpose, if I tell a story, I want there to be a reason, to provoke something. Music is so powerful and I want to use my music and lyrics to spread a little joy and hope out there.
Congratulations on the release of your heart-warming, buoyant single ‘Sunshine’. We understand it’s a story of hope, and the idea of future opportunities and second chances. What was the inspiration for this track? Are your songs driven by personal experience?
Thank you, I’m so happy to finally have ‘sunshine’ out there. Like most of my songs, they come from either a personal experience or an observation. ‘Sunshine’ has a bit of a story. My husband and I were staying in a beachside town where the locals had claimed to have the best sunset in the world, so as we found ourselves racing down to the beach so as not to miss it, I was struck by the thought that, we often think that just because we may have missed an opportunity or we failed to show someone love that that’s where it ends. But I was reminded that the sun sets every day, but it also rises, every day. And every day is a second chance, is new hope for us to be who we were made to be.
We love that the video was filmed in Geelong and surrounding areas. What influence has Geelong as a location had on your music?
I am Geelong born and raised, I love it here. There are so many beautiful spots in and around this town that people don’t even know about. The two main locations that we used were Dog Rocks and Point Addis beach. Both are special to me, but Point Addis beach is my husband’s favourite beach in the world… and we’ve seen many beaches! And we’ve always gone down there, and I often look around in wonder at the huge rocks and caves and bushland. Geelong being my hometown is inevitably going to influence my music in some way or another, and for ‘Sunshine’ it influenced the video clip.
You released your debut EP a few years ago. How do you feel you’ve grown as a musician and songwriter since your debut?
I went back and listened to that EP a little while ago and was surprisingly still really happy with it. Sure, there is so much I would change now, but my taste in music is always changing and becoming more and more inclusive. I now have more of an interest and an understanding of the production side, which is helpful when writing and hearing parts before recording them. I’ve always been honest with my songwriting but I now feel like I have more of a purpose. When I write a lyric or use a story, I want it to make someone feel something. Maybe it’s to remind them that they’re not alone, or that they’re loved, or even wanting them to feel that they can slow down and just be.
Tell us a bit about the collaborations you’ve done for your recent material. How does your creative process usually look?
I worked closely with the legend Billy Otto (www.billyottolive.com) in Sydney to write some of the new material. He has a talent for pulling the best out of people. Then I got into the Dirtroom studio (right here in Geelong) with my good friend and producer, Spike Avery (www.spikeavery.com), who gave them so much more depth and energy! Then we had 2 Melbourne musicians, Mike Webber (drums) and Dave Tweedy (guitar) who brought their crazy good talents to the table.
Musically, any major influences?
I have a super wide range of taste in music, so I pick up a lot of ideas from artist to artist but at the moment, my major influences would be Lauryn Hill, Brooke Fraser, Ella Fitzgerald, LANY, and Lianne La Havas.
You’re also a qualified professional Music Therapist working within the health sector here in Geelong. Can you tell us a bit about this? Does this and your personal music go hand-in-hand?
Yes, I love that my other job is also music. I work at a hospital and a psych unit, as well as private practice. Being a music therapist has definitely helped me to recognise the power of music. I always knew through personal experience that it helped me get through a hard day etc but I didn’t know just how powerful it was until I started working with music as a therapeutic tool with others. It makes me think about the purpose behind my songs and how I see them being used, and how I want that to be able to help people, not just entertain them.
Do you have any plans for releasing any more music in the near future?
Yes, definitely! I have a new single called ‘Every Need’ coming out in the next couple of weeks. This songs about being truely loved, when someone sees every part of you, the good and the bad, yet they love and accept you and how knowing that love can change the way we see ourselves and others around us.
Lastly, where can we find your music?
You can buy or listen to my music through any of the streaming platforms, jump on www.annawaters.com.au or find me on Instagram @annawatersmusic
Keep up to date with Anna via Facebook.
