INTERVIEW: Anna Pancaldi

INTERVIEW:

PHOTO CREDIT: Laura Rhodes

Anna Pancaldi

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AN artist I have been following for years…

PHOTO CREDIT: @matghisolff

and really love and respect, the magnificent Anna Pancaldi is someone everyone should check out. I have been talking with her about her amazing new single, Stay This Way. Someone who I have high hopes for in 2024, she has a string of dates coming up. Go and see Pancaldi perform live if you can, as she is a magnificent and singular artist. I am going to quote from her website when it comes to drilling into her successful 2023:

“After a sold-out London headline show at Folklore in May 2023 after the release of her rousing new single, Where Do I Lay All the Love I Have Left, Anna then released her anthemic single, Stay This Way, in September with more songs to follow shortly. Anna embarks on a full headline UK tour, including another sold-out headline show at London’s The Waiting Room on October 20th.

2023 marks a poignant new epoch for Anna having musically remerged from her chrysalis with her most inspired music yet and a pivotal turning point in her career.

With an impressive catalogue of music placements in film and TV including the globally acclaimed Grey's Anatomy trailer, Focus Feature film, Every Body, Pretty Little Liars, Love Is Blind, Famous in Love, Paramount film, The In Between and has featured in and soundtracked an adrenaline filled Levi's campaign.

With three Top Ten's in the singer-songwriter iTunes charts, Anna has gone on to captivate audiences headlining across the UK, Europe and the US. Headlining shows in NYC, LA, Chicago, and Nashville. Anna has captured audiences with TV appearances on CBS LA and London Live and toured the world opening for heavyweight artists such as David Ryan Harris (John Mayer's guitarist), Jake Isaac and Fatai”.

The brilliant Anna Pancaldi has released, what I think is one of her very best songs. She discusses that track, what it was like recently playing The Waiting Room in London, how she is feeling about upcoming tour dates, some new artists we should also investigate, in addition to how she thinks her own music has changed and evolved through the years. Follow Anna Pancaldi (links are at the bottom of this interview), as this is someone who will be producing amazing music for years to come. A truly sensational talent, there is nobody out there…

QUITE like her.

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Hi Anna. How has your week been? Your single, Stay This Way, came out in September. It has been really well received. How does it feel to get that sort of love?

A relief haha. But also truly wonderful because at last I feel comfortable in the skin I’m in. Singing the songs that mean the most to me and to see it connecting is a feeling of sheer delight.

I really love your vocals and the piano on that track. How did it start life? Do you begin with a melody line or chorus, or does it depend on the song?

It’s totally dependent on the song, and this one has a slightly unusual story as I started it at home on my own and there the melody and piano parts were born. I didn’t think the song was for me, and so I took it into a session with another writer in L.A. on Zoom, with sync in mind, and then realised it touched me and wanted to keep it for myself and adapt the lyrics so it could fully be mine.

“To me, touring and being in a room with people is the most impactful way to build connections with your audience”

You recently played The Waiting Room in London. What was it like playing that space?

It sold out. Thank you to my amazing fans. Performing live is where I am most energised, joyous and adrenaline-filled. This year has been the first time I’ve been able to stand on stage and just love being there; normal nerves to keep me in check, but my self-deprecation valve (as I like to call it) has closed up and I feel so free on stage. You almost have to drag me off I’m enjoying it so much. Haha.

There are quite a few more dates coming before the end of the year. Are there particular towns or venues you are excited about? How does it feel connecting with the audience in such a direct way when on stage?

No favourites. To me, touring and being in a room with people is the most impactful way to build connections with your audience. It’s where I feel most at home and where I can share my music, but also talk with people too. I can’t keep my career alive without them, and I find playing live my most unforgettable of nights.

“But I’m here now and it feels as if the music is connecting more than ever”

I see you have a double header gig with Emma Miller coming up on 7th December. Is she an artist you have been following a while?

Ahh, she’s amazing! She saw me play at a Sofar Sounds many years ago when she was studying in London and then we met properly in WEB3!

I have been following your music now for years. How do you feel you have evolved and changed as an artist since your earliest days?

Thank you for sticking around (smiles). I feel more confident in writing and making the music I want to be creating. Feeling confident in what you’re doing is paramount, but it has taken me many years to get there. But I’m here now and it feels as if the music is connecting more than ever. My songs mostly delve into grief and untimely bereavement, for which I used to worry about it making people uncomfortable or thought it too depressing; now I know that I can’t help the road I am walking on through this life and my songs reflect just that and that’s ok. Not all roads I’ve led down have been something I’ve had choice over, so being honest is all I have.

Briefly take me back to the start. Were there particular artists or albums that sparked your love of music or spoke to you in a powerful way?

I was hardcore obsessed with Barbra Streisand. Not only her voice, but the way she performed. Mariah Carey and countless others. They made me want to sing. My dad is a wonderful singer and performed throughout much of his younger life, so growing up with a house filled with his voice and the sounds of Carly Simon, Marvin Gaye, The Beach Boys and many others laid out a perfect foundation of music.

What comes next in terms of music? Are there further releases planned for next year?

Absolutely. Keeping all the plates spinning! I’m sitting on lots of new music and very much looking forward to sharing it with you all.

IN THIS PHOTO: Victoria Canal

Obviously, there are a lot of great rising artists around right now. Are there any that you would recommend we keep an eye out for?

Ohh. Some I love are Victoria Canal and Humble the Great and Maeta.

Christmas is coming soon. How will you be spending it this year?

Ah, I used to obsess over Christmas. It genuinely filled me with joy, but after losing one of the closest people to me, I’ve always struggled to look forward to it or enjoy it. It’s a day about family and being with loved ones, and when some of those most precious are taken away too soon, it’s hard to bring back the magic. But I am an auntie now and those little cheeky chaps have brought much happiness, so I enjoy it in a new way now; wanting to make sure they have the most joyous day and delight in the enchantment I used to.

Finally, and for being a good sport, you can choose any song you like (from another artist) and I will include it here. What do you want to go for?

Joe Hill by Paul Robeson. I’ll let the song speak for itself.