Anna Thompson is a rising pop artist from Seattle. When she was 16, Anna won a national talent competition and was offered a record deal from a major record label. Ultimately, the label had a change of heart, however, being told “you’re not famous enough” set Anna on a path to independently release her music and prove that having a million Instagram followers is not a prerequisite to success in the music industry. Since going independent, she has garnered a raving fan base of almost 100k on Tik Tok, 40k on Instagram, and 13k on Spotify, where she has amassed well over a million streams. After fans feverishly begged her to release her viral TikTok song “Get Me High,” it’s been non-stop
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
My career as an indie artist began on TikTok. Last October, I posted a video of me singing one of my original songs, “Get Me High,” and it had a much bigger response than I’d anticipated. Because of the great demand to release the song, I rushed the production in order to take advantage of the online attention it’d been receiving. It became my debut release, and is my most listened to song by far. Since then, I’ve been consistently writing and recording, and releasing whenever I have a record ready.
What does music and being an artist mean to you?
Being a musical artist myself means so much to me, as my favorite artists have greatly inspired me and have shaped the way I am. Having the privilege to potentially affect my listeners in the same way is the reason I put music out.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
I’m inspired by passion; whether that be passionate love, hatred, heartbreak etc… When I’m in those spaces, the songs tend to write themselves. On the other hand, I’m seldom inspired to write when there isn’t much going on in my life. In those cases I have to make up stories to write songs about.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
I’m incredibly Ariana Grande inspired. The reason I sing the way I do is because I love her voice so much. Her vocal ability is admirable, and I strive to achieve the same things with my instrument.
All time favorite record?
For Those About to Rock by AC/DC
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
My latest release is called Hot Now. It’s a reflection of my experience in high school, versus my adult life thus far. I wasn’t very cool. People didn’t like me very much. Since then, I’ve changed so much about then way I live my life, and have achieved so many of my goals in music. I’m “hot now.” It’s a glow up anthem; not about physical attractiveness, but how I’ve changed my life for the better.
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
Vocally, I’m very Ariana Grande inspired. However I spent most of my adolescence playing in a rock band which gave me most of my performance experience. Though, I love pop music and prefer that to be the sound I achieve.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
I’m still learning. Oftentimes I won’t write at all if there isn’t anything to write about. My art isn’t good when I don’t want to create. If possible, taking breaks is so important.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully making a living with my music! I hope to be performing, and to be even more vocally capable.
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
Personally, I really don’t think my style is very interesting. Which is why I let all the visual creatives I collaborate with take full creative control when it comes to my look. I prefer to focus on the music.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
Definitely my debut release. I was surprisingly terrified to finally have my music be tangible and consumable by the public. Although, it was equally exciting as it was scary.
