Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I’m fortunate to have grown up in Norway, with incredible nature right at my doorstep. I remember a childhood running barefoot in the mountains and forests, swimming in lakes and falling asleep to the blackbird’s song. I’ve gathered many stories through these experiences, some of which you can find on “Wildfire Heart”. I am a very sensitive soul, and as a child, I took in right about anything that came my way. My parents split up when I was quite young, and I know that impacted me a lot. My little sister and I would spend every other weekend at my dad’s place. It was a 1,5-hour drive each way, but on the way there, my dad would always play us music. He played a lot of Dolly Parton and Cher, and sometimes local Norwegian folk artists. My mum also played a lot of music, whether she was dropping us off at school, cleaning the house or taking us on road trips. She introduced me to The Beatles, Bob Geldof, ABBA and Queen. I quite specifically remember us blasting “Bohemian Rhapsody” on our way to school in the mornings – Brian May’s guitar solo was always a great way to start the day!
These early influences have led me to discover artists such as The War On Drugs, Ben Howard, Led Zeppelin, and Bon Iver later in life. I’m very lucky to have parents with such a solid taste in music.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Anna Eline”?
A: I love writing music, taking photos and making art in general, so I try as best as I can to connect with people that are interested in the same things as I am, both in real life and on social media. I’m not very skilled at making “content”, but I try my best to post art that I genuinely enjoy creating. I’ve found this approach to be much more rewarding than simply posting five reels a week just for the sake of it. For me, that’s been the key to connecting with my fan base—if I love what I’m making, someone else will too.
I’m really excited to share “Wildfire Heart” with the world. It’s my first record, and I’m hoping it’ll find its home somewhere among the indie/folk and Americana-lovers. I am also on the doorstep of some new creative ventures that I’m really excited to share. So be sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled!
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I’d have to say it’s the American indie rock band The War On Drugs. They’ve been my favourite band since I was about 18 or 19 years old. Their frontman, Adam Granduciel, is an incredible songwriter, producer, and guitarist. He has a way of writing lyrics and melodies that I connect with very deeply, and his guitar tone is impeccable!
I’ve been fortunate enough to see them live several times, and their live shows are always very captivating. I don’t dance much, but I do at their shows – I feel very alive when I listen to their music, especially live.
As of inspiration, I find it a little here and there. Sometimes I’ll be reading a book, and a word or a phrase will catch my attention. Other times I might be sitting in a café or a park and overhearing a conversation can spark an idea. The same thing goes for music: I can listen to some of my favourite albums and find inspiration in chord structures, melodies and lyrics. Finding tangible and good ideas is a skill, but I’ve found that the more music I listen to and the more art I make, the better I become at finding solid ideas.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the EP, «Wildfire Heart»?
A: Back in 2020 I was taking an online songwriting course at Berklee College of Music, and I wrote the song “Wildfire Heart” for one of my assignments. I knew the title had potential, but I wasn’t really a fan of the story I had written at the time. I put the idea away for a while but brought it back in 2023 when I started working on this record.
By this time, “Wildfire Heart” had gone from being a cliché love story to a story of personal growth and the idea of not letting anyone take away your “fire” (still a bit cliché, I know). But it had gained more sentiment and personal meaning, and I knew then that I had found the name for the EP. Some might argue that you’re not supposed to name an album or EP before you’ve finished writing the songs, but the name “Wildfire Heart” was just too good to pass up. When I started writing the EP, I felt an urge to heal parts of myself, particularly my childhood. As the song “Wildfire Heart” came to life, so did songs like “River of Childhood” and “June’s Song”, both of which draw on memories from my childhood. Writing these songs stirred more emotion in me than I thought was possible, and the whole process of writing the EP has brought many changes to my life. But I think that’s a good thing – working through the emotions rather than avoiding them. My goal was to turn my childhood experiences into something more fruitful, and I think I have succeeded in that. And if those listening to the music can heal parts of themselves through these songs, then that’s even better.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Honest. It was very important to me that the sound of the EP felt authentic, like it was handcrafted. I wrote all these songs on my Martin guitar – they’re as handcrafted as they can be. Even the photograph on the EP cover is handmade. All these details matter because these songs are real stories, coming from the heart. I think that makes them more genuine to the listeners, too. It’s easier for them to attach their own life experiences and memories to the songs, even if they were written from a different perspective.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording «Wildfire Heart»?
A: Plenty! This is my first record and it’s pretty much entirely self-funded. At one point, I was working three jobs just to be able to pay for everything, so as you can probably guess, I haven’t slept much this past year. Also, I didn’t really know much about the process of making a record, so everything – from picking the right distributor to promoting the music – felt very unfamiliar to me. I’ve made plenty of mistakes this time around, but I’ve also learnt a lot. The process of self-releasing might be just as stressful the next time, but I’ll be much better equipped to handle it.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The main message of this record is to not let yourself be defined by anyone else. Trust that you are good enough and that the ideas you have and the qualities you carry as a person are more than enough. Yes, you’ve faced hardships, but they have made you who you are today. There is a time for reflection, but there’s also a time to let go. The final track, “Solstice”, captures this – representing both an end and a new beginning.
As for my goals, I’d love to spend more time on the road. I love touring and playing live as it really lifts the whole experience of being an artist. I love connecting with fans as well as travelling to new countries and cities. I also wish to collaborate more with other artists and create more records in the future.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I’d love to work with The War On Drugs somewhere down the line! Not only are they a collective of incredible musicians and artists, but they also seem like great people. You can tell when they are on stage together that they’re good friends and that they genuinely care about each other. I think there’s a lot to learn from that.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Don’t let anyone else define you. Find your own path and nurture what is fruitful to you. Make the art you want to make. You’ve got a voice – don’t be afraid to use it! There will always be someone out there that will connect with what you’re doing. And I know it’s easier said than done but make art for art’s sake, for your sake, not for the views and likes.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Be patient. You’re not in a rush to get anywhere. Take your time and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Give yourself the freedom, patience and space to grow and be creative. That’s advice I’d give myself today, too!
