by lys ziada
photo by wallace morgan
Anna Clendening is not only an amazing artist, but an avid advocate for mental health. The singer’s journey through mental struggles shaped who she is and what she does today. As a role model for young people struggling with these same issues, it’s Anna’s mission to help someone persevere through their troubling times just as she did. Talking to Anna about her work and how much it means to her was very delightful and inspiring. In this interview, you can read Anna talking about this in her own words.
What inspires your music?
Anna: “What inspires me the most with my music is life. Music for me is a way to open up and express what I am going through, but also connect with people who are going through the same thing.”
How does it feel to open up about mental health?
A: “It feels like second nature honestly. It was hard for me to articulate or even understand what I was going through when I was growing up. As I got older, I was able to open up about my mental health struggles and be completely transparent. I was once a lost kid who felt alone, and being able to help other people feel less alone is a feeling I don’t think I could ever top.”
How important is advocacy to you?
A: “Advocacy is one of the main reasons why I do what I do. Music is a universal language and to be able to make music AND make a difference with mental health issues is amazing.”
At what point in your life did you decide to become a singer/songwriter?
A: “2017. I had written a few things here and there before, but when I finally decided to dive in and make a career of it was when I wrote my song ‘Boys Like You.’ That song changed my career and my life.”
You just released your new song “Love Song,” a collab with John K. Can you tell us a bit about the song?
A: “The song is quite funny, because if I’m being honest, I’ve never been in love. And I haven’t written a full quote-unquote love song per say to or for anyone. During the session for ‘Love Song,’ me and the other writers wrote from the perspective of a situation I would like to be in. It’s a story of that first moment you know you love someone, but you’re too scared to say it. It’s pretty obvious but neither one of you wants to say I love you first. So in the song, I ‘write a love song’ that’s ‘not one’ to break the ice [laughs].”
What was it like working with John on the song?
A: “John is one of the absolute nicest human beings I have ever worked with. I was a fan of his way before we put this song together, and am still fangirling at the fact he is on this song with me. He took one of my favorite songs I’ve written and brought it to a whole new level. One of my favorite collabs so far.”
What are some things you like to do outside of music?
A: “I love to be active in any way possible. I love working out, snowboarding, hiking, or anything that brings me outside.”
What’s the best thing about your fanbase?
A: “It centers around mental health and being transparent. All I do is write about things that have 100% happened in my life. To be able to relate to someone through such an intimate thing brings people very close.”
How would you describe the feeling you get when performing on stage?
A: “Home. Performing gives me a sense of home. It gives me a sense of purpose. I feel most alive and at peace when I’m sharing my raw and whole self in front of people.”
How have you been dealing with not being able to perform and meet fans during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: “I hate that I haven’t been able to tour seeing as I just started to tour for the first time last year. But I look at this as a way to write even more music and continue to speak about mental health.”
What do you want your listeners to take away from your EP Evolve?
A: “I want people to take away from Evolve, what they need. I wanted to create a piece of work that had many different moving parts. Each song is a different stage in the journey of a relationship. The body of work is to show how we can evolve and grow through each relationship.”