Interview: Happy Trails With Anna Vaus
Interview: by Lindsey V. Britt
Singer-songwriter Anna Vaus from Southern California, known for original songs such as “Wild Honey” and covers including One Direction’s “Night Changes,” has just released her latest single “Happy Trails” off her upcoming Side A EP, celebrating ten years in Nashville crafting her Laurel Canyon country sound.
Your Side A EP is coming out. How has that process been like?
It’s been great! It’s been really fun, that is where we recorded, I’m in my apartment right now. And it’s just fun to get to record those songs in the place that I wake up and drink coffee every day, and where I write my songs, and hang out with my cat, it’s been awesome.
Are there any music videos planned for the EP?
We have lots of video content. In terms of music videos. I’ve been brainstorming some ideas, as an independent artist, it’s expensive to make a music video. If I could have a music video for every song on the album, I would have like a whole cinematic universe. But for now, I have more like mini music videos for them.
I was at your listening party, and I really loved the first song you played “Canyon Child.” What was the story behind that song?
That song was one of the first I wrote that made me realize that I was making an album. At the end of last year, I was just in a place where I wanted to restart my creativity a little bit. So I gave myself a challenge to do a song a day using the Webster dictionary word of the day. And the word I can’t even remember now, which is funny, some word I used and ended up writing the song “Canyon Child.” The more time I lived with it I was like oh my gosh, this feels like my own story of growing up and what I think of as a canyon child, just surrounded by canyons and cactuses, the ocean. Moving to Nashville and kind of changing who I was to fit into a box and now just returning to who I am which is that California kid.
Since this is Side A, when will Side B come out?
That is a great question. The initial way that I wanted to share the music with the people who have been there and supported me for a really long time, was to play Side A, which those are the songs that right now we have finished. And then Side B we’re starting on this week. What my dream is, is to really roll it out as a complete album. For fans, have it be Side A and Side B, but when I actually release the music it’ll all be one whole album. And that will come out sometime early in 2025.
Will there be a listening party for Side B?
Oh yeah for sure.
You’ve been in the industry for a bit. How did you get started?
My mom is a videographer, and she’s a journalist, my dad was a singer-songwriter, so I grew up in a really creative household. Whenever I was bored, I would either pick up a guitar or a video camera. I’ve really gravitated towards writing songs and putting my feelings into lyrics instead of talking about them because talking about feelings is hard. Music was one of the things growing up that was a hobby of mine that I never got tired of. So when it came time to go to college, I was fortunate enough to go to Belmont University in Nashville and studied songwriting. From there I just kind of hit the ground running and I haven’t quit yet.
I’ve been a fan of yours since 2020, how would you say your music has evolved since then?
I’ve been in Nashville for ten years this week, which is crazy. I think I have always been authentic, but I haven’t always fully been myself as an artist. I’ve always kind of quieted influences of mine because I thought they wouldn’t fit in country, or because they wouldn’t fit in pop. So when I think about my very first EP called The California Kid, I remember at that time, I grew up loving Taylor Swift but I didn’t want that to be part of my music. Because at the time in Nashville, people were like oh Taylor Swift, she’s in pop now, all that stuff. And then I realized that was dumb, so I started to let more of those influences, the things that I love bleed into what I do. And I think now I’m at a point where there’s no part of my musical influences that I am holding back bleeding into the music that I make.
How would you describe your music?
I like to describe it as Laurel Canyon country. I love Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile, Stevie Nicks, but also, I grew up on the songs my parents would put on, like Glen Campbell, and there’s like Taylor Swift, and Kacey Musgraves, so I feel like my music is Laurel Canyon country.
You just finished some shows with Maddie & Tae, how was that?
They are the best. They’re really good friends of mine now, all because of this tour. Just getting to write together and perform together on the road is a freaking dream. It was so fun. I’m sad that it’s over, but I have to smile cause it happened.
Is there an artist you would love to collaborate or tour with one day?
I would love to go on tour with Harry Styles for sure. I mean Taylor Swift, too, all of them, I have a long list.
During the pandemic you did backyard concerts, will you be doing that again?
A little bit. I loved getting to do that over Covid, as venues have opened back up I have been fortunate to get to play shows in venues, but I loved playing in people’s backyards. This fall, we’re going to do a few backyard shows, I want to honor the parts of my job that I think really inspired me to make this album in the first place. And part of that was in 2021 getting to play backyards and getting to know the people that listen to my music and hang out with their parents and their dog, and their grandma. So to get to do that in just a smaller capacity this fall will be really fun.
I know you’re a Taylor Swift fan, I have to ask what your favorite era is?
Well, it’s changed, because I would have always said Red, cause Red has just always been my favorite record, but folklore might have surpassed Red for me in the past two years.
I know at the listening party everyone asked you what your favorite song off the EP is, but I’m curious what your favorite song you’ve ever written is?
That’s hard, I would say probably “Wild Honey” is my favorite.
I’ve seen you in videos with Starbucks cups a lot. What is your go to Starbucks order?
I’m a big Oatmilk Latte girl through and through, no matter the coffee shop. Usually, if I’m feeling like a little treat, I’ll get an Oakmilk Latte.
Lastly, do you have a recommendation? This can be anything from a movie to a podcast, place, etc.
You know, I would say, this is kind of random advice. I used to feel like I had to keep up with what clothes were trendy, and I just have recently spent more time curating my closet to be things that I feel like fit me and fit my personality and my body. Just feeling good when I wear them rather than trying to fit into a piece of clothing. And I would recommend that everyone do it, because what you wear every day really makes a big difference in how you feel, and you should feel good.
You can listen to ”Happy Trails” now on your favorite music platform, and be on the lookout for more music from Anna Vaus coming soon.
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