On the verge of releasing her breakout EP, Golden Galaxies, singer/songwriter Anya Axel was able to find the time to talk to us about what it is like being a young talent breaking into the music industry. Her breathtaking first single “Alive” can be heard below followed by an in depth interview with the rising star. If you’re looking to reach out to Anya after hearing the single, whether it is for the purpose of collaborating or just to show your support, her email is [email protected] and you can follow her Instagram @anyaaxel. Read until the end to see an exclusive Pump The Beat release from Anya Axel about her upcoming EP!
Which artist or music group would you say influenced you the most as a singer?
I truly have no idea how my music turned out so poppy. When I was growing up I loved bands like Escape the Fate, Senses Fail, My Chemical Romance and Taking Back Sunday. Bert McCracken, the lead singer of The Used has and always will be my biggest musical influence/inspiration both as a singer and a songwriter.
What was the first CD you ever owned?
It was either Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance or Rock Steady by No Doubt.
If you could go back 10 years and give yourself one piece of advice, what would you tell yourself?
I would tell young Anya to practice the piano and learn how to read music because she’s going to need it later. Today, I wish I could write more intricate accompaniment for my compositions but I’m pretty limited in my musicianship abilities.
How would you describe the mood of the upcoming EP and what inspired the name Golden Galaxies?
I like to describe it as “acid fairy” music. I use a lot of heightened language and like pairing that with a driving EDM beat. Although it’s classic electronic pop on the surface, I like adding some dark undertones in there. As far as the title, I played with the idea of the other side of a black hole. Instead of infinite nothingness, what if you were swallowed up by gold matter? It made sense when I was 16 haha.
On the brink of the release of your first EP, do you feel more nervous or excited?
A little nervous excitement! A little relief too. I’m definitely ready to show the world what I’ve been working on. I wrote Alive when I was a junior in high school so I’ve been waiting a long time to see this thing take shape. I’m in a very different place than I was when I wrote the whole EP so I’m ready to start the next project!
What kind of story are you hoping to tell with Golden Galaxies?
Golden Galaxies centers around ethereal/foreign love surviving on earth. It’s the story of a pair of lovers, one human, the other from the Golden Galaxies. She comes to restore love and peace to earth but her mission is interrupted by this love affair. “Alive” and “Mockingbird” are both songs about the moment the two fall in love. “Alive” is written in the perspective of our golden alien friend, “Mockingbird” in the eyes of the human. “Everything” is about their imbalance of love, and finally “Gold” is when our alien friend regains her strength and returns to her Golden Galaxy.
EXCLUSIVE: Anya was also nice enough to release the album artwork for the Golden Galaxies EP on Pump The Beat, so check it out below and keep your eyes and ears open for it’s official release on June 25th!
