What’s the secret chemistry equation for an emotional ballad? Well, Ana Sky—half-alt-pop artist and half-scientist (yes, really, her biology study cards are probably nestled near her songwriting journal)—has it all figured out. It’s simple: a pinch of ivory key melodies, a sprinkle of post-breakup angst, and voilà, instant heartstring combustion! But hey, don’t just take our word for it. We’re leaning right in as Ana tells—first to us, and now all of you—the chilling results of this emotional experiment.
Brushing With Stars In The Galaxy
Hi Ana, welcome to the hive! Upon writing these questions, you have just received the massive announcement that your music video for ‘Loving You Hard’ is premiering on MTV! That’s a fantastic achievement for any artist. Do you remember one of the first times that you tuned into their station and binged their Top 20 Video Countdown?
Thank you so much for the warm welcome!
I’m so excited to be featured by such a major establishment! I think the first artist I watched on that platform as a kid was Britney Spears, and I remember being so mesmerized.
Speaking of videos, a jaw-dropping Toni Braxton is listening to you sing on your TikTok page at her Love & Laughter residency in Las Vegas. It all looks a bit spontaneous, so can you let us know how that came about? What’s your favorite song of hers?
Singing on stage with Toni was honestly one of the most surreal experiences of my career. I went to Vegas to see her perform because she is a huge inspiration to me, and she usually picks someone from the crowd to sing some of her songs. But when she picked me, I think I forgot how to breathe for a good minute. It’s definitely a tough call because she has so many iconic songs, but ‘Unbreak My Heart’ was one of my favorite songs to sing growing up, so I think I would have to say that one is the one closest to me.
This isn’t the first brush with your now peers as you become more a part of the music industry—you also opened up for Transviolet in June. What did you learn from those live shows that you wish to bring to your future gigs?
I loved touring with Transviolet. Sarah is such a creative in the truest sense of the word, and she has such a dedicated work ethic. I learned a lot via osmosis being around her, but I think the lesson that I was most impressed with was how she’s able to connect with her fans. Seeing the same faces in the crowd following us from show to show really drove home to me the realization that, at the end of the day, music is one of the most powerful means of connection we have, and while a lot of my songs do tend to veer towards introspection, now when I am performing I try to move my focus outward so I can make it a shared experience for everyone there.
Is there a venue on your bucket list that you wish to check off, now knowing that you will refer to this interview when you do?
There are many stages I would be honored to grace- I think as a native Angeleno, the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek theater definitely come to mind, but I would also absolutely love to perform at festivals one day; I have always been so moved by my experience seeing artists perform in that type of environment. I think there is something so magical about a place where people can come together through a shared love of music, and I would love to be a part of something like that.
Multi Hypnate Sovereign
You’re the Queen of switching majors, having studied biology for seven years to pursue music now. Where does your interest in science stem from, and who ultimately gave you the boost of confidence you needed to follow your heart?
I have loved science for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I always had an insatiable curiosity about the world around me, as well as a huge love of animals and the natural world. So, pursuing biology was honestly one of the easiest decisions for me. Even though I always loved music, having grown up in LA and seen so many people come to this city to try to “make it” in the entertainment industry, I think I felt that science would be a stable line of work that I could always depend on. My career in music really happened by accident after getting discovered by Diane Warren, but having this kind of opportunity essentially fall into my lap, it felt as though music picked me in a way. I suppose that was the push I needed to shift gears into a direction I never thought I would pursue because, in my heart of hearts, it was always something I dreamed of getting to do.
Your interest in creativity doesn’t just stop at music; it also echoes through fashion. Winning the Emerging Artist Reward at the Fashion Media Awards—which is sprawling with important stylish figures from Gigi Hadid to your dad, Bill Dorfman, a renowned celebrity dentist—was a standout moment. Fashion and music often intertwine through stage costumes to music video outfits. Have you thought about how you could further innovatively bring those two worlds together?
This has definitely been on my mind a lot, especially since attending the New York and London fashion weeks this year. The link between fashion and music has been a point of fascination for me from a young age, so it is extremely exciting getting to explore that further now. I think this will shine through (hopefully!) in the music videos that we have been planning and preparing for, as well as future performances.
‘Sleeping Without You’
Because we can’t stop scrolling your TikTok, there’s a witty video of you walking around Target with a friend who throws you items, playing a game similar to Elle’s Song association. What are the first three songs that come to your mind that each borrows letters from the initials of your newest song, ‘Sleeping Without You?’
This is such a fun question! The first three songs that come to mind are:
S- Say what you will (James Blake)
W- Walk (Griff)
Y- Yayo (Lana del Rey)
‘Sleeping Without You’ has this haunting melody of piano keys under your vocals. What was the creative process like bringing all of its elements together?
This was one of those songs that almost wrote itself. It speaks to what I was intensely experiencing at the time we put it together. I was coming off the heels of a complex breakup, so this writing session was almost like putting down a stream of consciousness. The process was extremely cathartic and healing for me, and it really helped me understand and digest what I was going through in a way that is hard to describe. I just remember being filled with an overwhelming sense of peace when we were done like I was finally putting something to bed that had been draining me mentally, emotionally, and physically for so long that I could barely remember what it felt like to exist without that siphon.
Interestingly, this continues the narrative arc from your debut, which we can see visually—from the roses on the floor in the first music video and now on the single cover art for your latest release. In that initial song, you had to let go of a relationship, and now you’re dealing with the aftermath of that decision. While many artists choose a different approach for their second single, what inspired you to continue this narrative as the throughline?
I love that you picked up on that thread! While we had a lot of solid options for my second release, I really liked the idea of a downstream continuation of the story established in my first song. I really love the way the two pieces complement each other; they are almost like two bookends from that period of my life. The roses, for me, were intended as a visual representation of that idea; the choice to have petals featured on the cover art was a nod to the themes of the first song as well as to the duality that links fresh endings to new beginnings. Ultimately, that’s what is at the heart of this single, so I love hearing what translates for the listener.
Lastly, poetically, you coined the stage name Ana Sky from your love of the sky, telling Fashion Week Daily that it’s “where stars go.” As the sky is the limit, which artists do you hope to collaborate with and join in your constellation of talent?
This is such a tough question to answer – there are so many talented artists I would love to collaborate with. The first person that always comes to mind for me, though, is Lana Del Rey, as she has been a huge inspiration in so many ways- as a musician, as a poet, as a person, etc. Other artists that come to mind are Nessa Barrett, Aurora, Remi Wolf, and Japanese House.
Maybe we won’t be sleeping next to our ex-boo tonight, but we will have Ana’s voice playing as our bedtime lullaby so we won’t toss around. What’s your favorite lyric from ‘Sleeping Without You?’ Let us know on our socials, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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