JANUARY 29th, 2021
ANIA EXCLUSIVE
Metal Titans recently got a chance to chat with up and coming musician, Ania Thomas, who recently released an EP titled ‘Ania In Chains.’ The EP has some of the heavier alternative act influences of Nirvana and the like and the accessibility of ‘power pop’ that you’d hear on the radio, terrestrial, satellite or internet. We have listed all of Ania's social media links at the end of the interview. Take some time to check her music out, it’s good stuff. She gives us a little background about herself and some background on the EP and the songs featured. Enjoy the interview.
Interview By: Ruben Mosqueda
Metal Titans: You are based in the United States, but you’re originally from Poland. How long have you been in the U.S. and did you relocate here to expand your music career?
Ania Thomas: I am originally from Poland. I moved to the U.S. when I was 14. I attended highschool in the states then went to college at USC. I did not move to the U.S for music but, instead I moved to the U.S. to learn English and to make a better life along with better opportunities than those in Poland.
Metal Titans: I don’t know if you would agree, but I hear a lot of Nirvana and perhaps even some Silverchair in your music. How much of an influence were those bands in you defining your sound? What are some of your other influences?
Ania Thomas: Yes, I agree! You do hear the Nirvana influences! Nirvana was my all time favorite band in highschool. I listened to every record, every single, every version, and every b-side. I loved the chord progressions and the distorted guitars. Now looking back, I was a Beatles fan that loved Beatles with grugy amped guitars. I am not familiar with Silverchair.
Metal Titans: Who or what inspired you to pick up a guitar, sing and write lyrics?
Ania Thomas: When I was a kid, I fell in love with Britney Spears, The Police, and Bon Jovi. I loved hearing "Its My Life," in the car when I was going to preschool. It made me feel something as a kid. On the other side, I saw Brittney on the Polish MTV singing "Oops! I did It Again." and I would think to be just like her. My family used to make fun of me, but I enjoyed mimicking her in the music video and dancing!
Metal Titans: I assume your family is supportive of your career path in music?
Ania Thomas: Nope, my family does not know what I am doing nor do they understand anything about the music industry. They want me to be a lawyer, doctor, or an engineer. [laughs] They make money! I mean I think they are slowly changing their mind however, since I am putting out more and more projects. My family has a strict immigrant perspective.
Metal Titans: What kind of challenges have you experienced in getting your music heard?
Ania Thomas: Lots of challenges, time management, loss of band members, no money, no studio, no idea, frustration, burn out from school, going through puberty, breakups and makeups. All these challenges, while becoming a young adult. Then COVID-19, when I’m trying to release music.
Metal Titans: You issued a four song EP ‘Ania In Chains’ last month. How long did it take you to put together this EP? Did you write the songs by yourself? Or did you collaborate with someone?
Ania Thomas: This EP project took me a long time, maybe 3-4 years because these were the first songs that I have ever made by myself. This was all done on a DIY broke musician budget! It takes time to learn how to make music in efficient ways and based on the skill set you learn in college. Along with that you have to know who you want to be and work out what your ‘brand’ is. I have written these songs by myself with some feedback, advice and suggestions from mentors and close friends. During this project, I learned how to engineer and use the [mixing] console. I also learned what it takes to produce and use ProTools. While doing all of this, I learned how to arrange and work with other musicians who helped to bring these songs alive. This includes mixing and mastering engineers, studio musicians, and other people who mentored me when it comes to these songs. For instance, the song "Runaway" I wrote 5 years ago and did not do the video for until last year. I wrote this song on the bus going to my first internship at the Troubadour. The video for "Runaway" was done because my friend from the USC film school needed to pass his class and needed to film a music video project. Guess who had a song? I did! The song “Poison” I wrote 4 years ago on my friend's couch and the song morphed and changed until it became what it is now. Lastly, working on music and going to school is tricky since you have to pass your classes. In the end, I am glad each song on the EP has its own video.
Metal Titans: Currently the music is available via streaming platforms. How did you feel about physical product? Will your EP be available on any physical formats?
Ania Thomas: I have not figured out how to print Vinyl and make CDs yet, but I believe that will be the next step for my release! I Would love to have ‘Ania in Chains’ on vinyl, especially to see my artwork printed on the sleeve. I am the artist behind all the art work too.
Metal Titans:It’s 2021 but the COVID-19 pandemic is still out in full-force, is your hope to perform some of the new music live? If so, anything streaming planned? Or will you be holding out until you can play live with an audience in the room?
Ania Thomas: Yes! I am talking with some people about doing a live stream performance behind someone's house or inside a studio. Once the pandemic is over, I will plan a small DIY tour around the U.S. and hopefully Europe!
Metal Titans: Do you have any more music planned for release in 2021? If so, what is the tentative time for it’s release?
Ania Thomas: Yes, I’m currently working on a next EP, but this time it has more synths and it is a bit more similar to Nine Inch Nails meets Garbage. I hope to put out this new EP in September of 2021. Hopefully I can finish recording my last song next week. I am excited for this one, because it will be the best stuff I have ever created. I think my first EP could have been better, but I had to learn how to write, produce, engineer and be a musician.
Metal Titans: It’s time to sell your music to the readers. Why should they listen to ‘Ania In Chains?’ Let’s hear it.
Ania Thomas: I think they should listen to ‘Ania in Chains’ because the overall EP shows the growth of a human teenager into the adult world. The song themes I believe are universal and anyone can connect to them. The song "Runaway" is about running away to a place where you do not have to deal with the problems of society and where you're officially safe. The song "Poison" is about leaving someone who is toxic, or a situation that is toxic and being focused on yourself instead of the world around you. We all live in our bubbles instead of wanting to extend out and fix the world. The song "Doors Close '' is about religion and uses closing doors for creativity/positivity instead of opening them. Is the glass always half empty or half full? Why are we following the teachings of a book and making war in the world? The last song "Tuesdays'' is about finding that peace within yourself and knowing who you are. Trust yourself and find yourself in nature. Everything will be ok, just keep going. These problems are all a part of life. Please have hope. No matter what you're going through it will work out. Money will come. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
https://www.instagram.com/aniacakess/
https://www.aniathomasmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/aniacakess
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0k8Wb3d9ypoJidDfDyuwOq?si=FZeZnbRMQc-Zvqz7W5m92g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp2XQmuOKoE