Conversations with the Inspiring Anna Nicole

Anna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in a musical family and I’ve been surrounded by musical influences my entire life. I can remember singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at three with my Grandfather. I was lucky to always have talented family around me such as my grandfathers, Jack Eglash (Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Carson) and Ron Feuer (Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, Gladys Knight). I was also lucky to spend time with my dad, Rick Feuer (Fifth Dimension, Nell Carter), in our home studio and got to record my first album at 11. I can’t necessarily say it was good, but it gave me experience.

When I got into middle school, I was self conscious about my weight which led to a lack of confidence in my singing. I would sit in the back row of my high school choir and opt out of solo try outs. I knew I would make it, but I didn’t want to be in the spotlight. When I went to boarding school, I had two incredible choir directors who pushed me to take every solo there was. They would sign me up for classical solo competitions, jazz solo competitions and eventually they put me in the Jazz Choir which led to many solo and group awards. My last year of high school, I booked the lead role of Reno Sweeney in my high school musical, “Anything Goes”. I credit Kelly and Craig for pushing me out of my comfort zone, they’re a huge part of why I am where I am today.

I moved to LA at age 17 and I worked hard to lose 60lbs which boosted my confidence. One night in Menchie’s (frozen yogurt), I was approached by Harvey Mason Jr. (Herbie Hancock, Chris Brown, Straight Outta Compton). He heard me singing and invited me to his studio where I got the opportunity to pick a track, write to it and record my song in his studio. The only problem was, I had never written before, but I needed a song. The experience of writing “End Of It All” (keep an eye out for this in 2019) pushed me to start writing seriously. I recently released my first single, Tell Me, available on all platforms!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely not a smooth road. I have lived in LA for six years now and I JUST released my first single. It’s easy to get distracted and to waste time. A lot of people move to LA and think because they live in LA now, they will make it. And I was one of those people… I would be invited to the studio and just sit in the corner like a prop when I thought that would be my big break. You have to work on your craft every single day. You have to promote yourself no matter how embarrassing or pushy you may think you seem. You have to establish good relationships. You have to judge who should and should not be in your circle. None of those things are easy, you just have to keep working. And trust me, I haven’t mastered any of those.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a singer/songwriter and I’ve spent my whole life studying music. Currently, I’ve been writing almost every day working on my upcoming singles and EP. I just released my first single, Tell Me. It’s an amazing feeling to have my own experience out for anyone to listen to.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I’m inspired by singers who can convey an emotion, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Etta James, and HER, with just their music. I also look up to my family for everything they’ve given me. I would not be where or who I am today without them.