ANE- A Followup Interview

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ANE Celebrates Her Sexuality In New Single ‘Sex Machine

Interview conducted on September 28, 2020

By Dan Locke

Following the release of her heartfelt “Kings And Queens” single honoring protestors on the frontlines and those lost to police brutality, first generation Korean-American R&B/Pop-Soul artist ANE releases her fun new single “Sex Machine” today (7/3/2020) on all digital streaming platforms. Produced by Malcolm Fong and featuringNew York rapper Qu’ality, the song is from ANE’s forthcoming 1-800-FANTASY EP, which was released July 24^th

t has been a little bit over a year since I last talked to you. How has life been since last summer?

To say the least, a lot has changed exponentially since then

You just released your new EP 1-800-Fantasy. Give me some background on the record?

All of the songs were recorded pre-quarantine at the end of 2019 and the project, unfortunately, had gotten delayed due to the series of events that had taken place in 2020. The songs were an evolution from my last EP which was titled “Lonely Lovers Fantasy.” It was inspired by the female rappers I was listening to while working out.

What is your favorite track on the album?

My favorite track on the album would be “Bad Motherf*cker.” If you listen to the lyrics carefully, it tells the story of a young woman who loses her innocence in the world.

You just released the video for Sex Machine. What was the thinking behind the making of the video?

When I originally started moodboarding for this video, I was inspired mostly by the idea of objects being used in a studio setting to insinuate sexuality. However, as the team and vision evolved, it became a fun, campy video of different couples and a fun color story to match it.

Did you have the chance to actually see the Italian artist Maurizio Cattlelan’s “Comedian” at the Art Basel exhibition in Miami Beach, Fla. The work sold for $120,000. Before someone eat the banana?

Lol, no. I never actually saw the exhibit. I went to Art Basel once and I just remember it being super chaotic with large crowds of people and lots of traffic. I would go for a specific event or as a performer.

How do you stay healthy while touring?

My venus is in Libra. I am always balancing the scales of my lifestyle. A little bit of bad and a lot of good. Working out and eating healthy are priorities of mine.

You released the video for Kings and Queens. Do you feel this was the right time to release the video for the song?

I’m not really sure what the right time would have been but for me, it wasn’t as calculated. My medium is through music and it was a song and video that I felt really expressed how I felt about the state of the country at the time. I wrote the song in 15 minutes and recorded it the next day at my apartment. I held a rose quartz while recording it to manifest love and compassion energy.

What is the mental health situation of the United State? How can the public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?

That’s tough to say. It’s kind of a corona-coaster. A lot of people are confused and panicked because of the economy. Some people are very terrified of getting sick while others seem more relaxed. Everyone I’ve been talking to seems equally confused by the situation. The best we can do as a public to help doctors on the frontline is to be mindful of not getting sick, keeping good hygiene, and not acting recklessly.

Do you think kids should have gone back to school this fall?

I honestly have no idea. I’ve been watching the news about this whole mess in NYC and I don’t know how I’d feel if I was a parent. On the one hand, so many people are feeling like it’s unsafe and I would agree but at the same time, there are so many parents who just don’t have access to childcare and need to go to work. I think the best solution would have been to have been planning for this thoroughly, way ahead of time. Maybe it would be best, to have an option for both in-school learning (social distancing) and virtual learning.

How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ANE (@anemusic) on Jan 27, 2020 at 2:24pm PST

Well, for one virtual concert are an option but, to be honest, it’s not the same. I think as an artist, I’m thinking about how I can eventually expand on building your brand and monetizing off of it in more ways than one. Maybe thinking beyond music, and developing your artistry as more of a brand, tying it into a strong e-commerce store, building more of a Youtube following, amongst other things.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

Honestly, I know I released an EP and music video but I’ve been pretty low-key online. I learned a lot about myself during the quarantine and my artistry and the music I’ve made in the past. I’m kind of at a place where I want to take things to the next level but in the right way. I want to have a stronger visual and sonic signature style in the same way filmmakers like Woody Allen, Spike Lee, and Quentin Tarantino have a very signature style when it comes to their movies. I want to incorporate that level of specificity and style in my medium. So, I’ve just been moodboarding a LOT. It’s helping me discover what I like and what I don’t like. I’m refining things.

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

I’ve really enjoyed nature a lot more during this time and I started a small vegetable garden. Being a plant mommy, sometimes they stress me out because I want them to thrive. They just started bearing fruit finally.

Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. I saw a little clip of you covering Heartbreak Anniversary on guitar. Did you ever replace the D string?

Lol. Yes, I did. That was probably the first time picking up a guitar. I hope to practice more and at least get to the level of accompanying myself.

Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?

I don’t think it will be fully sustainable. Multiple streams of income are needed for artists.

Live Nation is starting to do the first ever U.S. drive-in concert series — LIVE FROM THE DRIVE-IN — which started on July 10, 2020. Now there are many other Drive-in concerts popping up. Do you think this is something you would be willing to do?

Yes, absolutely.

For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?

Just do it, it’s your art and we’re in a pandemic. It’s still a part of building your brand.

In addition, at the present time for a band to go on tour from one state to another they may need to self-quarantine for 14 days. How is that going to work?
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?