WOMEN OF NOTE:
Annahstasia Enuke | Musician and Artist
In the soft light of her Los Angeles home, Annahstasia Enuke moves steady, thoughtful, and deeply connected to the earth beneath her feet.
Writing music for Annahstasia is not a task but an unfolding. Having penned songs since the age of 14, she sees her creative process as a living thing, emerging naturally when the soul calls for it. Inspired by her parents' artistry, the grounding force of nature, and early encounters with Nina Simone's raw, resonant voice, Annahstasia’s sound is an offering: soulful, textured, and alive with feeling.
Whether finding beauty in the little things or imagining performances in wild unknown valleys, her vision remains expansive and intimate all at once. With her debut album Tether set to release June 13th, and her first US headline tour ahead, Annahstasia steps into a season of creative bloom.
We spoke with Annahstasia about her inspirations, rituals, and the deeply personal journey behind her music. Captured at home wearing the Pocket Wool Shirt and Wool Short in Navy Stripe.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: 24/04/2024
Time: 3.36 PM
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Where are you from and where are you now? I am from Los Angeles and currently here at home.
Are you a morning or evening person? Daytime, I prefer to be active in the daylight but I’m not great with the morning.
Can you describe your creative process when writing music? Is there a particular environment or routine that helps you create? My writing process is living. I don’t often sit down to write as a job or a task or practice. At least not at this stage in my life. I have been writing songs since I was 14 so by now its more when I am called to express in that way I do. Then its really about letting it flow from you and not getting in the way of it. Being somewhere that I have settled into and that feels safe usually is the best soil for a good song. In life and work, who and what inspires you? My parents, they were the first artists I knew to build an example from. The earth is a constant inspiration as well. I quite literally mean the ground, and the soil and the rocks and all that stems from it. Nature is an abundant resource for inspiration.
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What inspired you to start creating music, and how has your sound evolved over time? Hearing Nina Simone for the first time. There was something in her voice that I recognised and that resonated deep within me. I began writing shortly after discovering her and my sound has always been in pursuit of that rawness, that heart and grit that originally inspired me.
Can you tell us about a moment in your career that felt like a significant turning point? Covid was a huge turning point for me because I let a lot of dreams die that actually were not my own. In the void I found something else to work toward and that led to the music I make today.
Who are the people or mentors in your life that have shaped the way you see the world or create? My dad is one. His intensity and dedication to craft and to process have taught me all I know on the matter. I don’t do much without inspiration and passion and follow-through because of his guidance.
Do you have any rituals that you never fail to begin and end the day with? I start the day catching my dreams before I forget them. I end the day listing off things I’m grateful for before I fall asleep.
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Where are your favourite places to go to when seeking inspirations? A brand new environment or terrain or a really good live music show
What’s the most surprising or unexpected thing you’ve learned about yourself through your creative work? I have many many more ideas than physical energy to complete them so distillation of my ideas is the most important step in my process or else I will burn out trying to manage too many fires.
What’s the story behind one of your favourite songs you’ve written or performed? When I fell in love for the first time, I wrote this song “Take Care of Me”, it was long before I even told the person I wrote it for that I had any feelings for them. But I could feel fate calling and in a way I wrote the song to fate more than to that specific person who has since come and gone. The song is a prayer that love will be gentle with me, as gentle as it can be, because my heart is big and has many many walls. Not like a fortress, more like an intricate glass ornament or a house of cards, easy to tumble and break. I love that song a lot, and who I think I’m speaking to within it changes. But the sentiment is consistent. I just want to be cherished and known.
Do you have a favourite recipe or dish that you always turn to for comfort? Flash steamed okra or Boiled potatoes with salted butter and cracked black pepper. Call me basic but it just hits and I can find the energy to make it no matter how sad I am.
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What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I have been reading Cookie Mueller’s autobiography, walking through clear water in a pool painted black, Cookie is an amazing storyteller and it makes me yearn for a time of adventure before the internet. I have been watching a lot of YouTube recently, particularly cultural documentaries on cultures throughout Africa, and south America, as well as herbalist videos on foraging and medicinal herbs. Listening to my discover weekly on Spotify religiously every week for the last 10 years basically. I always find something good in there. This weeks gem is 1000 times by Big Blood.
Your sound is so soulful and unique. How would you describe it to someone who’s never heard it before? Smelling really fertile soil after the first spring rain.
If you could only use three sentences to describe your path in life so far, what would they say? She always found her way, moving at her pace and in full conviction of what she believes is possible. She appears to be chronically slept on, but doesn’t seem to mind or show any ego about it. She doesn’t fear time in the way we were taught to fear time.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? You can always leave.
How do you stay present and connected to yourself amidst the demands of your work? I try and honour my need for rest. I root in the present as much as possible. I go out of my way to eat well to nurture my body. I write if my mind is too full.
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why? Landscapes I don’t even know about yet. I want to bring a massive speaker and have a show in between gorgeous mountains in a lush Valley. So maybe the fjords in summer? Or New Zealand? Or Kauai.
Personally and professionally, what’s next? My debut album Tether comes out June 13th and I am doing my first headline US tour in June as well. Personally I’m looking forward to going to Japan for the first time this summer.
Annahstasia wears the Pocket Wool Shirt in Navy Stripe and The Wool Short in Navy Stripe.
See more of Georgina's work here.
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