A Chat with Ana Moll
With a sense of style straight out of the past, but with her mind set on the future, Ana Moll is an Aquanet and leather and lace rock goddess with visions of stardom in her eyes. A growing fanbase has followed Ana Moll on social media attracted to her racy pics in which she displays her retro 80s bimbo look. More than a pretty face, Ana Moll is a talented singer who released a series of singles last year. The music is grounded in 80s glam metal, but also shows traces of new wave and synth-pop. She is currently working on her first studio album. Ana Moll agreed to talk to Death Moth Press to give some updates on her album, discuss her inspirations, and explain how she is bringing sexy back to rock and roll.
Can you describe your background and how you discovered and developed your musical influences?
So, I used to mimic everything I saw on MTV. I don't know if you've seen the movie Crossroads, but the opening scene is Britney Spears dancing around the room lip-syncing into a brush to a Madonna song. I would do this obsessively in my bedroom. I knew it was a passion, but I didn't take it seriously until I got a really great vocal teacher, singing in my school's choir. She was quite the character but showed us a lot of the ropes. I actually played music with a band for two years as well, we cut a demo in someone's basement that I don't believe will ever see the light of day, and then I moved on to new horizons which is what it's evolved into now.
Photo Credit: Paris Benson (2 & 3)
The 80s metal scene was heavily male dominated. However, women played a vital role not just as supporters of the bands but as musical artists. What women have you looked up to?
Actually, growing up there were not a lot of women artists that moved something in me. I had always been intrigued by Lita Ford and other rock divas but there was no one in the 21st century that held onto these ideals in my eyes. Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Tyler, and Ann Wilson were bigger names I took a liking to vocally, but the lesser-known ones hardly made it out of their hometowns or didn't have the chance to build upon what they were crafting. I always wanted to be doing something completely radical, I didn't know what at the time. I had nowhere to look to really. I feel like things are sort of more or less the same. That's a big reason I started making my own music, and actually all of it is DIY. I don't rely on studios for many reasons and one being because I like to have total control of my artistic vision and the soundscape.
You have attracted a sizable following as a model. What led you to decide to branch out to music or was making original music always your intention and modeling was a way to promote yourself?
Actually, I'm happy you asked about this. Music was always the definitive end goal from the start. I knew that people would resonate with what I was doing and when I didn't have the money or resources to funnel into my music, I started doing things like recreating 80s album covers to introduce people to bands that I was listening to on the daily. Something as simple as using classic metal songs that inspired my own music and using it as the backdrop for my shoots/video reels. I think it's very apparent in the culture now with people doing something similar whereas years ago, it was a foreign concept unless it was in the underground. Every post I make is just a complement to the visuals that go along with the music, I'd like people to think of them as such. I always say my dolled-up photos are just an extension of my art.
When writing and producing music how much do you try to adhere to the classic 80s sound? Do you stick closely to that style or are you open to expanding outside the genre and bringing in other influences?
The 80s sound is kind of just ingrained no matter what as I'd been studying it as an avid listener for so long. I have tried to escape it, but it seeps right through into my work. I do listen to things all across the board, but I always seem to come back to what makes me feel at home, rock n roll.
Can you share any details on the album you are working on?
So, this album is going to be a continuation of the singles that are already out “She's All Alone Now,” “Desperate Eyes,” and “Making Tapes” but even bigger and bolder. I'm between two titles right now, I'll say the abbreviation for one of them is "LCA" and then another title which is one of the songs that'll be on the album. A good portion of it is produced with my own camp with the help of some outer producers on certain songs. We'd actually shuffled through quite a few producers, one being someone that assisted on Motley Crue's Theatre of Pain and one of my favorite 80s pop albums, Pretty Poison Catch Me I'm Falling but it just didn't work out in the end and that's okay. Trial and process as an artist is the most important step. I thought the best route would be to take an old-school approach and Garason Lee, who composes a lot with me, helped me bring some of my ideas to life. He's a musical genius in his own right.
Do you plan to promote the album with a tour?
I'd like to eventually do a small tour, but I don't think that's in the cards right now until more songs are released. I love making music behind the scenes right now and I don't feel any pressure to go out and get that kind of exposure until it feels right.
You have a very sexy persona. Since the early days, rock and roll had been associated with unbridled sexuality. However, it seems that today sex is taboo in rock music. Unlike their counterparts in hip-hop and pop music, rockers often de-emphasize their sexuality. Why do you think that is and can rock and roll be sexy again?
What drew me to 80s metal is just how HOT everything was, from the video vixens to the powerful male singers in their tight leather pants! Why are we so shy to explore those ideas anymore? I think about it myself. I think that people are only scared to play up these themes because they are scared about what society thinks about them and afraid of their reputation being tarnished and that's what it all boils down to. In my teenage years, I was always comfortable with expressing this, so I never had that mindset of being demure. I think that lots of things outside music are hypersexualized in this day and age too so they see it as demeaning or nasty which it shouldn't be at all if it's executed in the right manner. Prince formed girl groups that very much played on this and I'd like to think I took a huge liking to what he was trying to do.
You released a music video for "Desperate Eyes." Any interesting stories you'd like to share about making that video?
So much went on behind the scenes of that music video. I worked with the best crew I could have asked for. First off it was shot by my dear friend Kent Holmes who was immersed in the Sunset Strip scene back in the day. He brought along his buddy who helped us out with lighting. He seemed to be intrigued at Dorothy Stratten's Playboy cover which he saw as my phone lock screen! What can I say, I am drawn to others with a chaotic life!
You have been fortunate to meet some of your idols such as Bret Michaels and Sebastian Bach. What was their reaction to your sense of fashion and style?
A lot of people may think that my style is a branding tactic but it's true that I really live the lifestyle, I go out to the shows when they come to town and dress to the nines. I think a lot of living on the wild side has contributed to my upcoming songwriting since a lot of it is semi-autobiographical too. Every single big-name rockstar I've met has sort of gone through a Twilight Zone moment like they're looking at their younger selves in the mirror. It usually brings them back to their own past, only nothing but love. It's kind of endearing in a way.
There is a growing online community of diehard 80s metal enthusiasts. Many of them are too young to have experienced the scene the first time around. What is it about 80s metal that resonates with the new generation of fans?
It's very heartwarming to see. I think I touched on this a bit in the modeling question as well, but I grew up in the odd period where Instagram had only just started being a thing. There was very little vintage or retro unless you were a serious collector. I was starting to infuse my love for old movies and music of the golden age into my posting in a day and age where people were posting food with the filter on top of it left and right. By this I mean I'd do artistic layout shots of my favorite cassette tapes and other trinkets that are a part of my personality. Kind of my own moodboards if you will. A lot of people picked up on this and raved about how they remembered these artists from their youth. Now there are lots of people that even connect with this certain look which I got heavily from 80s groupiedom and ideas that will be featured in my own music. And that was always one of my biggest goals, to have rock appeal to a wider female audience because I know I didn't have that and always strived to bring a sense of femininity everywhere I went. I actually like to modernize what I do a bit, spice it up.
What would you like to say to your fans and to those just discovering you now about what to expect from Ana Moll in the new year?
I think that there'll be something for everyone, even if it's just one song that speaks to you. Hope you stick around for the wild ride! XO.
And a personal thank you to you too for reaching out as well.
