Anna Katarina's Journey Through Music

Anna Katarina, a rising star in the international music scene, is captivating audiences with her authentic voice and dynamic performances. Hailing from the breathtaking landscapes of British Columbia and North Carolina in North America, her music seamlessly blends elements of Indie-Pop, Americana, soul, and 70s rock, drawing inspiration from icons like Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, and Sheryl Crow. She is undeniably a truly talented artist destined to become a superstar.

Having showcased her talents at prestigious events such as Ireland's "Your Roots Are Showing" Folk Conference and Mexico's Sand & Strings Festival. Anna is now gearing up for a European tour, with stops planned in Germany, Belgium, and Denmark. As anticipation builds for the release of her sophomore record, Anna's career trajectory is on a meteoric rise, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more of her mesmerizing music.

In addition to her musical prowess, Anna has also made waves in the modeling world, gracing the art of prestigious websites such as Playboy Plus with her harmonious and healthy body and charming attitude. Now, she offers an exclusive interview to Magcondo, providing insights into her multifaceted career and the inspirations behind her amazing artistry.

• As a multi-talented individual, how do you balance your music career with your work as a Playboy model? Do you find any synergies between the two?

I’m focused on music now - so there isn’t too much to balance in regards to music and modelling. I loved my experiences with Playboy, but it just doesn’t fit in my life right now.

• What led you to pursue a career in both singing and modelling? How do these two passions complement each other in your life?

I’ve always been passionate about music and performing. It was around me a lot as a child, and I just had an innate knowing that it’s what I wanted to spend most of my life doing. Modelling was a natural transgression because I love performing so much and feel natural in front of the camera. It’s also been empowering as a woman who has struggled a lot with body image. As a musician, so much of our promotion is about visuals and short-form content. Being a model has helped me accumulate a ton of cool photos and allowed me to work with some amazing photographers all over the world. It’s been generally a great way to meet other artists and introduce my music to people who may not have heard it otherwise.

• Your journey to success must have been fascinating. Can you share some of the challenges you faced along the way and how you overcame them?

Haha! Well I’m still on the journey to success - but the journey is what it’s all about. There are honestly so many challenges, I could fill up a whole page or more. To name a few: financial: it’s extremely difficult to make enough money to live let alone reinvest in my career to continue building it; confidence: it’s tough to constantly be your own cheerleader and stay convinced that you are worth people’s attention; balance: finding the synergy between hustling and resting; creativity; when you’re working all the time, it’s hard to have the mental space for creativity but if you aren’t working all the time, you don’t have the money or growth… which brings me back to financial challenges…. I think I overcome them by always coming back to gratitude. I work hard, and I choose this lifestyle every day but I am extremely privileged to live in a country where I can pursue my art. Many, many others are not in the same position.

• What inspired you to become a musician? Are there any specific artists or genres that have had a significant influence on your music?

Like I mentioned previously, it’s just in my blood… kind of like the idea of a ‘muse” – it’s unexplainable but I just feel like I was put on this earth to play music and sing. I have so many incredible influences (especially women)….. My mom, my grandparents, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Stevie Nicks, Linda Rondstadt, Brandi Carlile, Leanne La Havas, Charlotte Day Wilson, Joey Landreth, Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers, Carole King, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James…

Click here to see Anna Katarina´s videoclip For Ellie (Live)

• How did you get involved with Playboy modeling, and what has been your experience like being featured in the magazine?

My photographer is from the same hometown as me (we even graduated from the same highschool, at different times) and we were connected by another local. I love shooting with Cassandra - she’s so lovely and has a beautiful style. She is also a model so she understands photography from the model’s perspective. We’ve shot in many places around British Columbia as well as Baja Sur, Mexico.

• Being in the public eye, how do you handle the scrutiny and attention that comes with your career choices?
  

Ooooof - honestly, it can be quite tough. I definitely have nice-girl-syndrome and want everyone to like me, which isn’t healthy nor possible. When I have difficult scrutiny, I turn to what’s important: the people who are in my corner and support me. My family is incredible. I focus on supporting myself by standing by the decisions I’ve made and not trying to change my choices based on other people’s opinions. It’s not easy, but with practice, you can get better at letter it roll off your back.

• As a role model for many, how do you use your platform to empower others, particularly young women who aspire to follow their dreams?
  

It’s important to me to stay honest and open in public and speak out about things that are serious and affect humanity, especially mental health. I am approachable and I love to talk with women and younger people who are trying to figure out their direction. It can be game-changing to feel like you have someone in your corner, who cares about you. So, it’s important to me to have time to have meaningful conversations with people so that they feel heard.

Particularly with modelling, I encourage women to ask themselves why they are doing it. It can be very empowering but it can also feel terrible and degrading: it’s a fine line and it’s good to find your boundaries and not go passed them. This is one of the reasons I haven’t been modelling anymore. It doesn’t resonate with me right now. So I have to respect that. It’s good to constantly check in with yourself. Also - always check references if you are meeting a stranger alone!

• You have a unique combination of talents, but there might be stereotypes or misconceptions associated with being a Playboy model. How do you challenge those preconceptions and showcase your true personality and abilities?

This is the million-dollar question. It’s very difficult and most of the time it’s just me reminding myself that if people don’t like what I’m doing especially because they judge me for having modelled for Playboy, then they aren’t my audience or my friend. I do my best to stay open and honest in my songwriting and with how I show up on social media. There already is still a lot of stigma surrounding women in the music industry (For example, I was once asked to give my boyfriend back his guitar - it was mine.) So that’s already something every woman faces. Adding on top of it the fact that I’ve done some modelling…. I get so many inappropriate comments and weird dudes sending me messages that I do not want nor asked for. Sometimes I just want to scream TAKE ME SERIOUSLY but, as I said before, those people don’t matter - at all. I used to try and educate them by having conversations about how their behaviour is inappropriate, but I just don’t have the time or care anymore. It’s not worth my energy. So, to answer your question concisely, I try to just stay true to myself and let that show up in my art and on social media, and try to ignore the assholes. :)

Some pics modelling for Playboy

• In the entertainment industry, there can be a lot of pressure to conform to certain standards. How do you stay true to yourself while navigating through such expectations?

 This is very true, especially as a woman. It’s a journey, and my art is always evolving. More and more, I am trying to make decisions from the creative perspective rather than the industry perspective. There is a balance in that, but I do work to shut out the noise and not think about what other people are doing. Especially when I’m writing or improvising, I try not to judge my own ideas and just let them flourish and see where they go. It’s very, very hard to be creative and write anything real when you are trying to conform to social and industry pressures. In my opinion, there is a lot of crap music out there because there are a lot of songs being pumped out by teams of 30, creating “products” with huge marketing budgets. That’s not me and I can’t compete with that. I try to check in a lot and ask myself: does this feel like me? Where is this song coming from? Why am I recording this? Why am I making this decision?

• What has been the most memorable experience in your career so far, either as a singer or a Playboy model?

I love to travel so much and have done a lot of backpacking, so it always feels like a dream come true when I get to travel for work. My favourite place to model was in Pescadero, Mexico with Playboy. My favourite place to tour music is anywhere in Europe. :)

•   Your music and modeling career have likely taken you to many different places very successfully. Can you share any exciting or memorable moments from your travels?

When I was on location in Mexico, we discovered a giant rattlesnake sleeping just behind where the photographer was standing. We kept shooting because we were halfway through, then the mexican police came and kicked us out because we were “trespassing” - nothing bad happened but there was some good old excitement. 🙂

•  How do you prepare yourself mentally and emotionally before a performance or a photoshoot?

Before performing, I always warm-up and stretch my voice. I like to have an hour or two of quiet (talking is one of the worst things for singing). I like to make one intention for each show; something to focus on. This helps with my own growth as a musician as well as hones in my focus. It feels a bit meditative. For both photoshoots and performing, I want to show up feeling and looking confident and the best representation of myself. I love fashion and outfits, so it’s always fun picking out what I’ll wear.

• With your busy schedule, how do you find time for self-care and personal development?

This is another ongoing journey…. It ebbs and flows. I do a lot of yoga, so I try to incorporate a consistent practice when I’m on the road and attend classes wherever I can. The most important thing for my self-care is taking care of my body. I am very careful about what I eat and drink, always travel with a massive bag of supplements, measure my sleep haha, drink a lot of water…. Keeping my physical body healthy is crucial for my mental health and vice versa, so it is always a priority for me. I also love getting into nature as often as possible and spending time with people I love.

• As an artist, what do you hope to achieve in the future? Are there any particular goals or projects you're working towards?
  

I’ve got some recording sessions booked in January – I’m working on some live band versions of songs off my album, Daisychain. I am also in the planning stages of my next album. :) I’ll be touring a lot next year – all over the world. I’m also going to be spending more time in Vancouver, CA – there is a small but mighty music community there.

• What advice would you give to aspiring musicians and models who want to make a mark in the industry?

Stay true to yourself, always strive for balance, don’t compare yourself to your peers, stay humble, don’t get too self-involved and ask people questions about their lives. I will also share a something one of my mentors recently told me: Find another way to make money that you enjoy. It’s hard to make ends meet as an artist, and can take the joy out of the process very very fast. This was said by a very successful Canadian musician and surprised me, but it was exactly what I needed to here. Adding on that, don’t let industry and social standards define whether or not you’re an artist. You are already an artist.

Anna Katarina Official Website

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