In this fierce and fearless interview, AnnaBella dives into the raw emotion and real-life experiences behind their bold new single “Where Are Your Balls” — a fiery anthem of rage and empowerment.
1.
“Where Are Your Balls” pulls no punches — what was the catalyst for writing
such a bold, confrontational anthem?
From our last singles and also our EP the catalyst is and was men and their
behaviour. As a woman, especially in the music scene you experience a lot of
chauvinsm. We collected all of the best quotes and made some songs about. That
is the best reaction you can have.
2. The track channels raw energy and unapologetic emotion. Was it written in
a single burst of rage, or did it evolve over time?
Actually it was written real quickly after our „encounter“ with this special
guy the song is about. But unfortunately it is suitable for many others we met
until.
It was written some years ago but didn´t fit on the last EP, so we waited for
the right time and the right production team and now it’s here.
3. Lyrically, it blends biting sarcasm with empowerment. How do you strike
that balance without diluting the message?
That is a good question and a bit hard to answer. I always write my lyric with
my full emotions and they really come from the heart. So it is basically how I
feel. I would like to empower myself but I also have to ridicule them.
At first the situations with some guys on dates made me sad and angry but
looking back it is so funny because of the weird behaviour. I seem to be a
magnet for weird guys which is actually good because there is going to be more
songs to come.
4. “Where are your balls, when the night falls?” is such a powerful line —
can you talk about what that chorus means to you personally?
It sounds very poetic but it was literally what happened with this guy. At
first -in „daytime“ he was all talks and flirts and later at night when he had
to be the man he claimed to be he always chickened out and ran away. That´s how
the line came to be because I realised he just didn´t have the balls at night.
:-D
5. Riot grrrl energy meets modern production — what artists helped shape
your sound, and how do you keep it authentically yours?
My inspiration comes from powerful women like Taylor Momsen from the Pretty
Reckless, Lizzy Hale from Halestorm, Amy Lee from Evanescence and many more
that inspired my on my way to rock.
My roots are in musical theater. I sang a lot of power ballads from this genre
which helped me to strenghten my voice and create a unique style. One of my
vocal idols is Christina Aguilera because she has such powerhouse vocals and a
wide range of musical expression.
6. How important is it for you to use music as a way to call out toxic
behavior and emotional immaturity?
It is the best way for me not only to cope with the situation but also take
revenge and let my music be the emotional support blog for all the women who
face simular situations like I did.
7. Let’s talk production — the distorted guitars and punchy drums really
bring the fire. What was the vibe like in the studio while recording this
track?
My team consisting of Olly Veit and Leo „Bonsai“ Weidinger are really the heart
and soul of the production. They recorded the instrumental parts with such
energy and fire. They really bring my vision of my composition to life. They
know how I feel and what I want to express and how I want to sound.
It is always so much fun to work with them. And they are really into gang
shouts which is great and they invite the whole band and all friends to
participate.
So every recording is like a big party.
8. Many fans are calling this a “breakup revenge anthem.” Does that label
resonate with you, or is there a deeper message you hope listeners take away?
Technically it is a pre-breakup anthem and maybe a warning for all other women
not to get involved with this guy.
But of course it has breakup vibes…
9. As a frontwoman delivering this much attitude and presence, what
challenges have you faced in owning your voice in a still male-dominated genre?
As a woman it is really not easy especially in a hard fought sector and a small
market like in Austria.
They always say they are open for equal oppurtinities but in reality it is not
the case. You have to stand out and be sexy, but if you are too sexy you are
slutty and some people say it is just the looks and not the music people care
about.
You always get mean comments and the occasional sugar daddy offers.
Some former band collugues want to dictate your outfit or your songs. When I
get booked for the gigs , they celebrated like it was all their work and later
use magic eraser to remove me from old promo pics. It is annoying but you can´t
do nothing about thier egos.
So I sit back and write some more songs.
10. Some might say the song is “too aggressive” or “too much” — what would
you say to them?
Then don´t listen to it and just be happy this song is not about you ..or maybe
it is if you have such an attiutde J.
11. Do you see AnnaBella as part of a bigger wave of female-led rock acts
reclaiming space and volume in the scene?
I really hope, but Austria is still very old school and traditional. So women
better cook than make music.
But I really hope it will change soon. This is only the beginning.
12. Finally, what’s next? Will this single set the tone for future releases,
and can we expect even more rawness, rage, and rebellion down the line?
The next song will be a rock ballad about death and mourning, but my goal is to
keep the naughty punk like style of „Where are yoru balls?“ and the song before
which „Black & Red“ for the way into our next EP.
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