Meet Singer-Songwriter Ana Paz • Based in Miami, FL
In 2007, when we started LIVE!, we collaborated with an event in the Bal Harbour area called Movies on the Green. It was our first time taking our student bands to a real gig! It was such a lovely day; I remember the trees beautifully decorated with origami paper cranes flowing in the wind, and many people gathered outside for a breezy afternoon of music, food, and a movie. Ana Paz was participating, too, alongside her mother's piano school, Paz Piano. Our paths crossed for the first time there, and since then, Ana has become an important part of our lives.
Cut to a couple of years later, and she joined LIVE! as a teenager, eager to play in a band and pursue her singing. Cut to even more years later, and she joined the team, carefully sharing her knowledge and guiding students. Throughout the years, we've witnessed her process, and she has been around for our process, too, always present to lend her attention and advice.
Ana is a soulful human, full of insight and peace, as her last name accurately depicts. She has mesmerized us since the beginning, and we overflow with admiration for the artist she's become.
@lifeoftico
Her voice and prose, the color palette for her music, are as entrancing as they are profound. Without further ado, meet Ana Paz.
Ana querida! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're curious to know about your artistic evolution, how you see it, what you've been through, and what's your ultimate destination.
You've forged an artistic identity that's been growing since your first solo show. What was that process like? What were some things you had to overcome, and how do you describe the evolution of your stage presence?
It's wonderful to witness the growth in every show. You have no reference point in the first show, so it's really hard to imagine what will happen as you keep playing. At first, every show feels overwhelming; a huge responsibility to provide something different and worthwhile every time you play, especially since your audience is small. And at some point, something starts to click. I found a flow in the show, the nerves went away, and I started having fun being a witness to what would happen with every performance - the challenges, the mistakes, the imperfections - and just enjoying being present and learning through them, holding space for myself as I am and the audience as well.
Community-wise, I know you've found your people in Miami's music/art scene; how has that aspect encouraged or motivated you?
I honestly really underestimated the importance of being part of a community. I've always been stubbornly independent, not wanting to fit into any box or clique. But that can be very alienating and lonely, and I've fallen into that trap in the past. And I didn't realize how I was covering up fear of rejection by not putting myself out there. So learning how to open up and show up as my full self in the community, and receiving support from artists and musicians whom I really admire has been one of the most encouraging experiences of my life. It's the most intimidating thing to be so vulnerable and share your art with other artists, and also the most motivating to feel their appreciation for what you have to offer. That has become what drives me to work at my craft every day.
What is your songwriting process like? Where do you draw inspiration, and how do you begin writing a song?
Songwriting is my favorite part of music! If I could I would just do that all day! I remember as a kid having a really hard time learning songs because I would get distracted by ideas of something I could create - it was also just more fun to make something new than to learn something someone else had written! I always start with the music, whether melodies or chords, whether singing or playing piano, guitar, or bass. A lot of times they just pop up in my mind while I'm doing something else, like any random thought. If I have time, I'll flesh them out. At the least, I always try to record them on a voice memo. My favorite app is actually Spire - it's like having 8 tracks of voice memos! So you can layer and arrange and record different parts no matter where you are, it's amazing! When I lived in walking-friendly cities, I remember using Spire on my commute all the time - that was always so fun! I hadn't thought about that, but being a passenger will instantly get me in a writing flow. There's something about being in motion (but not being the driver!) that does some magic. As for other sources of inspiration, I think the human experience is the biggest one in all its complexities. I'm just fascinated with the infinite possibilities there are to human life, and at the same time, they're all the same. Whether I start with something spontaneous or with an intentional concept, the most important part of the process for me is to listen to what the feeling I'm trying to transmit is, and then from there build up the rest of the missing parts, whether it's music or lyrics.
Tell us about your latest single with Cesar, Despiadado Corazón; what’s the story?
Despiadado Corazón is an indie-pop-bossa and is an ode to the feeling of "saudade." It tells the story of acceptance after heartbreak, of trusting actions over intentions, of not believing empty promises, and of finding truth in actions. It captures the feeling of accepting reality no matter how different it may be from our desires. The song and music video were both incredible collaborative projects with so many talented artists around the world! It was so special to witness and be part of the love that was poured into the project and how everyone was putting the best parts of themselves into creating something bigger than any of us. The main character of the story we're telling is named SPKTR. A local designer made the costume, which we took with us to Europe to film promotional videos and brought back to Miami to film the music video with some of the best local dancers, videographers, and artists.
Follow CES @cespaniagua
@bykanvas | Album art credit @francoart | Costume Design @dan.morillo
Are you mostly happy, content, satisfied, and proud of your creations? Was it always like that? If not, what changed?
I would always enjoy my own creations but would be very nervous and excessively critical of myself when it came to sharing them with the rest of the world. The fear of criticism or rejection was very overwhelming in the past! And it's almost surreal to see how much that has changed in just the past couple of years. Pushing past those fears and facing the challenges has brought me so much reassurance from other musicians and artists that I've admired and didn't expect I'd receive support from.
You recently collaborated on a live recording with Munir Hossn; can you walk us through that experience?
The story behind this and the whole experience still feels surreal! A couple months before this live recording, Munir was looking for new musicians to sing and play in his latest project. He was asking his friends for recommendations, and someone from the local music community recommended me. I had just uploaded a few covers on Instagram and it was enough for him to ask me to be a part of the project! That moment really showed me how you never know what doors may open from putting yourself out there. From there on out, the whole experience was incredibly rewarding, inspiring, and reassuring! I played two live shows with the new project and then he got an opportunity to do a live recording with The Blackroom Sessions. I felt my growth as a musician so deeply from being able to play with such incredible and humble musicians. They were all so supportive and encouraging! And the whole experience really built trust in myself and in the path I'm following - that's priceless.
Follow Munir Hossn @munirhossn
@theblackroomsessions | @lightfxstudios
Follow Ana on IG and Spotify:
And lastly, what is your ultimate dream project as an artist and musician?
My ultimate dream project is arranging and performing my songs with an orchestra. To feel that energy on stage in a concert hall with your own original music must be incomparable to anything else. It's gonna happen :)
———
Yes, it will, Ana. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and for being an inspiration, always!
With love,
–Lu
Cover photo @bykanvas
