CheekyChicago

With a new self-produced album Felony Flats coming out on March 13 and a tour with Scars on 45, Anya Marina is the definition of a talented, independent and Cheeky female artist that’s ready to give rock a run for its money.

Cheeky: Tell us a little about yourself.

Anya Marina: Well, I’m a Libra. I live in Portland, Oregon. I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and grew up in Northern California. I lived and worked in Southern California for a really long time doing radio as a DJ in San Diego, and then I moved up to L.A. after I got signed to Chop Shop (record label) and started working full time as a musician. Then the last two years I’ve lived in Portland. I love Portland. It’s made for me.

Cheeky: What’s the best thing about touring?

AM: The pace is really great for someone like me. I’m a homebody and sometimes, living in Portland, I really miss the ambition of Los Angeles. Portland’s not a city of industry in terms of entertainment. Going on tour is a little kickstart of being in work mode and it’s just an unrelenting pace. It’s fun getting to play your songs night after night. It’s really a treat.

Cheeky: And you’re coming out with a new album soon called Felony Flats.

AM: That will be out March 13. I produced it myself in Portland and recorded it in Portland. It’s a much more raw, electrified kind of album with teeth. It’s got more of a bite than the last one, and it’s probably the most “me” of all the records in terms of sound and all of the creative choices. I’m really excited for the new record and everything new that comes along with it. I’ve got a great band. I’ll add that I’m playing with a group of great guys that people should come out and see. Paulie Pulvirenti on the drums, Jeff Bond on bass, and Christian Hurd is our new guitarist.

Cheeky: What is your writing process like?

AM: I will do anything to put it off. The day I’m supposed to write a song is the day I decide that I think it’d be really awesome to clean out all of my cabinets or cook an elaborate meal or go for a four-hour-long walk. I usually don’t really leave the house for a few days. I really have trouble detaching from it and then coming back. It’s kind of fun to immerse yourself in it, and then when you’re done it’s the biggest release. It’s rewarding.

Cheeky: Tell us about your articles for the Huffington Post.

AM: I’m writing a new column for them called “Adventures of a Lady in Rock.” It’s a somewhat unique perspective of women on the road. I need the feedback from other women to know how they get along, how they survive on the road, how they thrive on the road, and how they thrive in this particular career. It’s incredibly unique, this experience.  I haven’t been doing this forever, it’s really only been the past four years, and I want to be doing it for a long time, so in that sense, I sort of need feedback from my peers. In a sense, writing this column is just a selfish attempt to understand the industry better and how I can enjoy it for as long as possible.

Cheeky: What’s the Cheekiest thing that you’ve done in the past year?

AM: I am so proud that I listened to a friend who said, “You should produce Felony Flats yourself.“ I was hell-bent against that… I never thought I could do it myself. And then I just thought, “Okay, I’ll try it.” And it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Everything came out sounding so much better than I thought. I have this really strong sense of self-doubt, and I think the boldest thing I did was to say to that voice, “That’s nice, and we’re going to put you aside and make this record the best one we can.” And it is. It really is.

Follow Anya on Twitter, check out her website and “Like” her Facebook Fan page.