Anna Duboc has accomplished what many others strive to do in a decade. This 19-year-old singer-songwriter-producer has amassed over 60 million streams and established herself as one of the most promising newcomers in indie pop. And the interesting thing is that she has the best things left to do!
On August 7th, Duboc releases “Toxin,” her lead single from the debut adult EP Once in a Blue Moon, released via The Orchard. The EP will feature the likes of Vinnie Colaiuta, Rhonda Smith, Gary Novak, Tom Crouch, Billie Eilish collaborator Finneas, and Vixen, connected with Halsey.
The best part about it? Duboc plans to celebrate her upcoming birthday in style! She will perform a showcase at The Mint in Los Angeles on August 28th, which will also mark her 20th birthday. And the best part about it? Most of the people choose to get a cake, while Duboc chooses to craft a setlist.
Where Is The Buzz spoke with Duboc about her journey, her inspirations, the session musicians who played on her EP, and how she feels about finally releasing her work.
She Got 60 Million Streams and Chose to Be Quiet
It’s hard to say no to an opportunity that could put you on the map. But there are always artists who take another path and choose quality over quantity. Duboc decided to be silent for some time, keep writing and working on her music, to finally decide on her sound.
“I think the transition happened really naturally as I grew up. It wasn’t necessarily about becoming an adult overnight, but about gaining a stronger sense of who I am and how I want to be perceived as an artist,” she said.
And this silence may seem strange as Duboc already has tens of millions of streams. Yet, this artist uses it as a benefit, taking a chance to explore her sound further and find out what parts of her she wants to share with the audience.
“Over the past few years, I’ve taken time to figure out what I want my music to sound like and what parts of myself I want people to connect with. There was a bit of a gap between my last original release and this one because I wanted to slow down, keep writing, and really discover my sound instead of rushing something out,” she explained.
Choosing Lead Single Is Usually a Board Meeting Thing. This One Was a Family Talk.
It’s a pretty common practice to choose a lead single in a board meeting. However, Duboc did not follow it. Instead, she asked the people who knew her the best which song they liked and followed their advice.
“When it came time to choose the first song for this new chapter, I actually asked some of the people closest to me what resonated with them most. ‘Toxin’ just felt right. It’s fun, it’s lyrically playful, and it captures the emotional honesty and sonic direction that feel the most like me right now,” she added.
The Legendary Session Musicians Who Have Taught Her So Much
If you look at the credits of Once in a Blue Moon, you’ll see only the names of famous session musicians there. But this project has special meaning for Duboc, as thanks to her mother, she’s known these musicians since childhood; this time, she invited them to collaborate with her on this EP.
“It’s been an incredible experience. I actually grew up around a lot of these musicians because of my mom, so I’ve been lucky enough to learn from them for years. Being able to collaborate with them on this project feels really special,” she mentioned.
There is nothing more exciting than hearing how a programmed song turns into a live one after it was recorded. Real drums bring the song not only life, but a lot of energy as well. And Duboc experienced it firsthand.
“Vinnie Colaiuta and Gary Novak both bring so much life to a song through their playing. I love organic instrumentation, and hearing the difference between a demo and a track with live drums is amazing. There’s an energy that comes from real musicians playing together that you just can’t recreate,” she said.
Bass also gets this special treatment. The playing of the famous musician Rhonda Smith adds such character and depth to every track and makes it unique. Having the opportunity to work with such musicians as Duboc did helped her to make her music come to life.
Finding Her Own Voice
Duboc says that her latest work is her most personal so far. And the thing is that knowing your voice is a process that takes time to complete.
“I think this project feels the most like me. As you grow, you naturally start to understand your voice more clearly, and I’ve become much more confident in what I want my music to sound like,” she said.
But there is always something that helps to get to your voice. In her case, it was a notebook. Younger Duboc was extremely harsh with herself and tried to correct everything immediately. But now she gives her ideas more chances to develop.
“One of the biggest changes has been giving myself permission to explore every idea without judging it too quickly. When I was younger, I’d write something down and immediately think, ‘No, that’s not good enough,’ and move on. Now I let ideas breathe. Sometimes the lines I almost throw away end up becoming my favorites,” she said.
Duboc’s sonic preferences are really peculiar for an artist of her age. They include real instruments, organic production, and big vocal stacks.
“I’ve also spent a lot of time figuring out the musical elements that I connect with most. I love live instruments, organic production, huge vocal stacks, and layered harmonies. Those have become defining parts of my sound,” she added.
Some artists tend to be honest when it comes to lyrics. But some manage to use humor. And Duboc did it perfectly on her new EP Once in a Blue Moon.
“Lyrically, I’ve always been very open and vulnerable, but this project also gave me the chance to experiment with being a little more playful,” she explained. “That balance between honesty and having fun feels much more authentic to who I am today.”
A Birthday, a Deadline, and a Lot of People in the Room
It’s a perfect day. But why? Well, on August 28th, Duboc’s debut EP will be released, she’ll perform at her hometown showcase at The Mint in Los Angeles, and the same day she’ll officially become an adult. And this is far from being an accident.
“It definitely feels like the beginning of a new chapter,” she said.
Being an adult is always scary, especially when you’re celebrating your 20th birthday. Duboc realizes that nothing much changes when you become 20, but there is something extremely symbolic in it.
“Turning 20 is a little intimidating. I know not much actually changes overnight, but it feels like such a symbolic milestone. Your teenage years are behind you, and you’re stepping into a completely different phase of life,” she admitted.
And Duboc understands that the EP is her perfect introduction to this new stage of her life.
“Releasing this EP at the same time feels like the perfect way to introduce who I’m becoming, both as an artist and as a person. I’m still figuring myself out, but I think that’s part of what this project captures,” she said.
Despite the huge number of streams and well-known musicians who collaborated with her on this project, the main point that Duboc talks about is the stage performances.
“Looking ahead, I hope these songs take on a life of their own once they’re on stage. Performing has always been my favorite part of making music, and I can’t wait to share these songs with people live and see where they take me,” she said.
“Toxin” will arrive on August 7th. Anna Duboc will play The Mint in Los Angeles on August 28th.
