Born in Brazil, Ana Galeli grew up in Los Angeles. A prolific singer songwriter, she started out by writing melodies for EDM artists. Following some major label releases, she honed her skills in songwriting camps. During the pandemic, she moved to Paris, where she finally took the time to record her debut EP, Toyland.

Congratulations on Toyland again, lovely work. Can you tell me a bit about the making of that EP?

Thank you! So I had a session in 2019, right after the American Music Awards. I had a songwriting session during the week I was there for that. I met with Alan Roy Scott, who is a very prolific songwriter. He's written hits for the likes of Gloria Estefan, on the Top Gun soundtrack, right? We had met at a songwriting camp in Spain before. So we met up with my friend Jason Taylor at his studio and we wrote the title track Toyland, based on some experiences I had that week.

And it was too good to just keep on the computer. It had to come out.

I showed the track to Martin Chourrout and Simon Beaudoux, my friends from Paris, who I also met in songwriting camp. We were doing some work together and we kind of started seeing what we could do with it. Eventually, they offered “let's work on that song, but let's do more songs. Let's just do an EP!” And I was all for it.

I did move to Paris for several reasons, and one of them was because I really wanted to work on this in person. And so that's how it started.

That sounds great. I do a lot of remote work these days but I sure miss in person sessions.

Being in person is everything. We can do this, we can do online sessions all the time, but it's not the same. You're missing that human touch that is so important, that happens in a session.

When you're not in the room, it's not the same. It could have always been a little better, but we do what we can. We just gotta get on with technology.

But we need human touch, we need interaction face-to-face. That's how we were made. We weren't made to be looking at a screen. I don't know how people do it, but I can't accept that for sure. I mean, I can accept that we have to get on with the times, but we need to see each other in person. It can’t replace the real thing.

Agreed. Where did you work in Paris?

We worked at their studio in Pantin first, that's where we wrote half the songs. And then they moved to another studio in the 20^th arrondissement. That was pretty awesome because it was right behind the Père Lachaise Cemetery. The first day that I visited, we went to the cemetery because I had never been. And man, that really sparked a lot of inspiration, especially for the song Take It Slow, which we wrote that day.

I saw Jim Morrison's grave in person. I think I was 26 at the time. When I was a kid and I was learning about Jim Morrison, it felt like he was so old, right? But when you get to that age, you realize he was just a kid. I definitely felt like a kid at that age. I still do. You kind of realize how young 27 is, and you're thinking about Amy Winehouse and all these people... Death is sad, but to leave so young is a tragedy. Even though they had done so much... That makes you kind of think that they had such a long life.

But sometimes that's how it is. Some people do a lot in a short amount of time. They just give everything they have to give.

What's on the front burner?

I've been thinking a lot about how we connect with each other. It feels like it's getting harder and harder for humans to meet each other organically. I don't know, it's not a good thing.

It's not something that I think about all day long, but it's just some observations you make. I think we need to get back to talking to each other. A lot of people are afraid of what could happen. What could the reaction be? Why is there this blockage?

Because I think they're only afraid to initiate, because it's well received. It's more well received than people imagine.

Our lives are way too digital right now. I feel like getting rid of all of that social media stuff and just being like, how can I live as organic as possible? But that's not how it works. Because you make all these connections around the world, how are you gonna stay in touch?
I don't know. Anyway. It's a lot, it's overwhelming.

Where does the fire come from? All this creative energy?

For me, the only explanation is God. All of a sudden I'll get an idea about what a song could be about. If I'm on my own, maybe I'll put something down. But if I'm in a studio with somebody, or another musician wants to sit down and write, I'm going to respond to that. I will sit down, we will write, we will make something in that chance, in that opportunity, because there's definitely something that happens when you come together with somebody else creatively.

When I'm hearing someone's chords, the melody comes in, it just kind of happens, you know? But again, I definitely have a lot of inspiration that comes from above. It's basically where all my inspiration comes from to be honest.

Do you feel like you always had that?

I feel the melody thing has been something that I've been doing since I was a little kid. I've been singing at church since I was five years old, but I couldn't write lyrics.

I was very poetic, but I just couldn't do lyrics for a long time. And one day I prayed really hard to be able to write a song one day. And that was the first song I ever wrote that had like structure and everything.

Obviously, down the line, when I started working with more writers and doing more writing camps, I started picking up a couple of formulas and structure ideas. But I believe strongly that music is spiritual, and it comes from a place.

Are you writing anything at the moment?

I think you always have to keep writing because you always have to keep practicing. It's like going to the gym, right? You stop, you will see a difference. You have to keep exercising that part in your mind.

But sometimes it feels like I shouldn't write. I'm practicing trying to be less attached. Because I don't wanna give life to a song that's just gonna stay in my notes or my voice app. You're constantly thinking, you know, this has to have a home.

The truth is, not all of them will have one. So I guess it's coming to terms with that. I wanna be intentional about the things that I do personally. I try to be as intentional as I can with what I do.

Connect with Ana on Instagram so that you don’t miss her upcoming releases. Toyland is available on her website and on all streaming platforms.

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