Rising Artist Annie Tracy Opens Up About Her Soulful Sound, Signature Style & What It Means To Be 'Vulnerably Savage'
- By: Ashley Joy Parker
One To Watch…..
With an effortlessly cool vibe, unapologetic authenticity, and a voice that shakes the walls, it’s no surprise that Annie Tracy has attracted a fervent following who feel, seen, heard, and inspired.
Born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, Annie first explored her vocal chops by participating in theatre, before settling into her now signature sound, which is vibey mix of soul, R&B pop, and pure passion. And while Annie’s voice is undeniably powerful, she leans into a kind of vulnerability in her songwriting that few artists would dare to reveal.
Under the mentorship of Grammy-winning producer Tricky Stewart—who has worked with Beyoncé, Rihanna, Mary J Blige, Mariah Carey, and more—Annie released her debut EP Act I in 2023. She quickly followed it up with the rawer, more emotional EP Act II, featuring tear-inducing tracks like “We Used To Talk” and the single “Close To You,” featuring Robin Thicke.
As Annie works on crafting her next Act, (more on that later) she continues to prioritize her connection with her audience, whether it’s through social media or storytelling during an intimate gig.
Following her recent performance at BMI’s Acoustic Sunset Sessions at Skybar at Mondrian Los Angeles, Loop Magazine caught up with the rising star where she opened up about her musical journey, her signature style her summertime plans, and more.
Check out our exclusive interview with Annie Tracy below.
Tell us your origin story as an artist.
I popped out of the womb singing. It was always a part of me, but I never thought I would be in the music industry. It just seemed so far away. I did theater growing up until I realized I was tired of playing parts and singing other people’s songs. I thought, that if I’m doing the arts, I should be doing what I feel in my heart, regardless of what happens. I just started writing, performing, and posting videos, and then next thing you know, I found my team and we kept getting better. Somehow, I got here by just singing and trusting that this is what I’m supposed to do.
You have a layered and powerful voice. Did you have any specific musical influences growing up?
I always say the person who taught me how to sing was Beyoncé. I listened to the Dreamgirls soundtrack on repeat, as well as the Dixie Chicks. They all have these vocal textures that are soulful and rough and passionate and raw. I learned from them. And of course, I discovered other iconic singers like Whitney and Adele. I was always obsessed with “singer” singers.
How did you discover your now signature sound?
Luckily, I have a mom that encouraged me to sing as me. She put me into vocal lessons but told the teachers to let her do what feels right to her. So that’s one. And then two, I would say through doing theater and having to sing like certain characters. I quickly found out “Oh, I don’t want to sing like that, or I do want to see like this.” Or I would be told, “Don’t sing it like this, sing it like this.” So by the time I left doing theater, I knew exactly what excites me.
Last year, you released your first EP Act I and then earlier this year, you dropped Act II. Were they always meant to be sister projects or were you just overflowing with songs?
I had just been writing nonstop. Tricky told me, “It’s your superpower.” He said, “Everyone thinks it’s your voice, which, sure it is, but it’s really your songwriting.” All I would do was write and record and then I had all these songs, but as a new artist, I didn’t expect anyone to listen to a full-length album right away. So I had the idea of splitting it up into three parts. You saw Act I then Act II and the final one, still to come, is Act Up. Each one is a little bit different. Act I is a mixture of it all. Act II I go deeper and get really personal and more emotional. For Act Up, we turn up. It’s all the sassy, sexy songs.
I just love writing everything. I don’t want to be in a box or be just one type of artist. I figure, let me put it all out there.
You are known for writing some really vulnerable lyrics. How have the fans reacted to your more personal tracks?
It’s amazing, to the point where I’m like, oh, this is why I’m doing this. I get novel-length DMs of how people feel like I’m writing their story or they feel like I know exactly what they’re going through. When people come up to me after my shows, and they’re emotional about certain songs like, “Crying On The Subway,” it’s really special and very beautiful. Writing is just such a personal thing. You’re on your own and the next thing you know, other people are hearing your diary entries and then crying with you about them. It will never not blow my mind.
How do you harness your strength when you are going through a tough time and still be such a badass in the studio?
People have described my music as “vulnerably savage.” Like you are vulnerable one second, but then the next moment, you’re empowered. My mentality has always been that it’s cool to feel things. But I don’t like to hold on to them for a long time, it’s more like, okay, we felt it, now what do we need to do to get over it? Then usually, it is an empowering or a sassy song or a piece of art or a movie or whatever helps you lock into what you need to hear. I try to write what I need to hear, what I need to feel, and then the pep talk to get our “boss shit back.
You worked with Robin Thicke on your single, “Close To You.” Tell us how you guys connected and how that track developed.
He was the first artist I officially ever collaborated with but we never actually met in person. I wrote that song with the producer Mike Sabath in LA. Tricky is a very close friend of Robin’s and he sent the song to him because Mike was singing the bridge vocals and thought it sounded like a duet. Robin ended up loving it so much that he recorded vocals and sent them back to me that same night. It’s just a small vibey bridge but he was so passionate about the song and wanted to support me. He even went as far as to put it on his Spotify too so all of his fans would hear it. I’m so grateful.
Do you prefer gigs with a larger audience or performing in a more intimate setting?
Anytime I have the opportunity to perform and connect with people, it is very special for me. I feel like it’s what I was born to do. But I will say, I love an intimate crowd because I love to see people and talk to people. I love telling stories about the songs that nobody knows and only the people in the room got to hear them. I try to make each show special, so maybe I’ll debut an acoustic version of one song and then the next show, I’ll play it with a different arrangement. And meeting people who have been a part of my first group of followers. That part will never stop being exciting.
How do you use social media to nurture that special relationship between you and your fans?
My number one thing is having a more intimate relationship with fans because I literally can’t do it without people listening. The fact that people take time out to listen—and many know every word to every song and are always checking in— means everything to me. I try my best to do as many unique and personalized things as I can on social media, either one-on-one or in small groups. I have my Day Ones group that anybody can join and I always post stuff in there that nobody else sees. I’ll post random stuff like voice notes or I will tell them about tickets before anyone else. And I try to DM everybody back. Sometimes I miss some but I will just spend at least 30 minutes to an hour every day just messaging people back.
Since we are in the summer groove, let’s talk about your bop “Summertime.” It’s so fun and very different from your other songs. What inspired you to lean into this lighter vibe?
Someone who championed me at the beginning of my career was Tameka Tiny Harris, who used to be in the girl group Xscape. I always wanted to do a little ode to her for being one of the first people to take me under her wing. Plus, I always wanted to have a song that I would play in a convertible on the way to the beach. This song is the first of its kind for me and it’s been really fun to see how people reacted to it, especially after the last project being very vulnerable. This is the opposite of that and people are loving it. We all have a range of emotions and I’m just writing all of my feelings. And I love seeing people posting stories at the beach with their rosé. and playing the song. It’s so cool.
If you were playing your dream festival, are you sharing the lineup with?
Obviously the queens Adele and Beyonce. I love SZA, Frank Ocean, Jessie Reyez, Jazmine Sullivann. And J. Cole, he’s from North Carolina too.
You have a dope sense of style. What do you gravitate to when it comes to fashion?
I am really big on streetwear-meets-whimsical. Like Free People meets basketball. I’m a sporty person, but I also don’t want to feel too Tomboy so I like to have a little bit of femininity. I’m like a “sporty boho,” girl. I love a good jersey with heels or Jordans or New Balance sneakers with a dress or a miniskirt. I’m also a big accessories person. Always got to have a hat and a ton of jewelry.
Unpopular opinion: Any fashion trend right now that you aren’t feeling?
To be honest, the over-the-top ‘90s trends bother me. Everyone is going so hardcore they look like they’re wearing Halloween costumes. It feels a bit much.
Any onstage beauty must-haves?
I will not go on stage without a lash. I just won’t. They make my eyes pop. Also Charlotte Tilbury’s mattifying powder- shine gone, sweat gone.
Describe your ideal out.
I’m a get-dressed-up-to-go-to-dinner girl. I love picking out an outfit, choosing an exciting restaurant, and getting myself hyped up looking at the menu.
Do you have any favorite spots you hit up when you are in LA?
Sushi Fumi. It is a hole-in-the-wall place in West Hollywood. And I’m obsessed with Great White on Melrose. I know everyone is.
What’s on your pregame playlist these days?
Shaboozy’s “A Bar Song. Rosalia’s “Malamente.” Bibi Bourelly, she’s a very famous songwriter who also has her own artist project. She’s written for Rihanna, so it’s like new Rihanna music but she’s singing it. I’m listening to Rosalia’s “Malamente.” I’m obsessed with that song. And I’m also obsessed right now with “Homicide by 6lack and Jesse Reyez. I also listen to a lot of gospel music. When I need to be really moved and understand why I am where I am. I just turn on gospel.
Speaking of summertime, what are your summertime plans?
I’m from North Carolina but I never really went to the beach. So I literally wrote in my journal that my goal this summer was to actually go to the beach. I don’t like to just sit on the beach because it’s too many people and that stresses me out, but lately I’ve been rolling up, parking, running into the water, swimming for 30 minutes and then running back to my car. It feels like a reset jumping in the ocean and being in nature like that. It’s like the most calming, refreshing thing ever and I feel like I’m really in my summer when I do that and living my best summer life. I don’t know why I didn’t do it growing up, but I’m doing it now.
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