Inanna, delivers a message of unity, femininity, and nurturing for our wounded planet via her new single, NEFERTITI XXI.
With her innovative, genre-bending new project, “Where We Belong” Inanna asks the question, “If Mother Earth had a voice, what would she sing?”. The answer comes in the form of the atmospheric fusion of modern electro rock-pop and Middle Eastern influence that makes up “NEFERTITI XXI.” The single, with its pulsating rhythm, hypnotic vocals, and luminous quality is the embodiment of feminine energy designed to bring balance and harmony into a world desperately lacking it.
Written by Inanna and produced by Joshua F. Williams, it’s vibrating with electro bellydancer sounds and earth-shaking beats. On a track about living a more balanced and planet-nurturing life, she creates an energetic shift towards change with each soul-lifting chorus.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Inanna about the new single, technology, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
Hi! Thanks for having me! I am originally from Italy (Venice), I lived in Spain (Barcelona) for 11 years and now I am based in Los Angeles. I have always been drawn to electrorock/electropop, but my latest project is a fusion between electropop/alternative and Middle Eastern influences (I have been bellydancing for more than 10 years). The themes are all about nature, animals and environmental issues in general, so I like to call this genre eco-ethno-electropop 😉
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
The Inanna project is actually very new, even if I have always been singing and I have been lead singer of several bands and started a couple of different solo-projects. What led me to Inanna was the need of putting together my two biggest passions: my love for electro-poprock alternative music and my fascination towards Arabic/Middle eastern rhythms and dance. Also, for the first time I am very clear about what I want to say and transmit through my music, something I had never felt before. Inanna’s aim, entertainment aside, is helping to bring the environmental topics to the center of culture in these times of change.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
This single, Nefertiti XXI, is the first song I made that mixes electro-pop sounds with traditional darbouka rhythms, even if it’s very subtle in this one. My next singles (to be released soon) will have much more explicit Middle Eastern references and atmospheres.
Nefertiti XXI is about the importance of a female perspective in politics, economics and environmental policies, as only a more empathetic, compassionate and nurturing approach can help to save our wonderful planet.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
It is very hard to reach the crowd at the beginning, and it is a slow process to build your image, branding and a specific genre that can make you stand out. But once you manage to reach your crowd, and if you know exactly who you are talking to, sooner or later people will connect with your message.
You also have to deal with the social media part, of course, which is fundamental now to put your music and image out there. It definitely helps in terms of creative freedom regarding your music and image, as it all depends on you.
Technology has helped me a lot, now I can make my own demos just by using my laptop and a few instruments (something unthinkable some years ago for me), this has made me realize how much I could give by myself, without depending on others, and it helped finding my own voice.
What was the last song you listened to?
I am pretty obsessed with Despicable by Grandson these days 😉
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Definitely mp3, I am glad I don’t need to collect stuff anymore. 😉
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I love Spotify for many reasons: easy, friendly, great design, I have used it for almost everything. I used Bandcamp too for many years but I am not so passionate about it, they should update the design a bit.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
You can check out my new website: www.inannaworld.com or find me on IG: @inannas.world, or FB: @inannasworld
