Annelle Staal is a North Carolina-based singer-songwriter & Twitch influencer who composes soulful indie-pop with elements of folk & rock to create a luxurious sound that resonates with listeners.
During the events that shocked the world in 2020, Annelle’s passionate spirit led to reaching musical audiences in a new light by delivering a host of pioneering performances via Twitch, which led to a swiftly growing global audience.
Now, this gifted artist brings the new single “My Girl”, which Annelle confides is a “song feeling like a fresh take on nostalgic pop, and truly captures the joy and playfulness of a first-time queer relationship to me. Like a fresh start that makes you feel sentimental, I can’t help but smile and dance when Iisten to this one–it’s always felt special to me.”
Annelle has kindly taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution regarding the emotional & creative journey behind this latest musical release, along with becoming a Twitch streamer. You can find the full interview below.
Hey Annelle, thank you so much for this interview. Can you start by telling readers a little bit about yourself?
Annelle: Of course! Great to meet you, reader! 🙂 My name is Annelle, I grew up a military kid and have lived all over the country. I’m a full-time musician, streamer and content creator, but I pride myself in being a songwriter first and foremost. I’m a tree-hugger, cat lover, and spaghetti enthusiast.
When did you first discover your passion for music?
Annelle: I fell in love with performance and storytelling through musical theatre, but I fell in love with songwriting through poetry. Music and words have always had a profound effect on me, and I love the way they allow us to communicate the mysteries of our hearts in such a clear way.
Have you always known that you wanted to pursue a career within the music industry?
Annelle: Originally I thought maybe I wanted to be a research psychologist! I’ve always been passionate about people.
How would you currently describe your musical style?
Annelle: I’m inspired by 70’s music, soul, and 2000s pop. An eclectic combination, but the truth is I don’t like putting any part of my identity in a box. I write acoustic folk, blue-eyed soul, moody dance music and nostalgic pop.
You just released the brand new single “My Girl”, which sounds incredible, FYI. How did the idea for this song come together?
Annelle: I publicly came out last year, and wanted to write a song that celebrated queer joy. This song feels like summer. It’s melt-in-your-mouth sweet and deeply nostalgic. I wrote it about my first girlfriend, and the joy of a first love really does feel like that.
Did you always plan to release “My Girl” as a single?
Annelle: Yes! I wanted this song to be able to stand alone and be celebrated separately from the project it’s attached to, it’s always felt special to me.
What does this song personally mean to you?
Annelle: It represents my joy as a young queer person and the start of a new artistic era.
If listeners could take something from this song, what would you like it to be?
Annelle: My hope is for listeners to dance! To feel free, celebratory, and hopeful.
During the global pandemic, you turned to sharing your music on Twitch. How did it feel when you first began your twitch channel?
Annelle: At first it felt incredibly vulnerable! Making live content on the internet is scary; you can’t redo anything, and even though it’s happening live, there’s an aspect of it that’s stuck on the internet forever once it happens. Streaming on Twitch has emboldened me and taught me how to become comfortable making mistakes and taking risks.
Since beginning your channel, you have accumulated a huge fan base through your amazing shows. How did it feel to find this incredible audience along the way?
Annelle: My audience means everything to me, and the love I have for my community is one of the greatest of my life. Getting to make music for people who anticipate my next release is a dream come true as an artist, I’m very grateful.
What does it feel to you to see your channel reaching the audience it does today?
Annelle: I’m very grateful for the passion my community has for my original material, and it makes me hopeful about the future and where we can go together.
What advice would you offer to someone who was looking at starting a twitch?
Annelle: I would say, just start. Start with the equipment you own now and with the amount of time you have currently, and allow those things to grow with your channel!
Following on from the last question, what advice would you also share with someone who was dreaming of pursuing a career within the music industry?
Annelle: I would say the best thing you can be in the industry today is deeply creative and as consistent as you can be. The internet has blazed a path for independent artists to make a living off of music, but it takes out-of-the-box thinking and commitment. You’ve got this!
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Annelle: Life is not as serious as it seems, be goofy and be yourself.
You can check out “My Girl” on Spotify below or via further platforms here.
Fierce & Fabulous Revolution 