Annahstasia: From Early Influences to the Release of Tether

Singer-songwriter Annahstasia Enuke embarked on her musical journey in Los Angeles, influenced by a vivid imagination she refers to as "cinematic." Her early exposure to artists like Bill Withers, Nina Simone, and Janis Joplin—whom she discovered through an iPod gifted by her uncle—helped her cultivate a unique vocal style characterized by emotional depth and versatility.

Initially self-taught, Annahstasia was drawn to folk, soul, and blues music, learning guitar parts from her favorite tracks and reinterpreting them with her own lyrics. At the age of 17, a spontaneous performance led to her first record deal, propelling her into the music industry. As time went on, she faced various challenges, including creative limitations and the pursuit of independence.

Wonderland Magazine,"My early memories were all exploratory, finding room for my own words in-between chords, obsessively playing the same thing on loop for hours while I looked for the right thing to say. I am inherently a passionate person, so anything that I do creatively I do with immediate and immense passion."

Her debut solo project, Sacred Bull (2019), was launched without the backing of a label or distribution, yet it garnered attention, resulting in collaborations and an opportunity to open for Lenny Kravitz on his “Raise Vibrations” European tour. After the pressures of independent work, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a time for reflection that shaped her next significant project.

Sleek Magazine....."As an artist you are constantly excavating yourself, becoming more and more refined. Closer and closer to what feels true. Until eventually the goal post moves and the truth changes. Sacred Bull was a chaotic mixture of everything I loved at the time, packed into one overwhelming project. It was squishing all my references into one, it was everything all at ones, everywhere, just noise everywhere. With Revival, it started a new approach to the process for me, a process of a song-oriented, live band practice. But a lingering shyness within me still held me back. By Surface Tension, years later, I had refined my approach, my taste. I had pinpointed a genre angle from which to explore the themes of my work. It paved a way into a level of freedom and comfort allowing me to focus on semi-improvisational, one-take recordings. It’s all been leading to Tether, which feels like the truest expression of myself so far."

The project in question was Revival, a record deeply rooted in folk that delves into themes of personal renewal. Annahstasia took an innovative approach to songwriting, utilizing improvisation and visualization, often picturing her songs as vibrant characters. The album weaves together narratives that reflect on identity, the intricacies of humanity, and cultural heritage.

On June 13, 2025, she released Tether, her debut full-length album. It includes tracks such as “Be Kind,” “Villain,” “Unrest,” “Take Care of Me,” “Slow” (featuring Obongjayar), “Waiting,” “Overflow,” “All Is. Will Be. As It Was.” (featuring Aja Monet), “Silk and Velvet,” “Satisfy Me,” and “Believer.”

Verse 1.......Thought I saw you yesterday....../Looking for your saviour...../Thought I caught your eyes at the...../Train station...../Going the opposite direction...../As your obligations...../As your obligations

Chorus.....So why don't you just see..../When you'll be back home?....../And I'll sit right here

Verse 2......Open up your mouth and form the vowels....../And slip into the verse....../I'll sit right here........../While you pace in the doorway......./You're always tryna run......../From your obligations......../You're always tryna run

Dazed, When did you start working on this project? What was the main inspiration? "It started about four years ago, when I became full of music and felt the need to record it. I was carrying it around like extra weight, playing it live where I could. There was a lot of moving around and an age of life that felt somewhere between limbo and a constant storm. In all that, I was just looking for an anchor, so the name of the season became Tether........... My favorite to record was “Waiting”. It was very rewarding to hear it performed in that way. When I listen back, it transports me to such a specific time and place. "

In an interview with Forbs, she revealed-

“Villain,” when I wrote it, I was in a very vindictive place. I was just mad at this person and feeling very much like I didn't want any part of them in my life anymore. I felt betrayed, I felt disappointed and hurt. That sentiment was very like just throwing someone's stuff out of the window. Take it back. But now as I listen to it, it's actually more of a song about being able to hold both sides of yourself the light and the dark and to realize that we're all in a way trying our best and that all we can do is keep trying. There's kindness in it, there's also the freedom of accepting that you are the villain in some narratives. Once you accept your rock bottom there's a freedom from that point on.

Tether fuses folk elements with rock and blues influences. Tracks such as "Silk and Velvet" tackle the challenges of creating art within a commercial landscape, while "Villain" delves into self-examination, and "Slow" offers a heartfelt collaborative ballad. The album culminates with "Believer," a piece characterized by its robust instrumentation and powerful vocal delivery.

Wonderland Magazine....“Tether” is a mantra for me through this last 3 years in my search for grounding through personal transformation and growth. It also represents a strong rooting, a solid starting point from which to grow tall.

Verse 1.....Time breeds time......./And violence breeds more silence....../The skin that I'm in..../Is just a vessel...../Barely holding

Verse 2.....Where are we now?....../Cuz this ain't heaven....../So where am I going?...../Time breeds time...../And violence breeds more silence

Chorus.....So where do we go from here..../It's not our job to know..../I heard it on the wind...../To go slow.

Verse 3.....Take what I can I might as well......./I'm out the door before the morning bell......./I'm in a hurry to nowhere......./Army of mеn....../I'm not the only one

Verse 4......Pains more than usual...../And my anchor's no longеr useful here...../Not in the market for more time..../I'll sell you my years

The song conveys a message about navigating through a period of uncertainty and pain with acceptance instead of resistance. Recognizing the challenges, the burden of time, and the recurring cycles of suffering in the world, yet it discovers comfort in taking a slower pace, embracing each moment as it comes, and having faith that the journey—regardless of its length—will ultimately lead to a sense of 'home,' whether that refers to a physical location or a state of tranquility.

Throughout her career, Annahstasia has evolved from the limitations of the early industry to a place of enhanced creative freedom, crafting a style that intertwines personal narratives with diverse musical styles. Tether represents a pivotal moment in her artistic journey, encapsulating years of experience, experimentation, and the blending of genres.