A Chat with Anna Catharina (02.04.25)
Known for blending her Bulgarian and Austrian roots into her unique sound, Anna Catharina shares how her cultural background influences her creative process. From the evolution of her sound, moving from the playful energy of ‘Baby, You Don’t Know’ to the raw, introspective depth of ‘Eyes On Me’, to the intimate production process in Los Angeles, Anna Catharina explores the complexities of emotional expression and self-reclamation. We speak with Anna Catharina about her artistic growth, the pressure of following up a successful track like ‘Chico’, and her plans for more experimental, cinematic music.
OSR: ‘Eyes On Me’ is such a deeply emotional track. What inspired you to explore themes of self-discovery and vulnerability in this song?
Catharina: ‘Eyes On Me’ came from this moment where I felt like I had to reclaim my space — not just as an artist, but as a person. I’ve always been someone who’s internalized emotions, but with this song, I wanted to say: ‘Here I am. Look at me. Hear me.’ Vulnerability can be terrifying, but there’s also so much power in allowing yourself to be seen without filters.
OSR: You’ve always had a unique way of blending your Bulgarian and Austrian heritage into your music. How does that cultural fusion influence your creative process for ‘Eyes On Me’?
Catharina: I think being raised between cultures gave me a very fluid approach to music. I never felt like I had to pick one sound, I love mixing different rhythms, languages, and emotions. For ‘Eyes On Me,’ there’s this underlying tension between softness and strength, which feels very reflective of both sides of me — the more traditional, grounded energy from Bulgaria, and the more experimental, global mindset I associate with Austria and now Milan.
OSR: How would you describe the evolution of your sound from your first single ‘Baby, You Don’t Know’ to ‘Eyes On Me’?
Catharina: ‘Baby, You Don’t Know’ was me figuring out who I was sonically — it was playful, emotional, but also kind of searching. With ‘Eyes On Me,’ I feel like I’ve stepped into myself fully. The production is more layered, the lyrics are sharper, and vocally, I allowed myself to go deeper. It’s still me, but more honest, more grown.
OSR: The lyrics of ‘Eyes On Me’ seem to delve into the idea of being seen and heard. Can you tell us more about the message you want listeners to take away from this song?
Catharina: I want listeners to feel brave enough to show up as they are, even when it’s messy, even when it hurts. ‘Eyes On Me’ is about that push and pull between wanting to hide and needing to be seen. It’s about reclaiming your narrative, your power, your spotlight.
OSR: You’ve received a lot of praise for your emotional vocal delivery. How do you channel such raw emotion into your performances?
Catharina: Honestly? I relive the emotion. I don’t just sing the words, I remember where I was when I wrote them. I go back to the feeling. Sometimes it’s exhausting, but I think that’s what makes it real. I’m not performing for perfection — I’m performing to connect.
OSR: You’ve said in the past that your academic background in marketing has influenced how you approach your music. How does your understanding of branding and storytelling affect the creation of a song like ‘Eyes On Me’?
Catharina: Massively. For me, every song is part of a bigger story — not just sonically, but visually, emotionally, and aesthetically. I approach my releases like mini-campaigns: What’s the message? What does the cover art say? What emotion are we leaving people with? Marketing taught me how to be intentional with my storytelling, without losing the authenticity.
OSR: The track blends pop with R&B and world music. How do you decide which genres or elements to incorporate into your songs, and why was this fusion the right fit for ‘Eyes On Me’?
Catharina: It’s very instinctive. I don’t sit down and say ‘Let’s add R&B here’ — I go off feeling. For ‘Eyes On Me,’ the beat needed to feel sensual but grounded, moody but not sad. The fusion just reflected where I was emotionally: kind of in between genres, in between spaces.
OSR: Can you walk us through the production process for ‘Eyes On Me’? What was the experience like working in the studio for this particular track?
Catharina: The production process actually began in Los Angeles last November, after I was approached by a pretty established producer who resonated with my earlier work. I flew out not really knowing what to expect, but it ended up being one of the most emotionally honest studio sessions I’ve ever had. We started with a minimal beat — something stripped back and raw — and built the entire track around the emotion of that first moment. A lot of the vocals you hear in the final version were actually first takes. It was one of those rare times when everything just clicked — the energy, the message, the vulnerability. LA brought something out of me I hadn’t accessed before.
OSR: After the success of ‘Chico’, was there any pressure in following up with ‘Eyes On Me’, or did you approach it with a sense of freedom?
Catharina: A bit of both. ‘Chico’ was fun and flirty, ‘Eyes On Me’ is darker and more intimate. I definitely felt pressure to keep people engaged, but I also knew I had to stay true to where I was emotionally. I don’t want to just follow up, I want to evolve.
OSR: Looking ahead, where do you see your music going in the next few years? What can fans expect from you in terms of sound, themes, or projects?
Catharina: I want to keep blending genres, and keep surprising people. I’m working on an EP that’s way more experimental — think bold, cinematic, even a little chaotic. But I’ll always come back to the emotional core. Whether it’s pop, R&B, or something else entirely, my music will always tell a story.
Many thanks to Anna Catharina for speaking with us. Find more about Anna Catharina on her Instagram and Spotify.
