Under the stage name Anaïs & The Hoops, indie-pop artist Anaïs Lund has just released her debut EP, Growing Pains. A collective effort with help from colleagues, friends, and family, Growing Pains is a dreamy, coming-of-age mini-album supported by Lund’s serene Amy Winehouse-esque vocals. Lund takes her inspiration from the jazzy music scene of the 1960s and 70s, complete with headbands, swing dresses, and even a vintage prom to commemorate the EP’s release.
I recently had the opportunity to ask Lund a few questions about her EP, her unique style, and the people and places that inspire her music.
MSM: How do you feel about Growing Pains being released after three years of putting it together?
Anaïs: It feels surreal, honestly. I’ve never worked on a project this long, and it’s been such a constant presence in my life that releasing it feels a little like letting my baby go. But more than anything, I’m excited! I’m ready for these songs not to belong just to me anymore, for people to hear them, connect with them, and find their own meanings.
How did you decide to use your friend Alex’s poem in the outro of “Cool”? When did she write the poem?
I’ve always admired my friend Alex’s creativity. The song came first, and it felt really autobiographical and raw, so I thought it needed something extra, something that would let the message land even deeper. We added a big instrumental section at the end, and I asked her to write whatever resonated with her and the greater theme of the track. What she came up with was so honest and vulnerable. It felt like the perfect way to close the song.
Here’s the poem:
"No more pining for release
I’m seized, as in, free.
Caught up by the feel of letting go, or,
letting be
Following my form—again; at first
In me: thirst
No more fighting back against
all that’s come or broken since
No more tracing
the outline, the shape:
finally filled the space
Shame, like a ghost
Where it went I won’t know."
- Alex Brady
You’ve said that “Most of these songs came together after I moved from California to New York, at a time when I was figuring out who I wanted to be.” What have you discovered about yourself in that time?
I realized I was trying to grow up too quickly. Moving to New York gave me a chance to give myself more grace, stay young a little longer, try things out, and reinvent myself. I started reconnecting with the childlike wonder that made me love art and music in the first place: chasing fun, bold vintage fashion, revisiting the songs I obsessed over as a kid, and leaning into what makes me feel the most like myself.
California and New York have two of the biggest scenes in music. What are the biggest differences between the two? Which do you think is more beneficial for a growing artist?
I can’t speak for all of California since I lived in San Diego and not LA, but from what I’ve seen, New York is a place to really shape who you are as an artist. The scene here is tight-knit and scrappy. People are constantly starting new projects, putting on shows in any space they can, collaborating, and building community. In California, from my perspective, it feels more like the place you go once you’ve already built something and want to expand it. Starting out in San Diego was tough because there weren’t many entry-level venues, so it could feel limiting as a new artist. New York gave me the space to experiment, figure out my sound, and grow as a performer, and because of that, opportunities have opened up in California since leaving.
What does it mean to you to have a song in French and to have your mother help you with the translations?
It means so much. I grew up speaking French with my mom, who’s from Morocco, and she put me in French school so I’d stay connected with my family. The French language and culture have always been close to my heart, and I’ve dreamed of writing in French for a long time. I grew up listening to artists like Françoise Hardy, Charles Aznavour, and of course, Édith Piaf. But it was always hard to feel like I could express myself poetically in another language.
This song came suddenly; I wrote it in about an hour and sent it to my mom for revisions. It’s about reminiscing on the passage of time and the bittersweetness of becoming many different versions of ourselves. Somewhere in my subconscious, French was just the way it needed to come out. After years of trying to write in my second language, this one finally came, and since then I’ve written a few more songs in French. It feels really special to weave that part of me into my music.
What draws you to the style of the 60s and 70s? What is your favorite fashion or musical trend of that time?
That era just feels so liberating. People were experimenting and pushing boundaries in music and fashion. Rock and roll was exploding, jazz and bossa nova were evolving, and the culture was hungry for change, growth, and peace. Everything was colorful, bold, and unapologetic.
I grew up listening to a lot of oldies. Artists like The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, The Ronettes, Françoise Hardy, Jimi Hendrix, and The Mamas & the Papas were hugely formative to my taste in music. Their songs felt so honest and real, and their influence is still woven into so much of what we listen to today. What I love most about that era is the transformative spirit! The willingness to try something new and untested.
What are you most excited about for the Growing Pains Prom? Any surprises you may be able to hint at?
I’m just excited to celebrate this chapter, to be surrounded by the people I love, and to share songs that have meant so much to me over the years. I can’t reveal too much, but let’s just say: expect full retro glam and some very special guests.
Do you have any particular goals you would like to accomplish in the last few months of 2025?
Right now I’m taking things step by step. My main focus is putting this project out into the world and making sure it reaches the people it’ll resonate with most. Beyond that, I just want to keep leaning into the whimsy of Anaïs & The Hoops and start laying the groundwork for 2026 (perhaps there will be a tour on the horizon)!
