Anaïs & The Hoops Talk Debut Album, Growing Pains
With one of the most distinctive sounds in the indie scene right now, Anaïs & The Hoops have released their long anticipated debut EP, Growing Pains. Project of San Diego raised, Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Anaïs Lund, her debut album Growing Pains is an ode to the journey of self discovery. The unique blend of indie pop, jazz, and folk influences, with her jazz-inflected vocals and retro aesthetic combine to create something that feels both new and nostalgic simultaneously. Collaborating with producer Ben Colman, her fellow bandmates, her friends, and even her Mother on various songs on the EP, you can feel the love and time that went into the project as you listen. Anaïs sat down for Off The Record to talk more about the release of Growing Pains.
1. Congratulations on your debut EP! How was the process of creating a full EP different from individually releasing singles?
Thank you so much! Creating an EP definitely required a lot more planning and forethought than my type-B brain was ready for. Releasing a single feels like sharing a snapshot of where you are as an artist in that moment; it's flexible, fleeting, and self-contained. An EP, on the other hand, feels more like trying to capture a whole feeling and a story. Even though each track stands on its own, there are through-lines that tie them together, and that intentionality makes the process very different from just dropping one song at a time.
2. What do you want people to feel when listening to Growing Pains?
Writing this EP was bittersweet at times, but it also brought me so much joy and catharsis. That’s the feeling I hope stays with listeners. To me, the project celebrates growing up and becoming who we are, while also holding space for nostalgia and longing for the past. It’s both joyful and reflective, a reminder that growth can feel exciting and heartbreaking at the same time.
3. You have a retro sound and aesthetic. How do you balance that with modern experiences and a modern audience?
I think we’re living in a really interesting time where individuality is celebrated more than ever. People are less focused on chasing one trend and more open to exploring all the little niches of influence that the internet has brought to light. My project has a retro feel, but I think it connects with modern listeners because it’s still fresh and personal. Musically, I draw from old-school sounds, but lyrically I try to keep the storytelling modern. I think that balance lets people see themselves in the songs and interpret them through the lens of their own lives.
4. Outside of musical influences, what inspires your artistic process the most?
Letting my mind wander and staying present with the world around me. I love grabbing a coffee and going for long morning walks. I almost never listen to music on those walks. Instead, I listen to the neighborhood: conversations, snippets of stories, the hum of life around me. Sometimes I’ll overhear something that sparks an idea, or I’ll come across a line in a book or article that sticks with me. I write those things down in my notes and play with them later. Giving my mind that space to wander is often where the best ideas come from.
5. For first-time listeners, what three songs would you want them to hear and why?
I’d say “You,” “Stick to the Script,” and “Growing Pains.”
- “You” was the first song I wrote that really captured how I wanted to sound as an artist. Blending old and new, disguising a sad song as a happy one. It’s been a crowd favorite at shows, but it’s also one of my personal favorites.
- “Growing Pains” is the title track and the one closest to my heart. I wrote it after a friend had to cancel a FaceTime we’d planned, and that small moment spiraled into this realization of how growing up means more distance, misconnection, and responsibility. It’s a love letter to my best friend and to our childhood in California. I’ve held onto this song the longest because it’s meant so much to me, and I’m so excited it finally gets its own moment on this release.
- “Stick to the Script” was the last song I wrote for the EP. It’s a hopeful track that I wrote to pull myself out of a rut. It’s a reminder that life has its ups and downs, but staying true to yourself and your story will carry you through.
6. What can listeners expect in the future?
Growing Pains was where I found my sound, and rediscovered the magic of the songs that first made me fall in love with music. What comes next is about leaning deeper into that feeling calling back to the voices that shaped me, like Françoise Hardy, Nancy Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, Billie Holiday, Fleetwood Mac, and The Beatles. The next chapter feels like stepping through a doorway into their world, but carrying my own stories with me.
Listen to Growing Pains, out now on all streaming platforms.
