Anna Dahl was born with music in her soul. She started playing the piano at age three and playing the guitar soon followed. By the time she was fourteen, she was starting to write her own music.
Interscope Records showed interest in Anna Dahl soon after she arrived in LA at age sixteen. They had their eyes set on her becoming the world’s next Pop superstar. She started writing and recording with many notable writers and producers of the time, successfully getting her music placed on MTV.
While things went well, they weren’t exactly going the way that she envisioned. So after four years, she hit the reset button and followed her gut to get her college degree. She studied Music Business at Augsburg University, completing her degree in London, England while working for a record label, LoMax Records.
During COVID, she refocused on writing. Influenced by Brothers Osborne, The Cadillac Three, Kacey Musgraves and The Black Crowes, she developed a new breed of Country Rock, creating her own signature sound of hard-charging Rock sensibility with a Country Soul.
Anna Dahl is currently working in Nashville with some of the best writers, musicians and producers that the industry has to offer. Her debut single, ‘Top Shelf,’ was released on June 6th!
With her debut single, “Top Shelf,” out now, we took some time to hear from Anna Dahl. Read below to learn more about Anna Dahl, the story behind her debut single, and what’s to come.
Hi Anna Dahl! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
My name is Anna Dybdahl, but no one knows how to pronounce it, so I dropped the ‘Dyb’ and went with just the ‘Dahl.’
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I am from a small town in southern Wisconsin called Black Earth. I grew up in the country with not a whole lot to do, but write music! I’m based in the Madison, WI area now.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
There isn’t a moment in life that I didn’t know exactly what I was meant to do. If we are all here for a reason, writing music and singing is mine. I want to write songs that matter, that make a difference (even if in the smallest amount) to someone…anyone. I want to write songs that people can celebrate and raise a glass to! Songs that you can cuddle up and cry to, songs that pull you in and make you feel like you’re not alone. Music is something that connects us all. I want to share that with people.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
Absolutely! I grew up in a very musical family singing in church. My mom plays piano – my dad was a drummer and singer. I remember laying on the floor in our living room, cranking up one of my dad’s old vinyls, closing my eyes and going on a journey almost every day.
My dad took me to my first concert at three to see B.B. King. At five, he took me to see Kenny Wayne Shepherd in a tiny venue outside Arena, WI called The Sandbar. I remember sitting on his shoulders with toilet paper jammed in my ears and feeling like I nothing in my life would top that experience.
I grew up on mostly Rock, Blues and Country. I listened to artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jonny Lang, The Rolling Stones, Faith Hill and Jewel. I also enjoyed some 90’s Rock like The Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, and Tool.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
Modern Country with high-voltage attitude! I’m unapologetically myself with lots of opinions to share through my lyrics and delivery. You’ll feel more Rock-Country influence on the songs releasing this fall. I tend to Rock so hard on stage that I end up getting a sore neck from all the headbanging. Haha! Worth it 🙂
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
Yes! I love to cook! Music is the air that I breathe, but food is a close second. I LOVE beautifully cooked and well-balanced flavors in all types of cuisine. To name a few, I can make a pretty good Korean Bibimpap, Enchiladas in a homemade Verde sauce and Chicken Parmesan in a tomato-based, bone marrow sauce that takes 6 hours to prepare. Nom!
One of my favorite things to do is go to three-star Michelin restaurants in whatever city I’m visiting and enjoy their tasting menus with wine pairings. Those chefs are truly gifted!
Another hobby that I enjoy is playing tennis. I’m by no means a ‘good’ tennis player, but it’s such a fun sport and the women I’ve met along the way have become great friends.
Being creative isn’t really a switch I can turn off. I have songs flooding my head most days. I have endless amounts of voice memos for song ideas on my phone. They come to me at all times of the day/night/even while on my morning run!
Who are some of your main musical influences?
My main influences are Brothers Osborne, The Cadillac Three, The Black Crowes, and Miranda Lambert.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
Part of a previous project, I had performed a song that I wrote called, ‘Drank Me Away,’ a song about leaving someone you love who suffers with alcoholism/addiction behind. The incredible pain of the experience, but ultimately forgiving him in the end.
I had someone come up after the show in tears and say that the song meant so much to her. She had, had a similar trauma in her life and felt like she may be able to heal, forgive him and move on after hearing my song. That made me feel that what I’m doing has purpose. It’s why I do what I’m do. Speak to people through my music and try to be there for them in some way. I’m really excited about these upcoming releases, because I’ve written songs that may have the same kind of impact on people.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
Life is incredibly fleeting. It goes by so quickly. Despite what opinions we all may have on the ‘importance’ of our individual lives, in the grand scheme (it’s somewhat sad to say, but) we don’t matter all that much. My grandchildren will likely know very little about me; perhaps that I was a singer.
What we do in our lives matters less about climbing the corporate ladder for that next promotion or title, less about how many ‘likes’ our post on Insta got and more about who we are, how we treat the people around us and finding happiness within ourselves.
I do my best to be a good person and never stop striving to be better. My songs may not become generational classic hits, but if I can write a song to make even the smallest difference in one person’s life, I will die happy.
What are your future music career goals?
My dream is to continue to grow, continue (God willing) having songs channeled through me, writing songs that matter (with some fun party ones mixed in), and singing them to a full Bridgestone Arena! There’s absolutely NOTHING like singing your songs to fans and hearing them sing your lyrics back. It’s a connection that words can’t really describe, a kind of soul connection.
Now onto your release, ‘Top Shelf.’ What inspired this song? What is ‘Top Shelf’ about?
The morning of January 21, 2025, I was at 8th and Roast with my ‘Soundboy’ in Nashville on our way to the writing session. He asked what I was going to write about. I had a bunch of ideas and songs started, he listened and said, ‘What if you write a song about being Top Shelf?’ This was such a fun idea with so much possibility!
What was the creative process like when making ‘Top Shelf?’ How long did it take to complete ‘Top Shelf?’
This song was written by me, Don Miggs, Jeff Middleton and Justin Klump. It’s the first song that we all wrote together! We met, got to know each other, shot some jokes around and settled in. We were discussing ideas about what we should write about. I threw out the ‘Top Shelf’ idea. My producer, Don Miggs, had a look of…how are we going to write about that? But, we prevailed! He came up with a great guitar lick and we were off. The whole song was written in an hour and a half!
What is your favorite lyric in ‘Top Shelf’ and why?
‘Fast and easy ain’t my style, I’m worth the wait, I’m worth the while’
Good things don’t always come easy. Sometimes you need to put in some additional effort to get the girl! It’s going to take more than a cheap beer to catch her attention and a whole lot more to keep her!
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Top Shelf?’
I want to encourage women to stand up for what they know they deserve in life AND in a partner. ‘Top Shelf’ is a song less about ‘being high maintenance/materialistic things’ and more about self-worth and holding true to your own values.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I have two more singles releasing this summer with the first of two EPs coming out in August!
I’m going back to Nashville in August to record additional songs with Don Miggs at Canyon Private Studio East.
I’m working on plans for future touring, but right now, we’re primarily focused on the EP release!
Where can we follow you on social media?
You can find me here! https://linktr.ee/annadahl
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
