Photo from Anna McClellan's Facebook photos
by Sally Deskins | Les Femmes Folles
Anna McClellan of Howard is getting amped for two upcoming Omaha performances — tonight at 21 & Over’s Encyclopedia Show, and the upcoming LADY ROUNDTABLE and PERFORMANCE brought to you by Les Femmes Folles and X-Rated: Women in Music at House of Loom Feb. 29 (details below). She generously shares with Les Femmes Folles about being a foreign exchange student in Denmark, opening up with herself, being in Howard and more…
Tell me about your background.
I was born and raised in Omaha on May 29, 1993. I went to Washington Elementary, and then Lewis and Clark Middle School, and graduated from Central High School in May 2011. There was one year though, my junior year, that I spent as an exchange student in Denmark. That was a pivotal year for me. Being on my own for the first time, I began to realize that I can live life however I choose. There is no schedule you have to follow or order of doing anything. We’re making it up. Hahahaha. It’s wonderful.
As a kid I took myself way too seriously. I was always bored and restless. Deeply unsatisfied, but why? What problems had I to speak of? None really. I was an extremely fortunate child. But something was numb inside. I felt lonely. I was so scared of everything! But underneath that fear there was a sort of intelligence, an understanding I had/have with the world. I can’t explain it really. I bet everyone feels it, they must on some level. We feel it toward each other, too. It’s very deep, there’s no way to touch the bottom. It’s love with no connotations. It’s the idea that everything is pure simply because it exists.
How’d you get into music?
I started taking piano lessons when I was 8 at the Omaha Conservatory of Music. I had the best teacher ever. She is one of my greatest role-models and inspirations. She taught me that good piano playing takes equal amounts of discipline and emotion. The details are the most important things. I just quit taking lessons last October. Playing classical piano is a great joy of mine, but I really don’t have the discipline. The ten years of experience though is priceless. Countless recitals and competitions. Without them I wouldn’t be nearly so comfortable on stage now.
I started singing/writing my own songs in Denmark. I would skip class to go to the music room and play for hours. Spending time in there made me feel at home in such an unfamiliar place. My first songs were pretty good. I lacked the confidence I have now, which is really the most important thing. Singing was scary. I felt so vulnerable. How do I know when the words are right? Is this melody too busy? What will people think? and on and on and on. But that was really the first time I was able to express myself in any way that I felt meant something. I had been keeping it all inside for so long, it was really something big for me.
How would you describe your style/inspirations?
My biggest inspiration would definitely have to be myself. I am my best friend. I do everything with myself. We get along great. Hahahahah. But it’s really true. I had to open up to myself first, before I could open up to anything else. And really my body and mind are just the medium through which I experience.
I feel very united to everything. I feel ready. I’ve been working on making it so that my style includes everything and I can be inspired by anything. The smallest details. Like a seam in my jeans or the shape a spill forms or the sound of two people trying to talk at the same time. It’s all magic. And it can’t stop! It just keeps going and going and going.
And we keep running around in these circles every day pretending like what we’re doing is super important when really we keep moving just to keep everything else moving. It’s beautiful. I can’t get enough. And I have no idea where this is going but it is going to be big so everybody better be ready! I have so much hope for us. I think everything is just getting messed up enough to where it can really explode.
Can you tell me anything about what you’ll be performing on 2/29 or anything else coming up?
I’m in this band called Howard. It’s a three-piece with me on keyboard and vocals. Corey plays guitar and also sings. And Daniel plays drums. Howard is great proof of how magic exists in nothing. We don’t have much to say. We are very low-key people. But when we start playing, man. We just can. I can’t explain it. I don’t really understand it. The music speaks for itself. It’s so much larger than just three people with instruments. And I am very amazed at how much we have improved in less than a year of being together. Our sounds intermingle with such ease now. Come spring we will be releasing our first full-length album! So stoked.
Does feminism play a role in your work?
I just believe that everything and everyone is good. I am a woman and I exist in this world. The songs I write come from somewhere much deeper than anything about men and women. They come from the stream of life which can’t find separation in anything. The intention is to have no intention. I just let it out however it wants to come.
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Fan Howard on Facebook here. Hear more at howard-angel.bandcamp.com.
Come hear Anna talk about her life & music and then hear her sing! at Women in Performance: Lady Roundtable Discussion & Show, Feb. 29, 5-10p.m at House of Loom, 1012 S. 10th Street. FREE.
21 & Over Encyclopedia Show is TONIGHT, Feb. 20, 7:30-10:30pm at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. FREE.