Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Annika. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Annika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I grew up in a creative, performance-loving family, but I never really thought music or being an artist could be an actual career. To me, that kind of thing seemed like it was only for famous people or those already in the industry. It wasn’t until I had an accident that really changed my perspective on life. That experience gave me a strong feeling—almost a calling—that music was something I needed to pursue. After recording and releasing my first single, everything clicked. I knew this was what I wanted to do, and I was ready to put in the work to turn it into a real career.
Annika, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi, I’m Annika Catharina — a singer-songwriter from British Columbia, Canada. I’ve been singing and performing since I was young, but it wasn’t until COVID hit that I really started getting into songwriting. For a little while, I was part of a duo, and that’s when I had my first Nashville experience. I absolutely loved it and knew right then that I wanted to pursue a career as a solo artist and really focus on developing my own sound and songwriting.
At the time, I had no idea there was this whole music industry I could actually be part of — it all started to feel real when I began releasing my own music. While I’m rooted in the country genre, I love all kinds of music. For me, it’s all about writing from the heart and creating songs that connect with people. I’ve been lucky to collaborate closely with my co-writers and producers, The Renaissance (Dan Botch and Garrett Ward), and over the past couple of years, I’ve really put in the work to grow as a songwriter.
This May, I released my debut EP You and Me, which was a huge milestone for me. One of the highlights this year was being part of the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition — something I’ve dreamed of for a long time. I got to record and perform “Love and Hate,” the final track on my EP, and it was such an incredible experience.
This past year has been full of growth and big moments, and I’m so excited to keep that momentum going. I can’t wait to get back in the studio, create more music, and keep sharing my journey with the world.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Back in 2017, I was in a pretty serious moped accident that left me with a broken jaw, chin, and several teeth. It was a really tough time — there was so much uncertainty. (When I got home I was given the news that I would need to have reconstructive surgery and a bunch of dental surgeries to follow). I didn’t know what the outcome would be. Would I be okay? Would I be able to sing again? Would I look different? All those questions ran through my mind.
But through it all, the one thing I held onto was how grateful I was just to be alive. That experience changed my perspective. I made a promise to myself that if I was able to sing again and find my way back to music, I’d give it everything I had. It reminded me how fragile life is, and how quickly things can change — so now I try to live each day to the fullest and always with a grateful heart.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
One of the most rewarding parts of making music is seeing people connect with it. When someone tells me, “I’ve felt that way too,” or says a certain line really hit them, it’s the best feeling. I’ve always wanted to create the kind of music that makes people feel something, the way certain songs have helped me through tough times or made me feel happy, nostalgic, or even a little sad.
I actually had a moment recently at a show where a few people were singing along and knew all the words to one of my songs—that was such a surreal and special experience. It’s moments like that that remind me why I do this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annikacatharina.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annikacatharinamusic/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annikacatharinamusic
- Twitter: https://x.com/annikacatharina?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnnikaCatharina
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/annikacatharinamusic
- Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@annikacatharinamusic
Image Credits
Laura Zeke Photography