Recording vocals for my third album these days. Some mornings I wake up and the studio feels like climbing a mountain. The voice doesn’t cooperate, the melodies fight back, and frustration builds until I’m genuinely angry at myself.
These creative blocks hit harder when you’re pushing into new territory. Album three demands more vulnerability than previous work, which means stripping down defenses I’ve spent years building. The emotional weight of that process can be overwhelming.
Vlad Mazur and Maria Norkina have been lifelines during these difficult moments. Vlad understands the technical side but also recognizes when I need encouragement rather than critique. Maria brings perspective that cuts through my self-doubt. Their support reminds me that isolation kills creativity.
One person working alone achieves very little, at least in my experience. The best music emerges from collaboration, even when the writing feels deeply personal. Having people who believe in your vision when you’ve temporarily lost sight of it makes the difference between completing an album and abandoning it halfway through.
The vocals are getting stronger. Slowly, but with more honesty than I managed on previous records. Sometimes the hardest days in the studio produce the most authentic performances. The struggle becomes part of the sound.
This album asks more of me than anything I’ve attempted before. That terrifies and excites me equally.
— Indie pop artist, musician Anastasiia Ledovskaia