SPOTLIGHT: ANAÏS & THE HOOPS

Meet Anaïs & The Hoops and tune into her newest EP “Growing Pains”

Your debut EP Growing Pains has been three years in the making. What was the biggest personal or creative shift you went through during that time that shaped these songs?
About four years ago, I moved to New York City. There’s something about arriving in a place where no one knows you that feels like hitting reset. I had zero friends in music, which was scary but also freeing because it gave me a clean slate to figure out who I wanted to be, both as a person and an artist. A lot of these songs came from reflecting on what I’d left behind and what I wanted to hold onto, especially that sense of childlike wonder and fun. The move forced me to look back at my influences and decide what I really wanted my music to sound like. In that way, Growing Pains became about both self-discovery and self-definition.

Collaboration seems to be at the heart of this project. From your bandmates to your mom helping with lyrics. How did that openness to others’ voices change the way you see your own artistry?
Even though I write a lot on my own, I think collaboration is at the heart of great music. Every artist you’ve ever loved has shaped the way you create, whether you realize it or not. For me, opening the songs up to other people’s voices keeps me from forcing them in one direction. Instead, the songs get to grow into what they want to be. I’m not a guitarist, keyboardist, or percussionist, but I have incredible people around me who are and they bring so much to the table. It’s made me see my artistry as something bigger than myself.

“Passe le temps” marks your first French-language song. What inspired you to take that leap, and did writing in another language unlock something new for you creatively?
My mom was born in Morocco, and I grew up speaking French at home and at school, so the language has always been close to me. I’d always wanted to write a French song, but I didn’t feel confident enough because being poetic in a second language isn’t easy. But this song came really naturally—I wrote it in an hour and sent it to my mom to make sure it made sense. Because it happened so quickly, I didn’t have time to overanalyze. Writing in French actually allowed me to be less literal and more poetic. Sometimes the exact translation didn’t work, so I had to think bigger, which made the song feel more meaningful.

You’ve described these tracks as some of the first that truly felt like “you.” What do you think makes them more authentically Anaïs compared to your earlier work?
When I first started, I didn’t think too much about genre, I just wrote to write. My early songs I pushed to a funky pop direction because that’s what was similar to the songs I’d play when I was gigging in San Diego. But once I moved to NYC, I had the space to fall back in love with the artists and sounds that shaped me growing up, as well as newer indie voices that feel nostalgic in their own way. In blending the old and the new, I found a home. I love jazz, I love rock, I love pop and with these songs, I found the balance that feels most authentic to me.

The EP feels nostalgic yet forward-looking. Was that tension wanting to hold onto your younger self while still growing or something you consciously leaned into while writing?
Not at first. I was just writing. But after a while, I noticed these songs all seemed to be “friends.” The move to NYC really made me think about the joy and whimsy I’d lost along the way, and I wanted to bring some of that back into my future. That tension between past and present showed up naturally in the music.

Coming from San Diego’s jazz clubs to Brooklyn’s indie scene is a huge leap. How has your background in jazz influenced the way you approach songwriting and performance today?
I think jazz is still in everything I do. From the tone of my voice to the chords I choose. It gives my music a distinct flavor because it always finds a way to bleed in. Jazz also taught me about collaboration and listening—playing to your strengths while making space for others. That mindset carries over to how I write and perform today. I focus on my voice and write melodies I can bend and stretch, so there’s always room to try something new.

“Cool” even incorporates a poem from your friend Alex Brady. What made that piece of writing fit so seamlessly into your world of sound?
I’ve been lucky to grow up around so many talented people. Alex has been a close friend since we were 13. We’ve always understood each other, especially through art. “Cool” is very autobiographical, and because of that vulnerability, I wanted there to be a spoken piece that wove into the song’s themes. I left space at the end for her to create freely, and what she brought was so beautiful. It felt like the song had been waiting for her words.

You’ve built a reputation as a magnetic live performer, and now you’re celebrating the EP with a retro prom–themed show. How do you see your live shows extending the personality and aesthetic of your recorded music?
For me, it’s about chasing whimsy. As adults, we often take things too seriously, but as kids we dressed up, played characters, and let ourselves dream for an afternoon. Why did we let that go? Theme shows tap into that playful creativity. Not every song I write is upbeat, but I want the experience of my shows to feel free and fun where for a night you can forget your worries and be a kid again.

Your music blends indie-pop, folk, and jazz, but it always feels cohesive. How do you balance those different influences without losing your core identity as an artist?
I usually start really simply with just me and a guitar or piano and let the song lead the way. I think the music I love most naturally shows up in what I write, so those influences blend in without me having to think about it too much. Later on, production can shape the sound more, but at its core, I just try to stay true to the song instead of forcing it in one specific direction.

What is the significant truth you want listeners to take away from Growing Pains?
That you can be many things in this world, but the most important thing is to be yourself. You have the power to shape the world around you, so why not choose fun, choose hope, and choose joy?

Listen to “all grown up” here.