SPOTLIGHT: ANELLA
Meet Anella and tune into his debut album “831: The Series”
Since first releasing music in 2020, North Carolina-born singer-songwriter Anella has been quietly building a world of his own. At just 23, he’s amassed over 395,000 monthly listeners and more than 31.8 million total streams on Spotify. Critics have dubbed him a “genreless wonder,” and it’s easy to see why: his music fuses pop, hip-hop, R&B, country, punk, and beyond into something that feels both familiar and entirely new. But for Anella, the blending of genres is a seamless portal of how his emotions demand to be expressed.
That emotional approach reached a new height with the Season Series, a collection of five EPs released over the course of a year and a half. Like seasons of a TV show, each project centered on different moods and feelings, giving listeners an intimate look at his evolving artistry. “It’s a way to make every emotion I’ve had fit into my art,” he explains. By weaving those tracks together and adding new ones to complete the picture, Anella unveiled his debut full-length album, 831: The Series, a project that serves as both a culmination and a snapshot of his early twenties.
At its core, 831: The Series reflects the chaos, growth, and unpredictability of life. The number 831 has been with Anella since he was sixteen, tattooed on his chest and carried through his music. On the surface, it’s shorthand for “8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning,” but its interpretations are endless: “I love you,” “I hate you,” “I miss you,” “I need you.” Each song takes on one of these shifting meanings, mirroring the way human emotion rarely fits into one box. “It’s personal to everyone, it’s whatever you make it,” Anella says. “Regardless of what you’re feeling, there’s something in there that you can connect to.”
When asked how he stays grounded while experimenting across so many genres, Anella admits he’s still in the process of figuring that out. “I mean I’m 23 so I don’t think I’ve necessarily found who I am, to be honest,” he reflects. “But roots are roots, so going back to the music I listened to growing up will always be where I draw inspiration. I grew up on Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder.” That foundation, paired with his refusal to play by traditional rules, has allowed him to remain true to himself while never sounding the same twice.
Ultimately, Anella’s vision is about tapping into the human condition. His raw honesty, sometimes stubborn intuition, and tunnel-vision creativity give 831: The Series its resonance. “The album as a whole is just a good reflection of how not specific life is supposed to go and how unexpected life really is,” he says. “The point is there is no point, do what you love.”
Listen to “831: The Series” here.
