Ana Luna
Singer/songwriter Ana Luna hast just revealed her newest single “Dance in A Trance”. Written after a breakup, the single was produced by Alexandre Burke and Kraig Tyler.
Haunting, captivating and cinematic, “Dance in A Trance” comes from a place of vulnerability and honesty.
"People will interpret my songs however they want, but this one wasn't about making anyone the bad guy—it was very much about me," she says. "I’d run into my ex and he wouldn’t even look at me. When we did lock eyes, the energy just felt… different. The line 'a caged romance' came from something he once said to a friend of ours about feeling 'caged' or trapped, which ironically, is how I felt too. It wasn't toxic in the way we tend to define toxic now—but maybe it was in its own way, just because of how intense it all was. This song lives in that duality of: either you’ve always been this person and I was blind, or remind me why I loved you so I don’t feel like an idiot."
The LA-based artist will be releasing her debut album later this year.
“Dance In A Trance” is now available everywhere !
Photo credit: Noah Hoffman
Hi Ana, how are you? What's your story?
Hi! I’m doing well! I’m Ana Luna and I was born in Ukraine, raised in France, and spent two years in Germany before we settled back in France. From a young age, I was drawn to music and acting, which eventually led me to college in Boston, where I created my own major focused on performance and creative work behind the camera.
While music was always a passion, I struggled with self-doubt and didn't pursue it seriously at first—partly because my parents, who aren't in the industry, didn’t want me pursuing this path. To bridge that gap, I dove into learning the business side of acting and music, knowing that talent alone isn’t enough. You also need to understand the industry and build the right connections.
Despite my insecurities, I kept pushing forward, and one step led to another. I moved to LA a year ago to be closer to my creative network, and now I’m releasing my debut album. It feels surreal to see a childhood dream come to life. I’m both thrilled and terrified. This release is tied to my application for an Artist Visa, so the stakes are high. But I’m hopeful and excited to see where this journey takes me!
"Dance in a Trance" is your latest single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
"Dance in a Trance" is the second track on my album and, sonically, it’s the most intense. It’s grand and emotionally charged, which reflects the overall theme of the project: the overwhelming emotions I experienced during two years of heartbreak.
I wrote it in the fall of 2023, reflecting on my second serious relationship. I was 20, and everything about love and heartbreak was still new to me. What made this breakup particularly hard was that we went to the same college, so I kept running into him. He’d avoid me, and whenever our eyes met, it felt like I was looking at a stranger. I remember questioning whether the person I loved ever truly existed or if I had created that version of him in my mind. The song is a deep dive into that confusion–trying to understand who he really was, whether I idealized him, or whether the breakup changed us both. The feeling was surreal, like being suspended in time and emotion… like a kind of trance. Not bad, not good, just a place that felt unknown. There’s a haunting sense of yearning for clarity and closure throughout the song. The line “a caged romance” was inspired by something he told a mutual friend after we broke up. And in the final moment of the track, it strips down to just piano as I sing, “Tell me it’s all an act, ‘cause I don’t want to hate myself.” Whether ego or not, I just needed to know that I wasn’t an idiot, that I didn’t settle, and that I didn’t fall for the wrong person. It is the moment where all introspection ceases and I simply just need an answer.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process behind "Dance in a Trance"? When did you start working on it? Who helped you create it?
I wrote "Dance in a Trance" in 2023, during a time when I was processing a lot emotionally. At that point, I wasn’t aiming to create an album, I was simply writing to process heartbreak. But when I looked back at everything I had written, I noticed that many of the songs were centered around two people and reflected a deeper story of heartbreak and introspection. That’s when the idea of an album started to take shape.
Originally, I wanted to include 16 songs on the album, but that wasn’t realistic, so I focused on the ones that best told the story. “Can We Pretend We Just Met at a Bar?” and “Bleeding Pen” were the last songs I wrote, and they felt essential in tying everything together.
Just before moving to LA, I met my producer Alexandre Burke. He really understood my creative vision. Later, Kraig Tyler joined the project, and we decided to co-produce the album. Balancing our schedules was tough. I was finishing college while they juggled multiple projects, but we made it work. We recorded a rough version of "Dance in a Trance" right before I graduated. I laid down all my vocals over two days while dealing with throat issues, which was a challenge.
While I was away, at graduation and then home, Alex and Kraig continued building the production. When I came back, we added live drums, guitars, and background vocals. The process was intense but rewarding, and the full album came together over about 10 months.
What did you feel when recording this particular song?
It was very important for both me and my producers to really connect and convey emotion. With this song, as with every track, we focused less on technique and more on capturing truth and vulnerability. I tried to reconnect with the emotional space I was in when I wrote it, and being an actress definitely helped me with that as well.
What’s interesting is that, over time, the meaning of the song has evolved for me. I used to feel like I had to relive the exact moment that inspired it, but now I let new experiences shape how I perform it. That’s actually been really freeing as it allows me to fully inhabit the song without tying it to one specific person or memory.
I was actually sick while we were recording “Dance in a Trance”, but this one wasn’t too technically demanding, so it was still pretty easy going.
What made you want to release "Dance in a Trance" as a single?
My producers and I were discussing which song to release first. We didn’t want to lead with what we felt was the “best” track, but we needed a song that could introduce listeners to my world. Each track on the album has a different feel to it–some are dark, others light, some sensual or angry–so I wasn’t sure which version of myself I wanted to show first. But I knew the first release had to reflect the core of the album: emotional, intense, grand, and rooted in storytelling. "Dance in a Trance" captures all of that. It’s the first taste of, “damn, this girl is intense,” before the rest of the layers start to peel back to reveal more.
What message do you want to deliver through this single? What do you want people to feel when listening to it?
Something my producers consistently told me throughout the process was that people will interpret my songs in their own way. They will relate to different things and interpret the message in the way they see and feel their own experiences. However, for me, I wanted this song to be both a release and a moment of introspection. I hope listeners feel validated in emotions like anger or sadness—not to dwell in them, but to recognize and honor those feelings.
As an overthinker, I tend to explore what lies beneath those emotions: the need for clarity, the desire for closure, the confusion of no longer recognizing someone you once loved. I want people who feel that to know they’re not alone. Even if someone doesn’t share my exact perspective, they might find themselves in the song if they allow themselves to dig a little deeper.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
I get very involved in all aspects of the creative process, including the visuals, so the artwork was very important to me. When I thought about the artwork, I was considering several elements. Am I conveying a mood or feeling? Is it metaphorical? Am I representing myself, the song, or both?
For “Dance in a Trance,” I knew I wanted to capture movement–specifically, a dance with a partner–to reflect the song’s emotion and meaning. I also wanted the partner to wear a mask because I’ve been playing with the idea of masks for a while now. In future visuals, I plan to include characters who represent past versions of myself or past lovers, but I never want to show their faces. I want the audience to project their own meaning, their own faces, onto the story. It’s not about the identity of the person, but the emotion–and I want that expressed through body language and lyrics, not a face.
My friend Noah Hoffman, who shot the cover photo, had the brilliant idea of photographing the scene from outside a window. It’s not meant to feel voyeuristic, but rather symbolic of the intimacy of a love story. You might tell your friends about it, but no one sees what goes on behind closed doors. This photo is my way of inviting people into my story.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think it’s amazing that so many artists, including myself, can now pursue music independently without massive funding. It’s definitely not easy, but with great artist communities and accessible tools to create, release, and market our art, it’s more possible than ever.
If I could change one thing, it would be the emphasis on virality over artistry. We all understand how the algorithm works, but it often shifts focus away from honesty and realness. It’s so over-saturated now that it can feel really hard to break through.
The business side of the industry is still very much a minefield. There are amazing people who truly believe in the power of music and its importance in the world, but I just wish the minefields were easier to spot.
Music is a form of therapy for you - how does songwriting help you heal?
For me, writing music feels like sending unsent letters. It’s just me, face-to-face with myself. There’s no running away from myself or anyone else. Right now, my songwriting is all about honesty and vulnerability. It helps me process my emotions, find empathy for myself and others, and honor the reality of situations I might not otherwise be able to speak on.
Besides music, what are you passionate about?
Career-wise, I’m also very passionate about acting. I’ve had to put my focus on music for now as I’m trying to get an Artist Visa, but acting has always been just as important to me as music. I plan to jump back into it as soon as I finish some of my current music commitments. I'm passionate about all aspects of creativity, whether it's visuals, creative direction, producing, etc.
Outside of work, I'm deeply passionate about traveling. I love learning about different cultures and experiencing new places. There’s so much of the world I want to see and understand.
In your opinion, what would make the world a BETTER place?
Kindness, understanding, and empathy, both toward ourselves and others. I think we lack that, and I wish we saw more of that. Not in a people-pleasing way, but in a genuine, caring way. We’re all human and we are wired to need connection, support, and nurture.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
There’s a lot of things I’ve learned, and I’m still constantly learning, but here are a few lessons that stand out:
Chase discomfort over comfort. That’s where your hidden fears, insecurities, and worries tend to surface. It can be a great opportunity for growth and transformation.
Be kind to yourself. Learning does not necessarily mean immediate change. Progress isn’t linear, and that’s okay, but it’s important to be kind to yourself throughout that process.
Only compare yourself to yourself. It took me time to build genuine confidence, and it’s still a work in progress. What helps me be confident is comparing myself to myself and not other people. Everything influences that: what I eat, what I wear, what mood I’m in, whether I’m taking care of myself, whether I’m being kind to myself and others, etc. Instead of looking outward, look inward.
Let people be who they are, have boundaries, and leave behind what doesn’t serve you, even as hard as it may be. I used to constantly look at different people wishing they were more introspective, more emotionally attuned, or more upfront and direct. It wasn’t with bad intentions, but more so because when I connect with people I want to know them fully and experience life with them. I realized that instead of trying to hold on to the wrong people or hoping they’ll change, I just needed to let go–as hard as that can be–and make space for those who I align with.
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