Annika Catharina Shares The Meaning Behind New Single & Favorite Original Song ‘Bandit’

Annika is representing Canada in country music!

If you haven’t been listening to Annika’s incredible voice for years, then we have got to tell you all about her so that you can be obsessed with her too. From her iconic YouTube covers to her original music, we can’t pick our favorite performance from her. Well…that was until ‘Bandit’ arrived.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Annika about her first music release party, Concrete Blonde, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

A: “Music has always been super important to me. For as long as I can remember, I have been singing,  appreciating music, or interested in it. I didn’t know anyone at the time personally who had built a career in music, so I always assumed that dream was for someone else, and I was okay with that. I knew music would be a part of me forever, no matter what it looked like in my life.

It wasn’t until 2017, after my accident, that I started to plant the seed about making a career out of music. After the healing, I was ready to start believing in myself, and then the pandemic hit, which rocked many people’s worlds, but for me, it solidified the fact that music is something I want to pursue as a career.”

Tell us more about your amazing new single ‘Bandit’.

A: “Co-written by Amanda Couture, Dan Botch, and Garrett Ward, “Bandit” is equal parts romantic, cheeky, and picturesque, reminding us that love is universal. From the moment I heard the demo to the final stages of production, I knew this was a story I wanted to share with the world; I felt honored that my producers shared the song with me. I remember hearing the demo driving home late one night and feeling this instant connection to the song and its concept! For me, “Bandit” ‘s country soul shines through its honest storytelling, heartfelt vocal delivery, intricate harmonies, and steel guitar.”

This might be hard but if you had to choose, what is your favorite song you have released so far and why?

A: “As of right now, “Bandit” is my favorite song. I love the overall message and vibe of the music. I have foreseen this song to be one of my favorites for a long time. Every time I sing it live, I fall more and more in love with it.”

What has been the most validating moment of your music career thus far?

A: “That’s a tricky question; there have been so many great moments! I’d have to say the release party I held for “Bandit” was such an incredible moment. I was blown away by how many people came, bought tickets, and supported me with the release. It was also super exciting to share stories with everyone and sing and play some originals that my guitar player Pete and I had written for our band – before that, no one had heard music from that project. It was my first release party, so I didn’t know what to expect or how a release party worked; it went super well, and I took home so many things that worked and to be proud of and things improve on for the next release show.”

We love watching your cover videos! What song do you want to iconically take on next?

A: “I want to do an acoustic cover of “Joey” by Concrete Blonde (a late ‘90s American rock band). I have yet to hear many artists cover this song, and I have always loved it, along with many other songs from the late ‘90s. I have played this song with my band several times, but I would love to strip it down and do an interesting acoustic cover, adding my unique flare. I love this song and how meaningful the lyrics are in reference to “Joey” and would love others to hear my interpretation.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

A: “You can follow me on any social media app, streaming service, or on my website!”

Website: https://annikacatharina.com | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annikacatharinamusic/?hl=en | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annikacatharinamusic/ | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMHskoHJPABnr6nw9npTX_g | TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@annikacatharinamusic | X: https://x.com/AnnikaCatharina?mx=2 

Make sure to stream ‘Bandit’, available now on all music platforms!

Photo Credit: Annika Marie Brown

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.