Anella with Aasher Saintt and Nia J

Born in High Point, North Carolina, Anella found his path to music early. Raised on car rides with his father and MaMaw, he absorbed everything from Michael Jackson and Eminem to gospel and old-school country, eventually learning drums, guitar and piano. As a teenager, he began performing outside local bars, sometimes in the bitter cold for small crowds, building a following around Trinity, North Carolina.

“Every time I failed at something, I found comfort in music,” Anella says. “Writing music feels like home. This was the only path for me.”

In 2023, Anella began breaking through with songs including the moody, drunken-voicemail ballad “Tequila” and the sweet, infectious “Tennessee Love Song.” A year later, he expanded his sound with the Season Series, a collection of short EPs built around different moods, genres and chapters of an evolving story.

Season 1: I Love You explores the yearning of a new romance. Season 2: I Lost You traces the heartbreak that follows. Season 3: I Made You finds Anella trying to move forward, while leaving the story open for future installments. The series gives him room to move freely between sounds rather than settle into a single genre.

“I didn’t want to stick to any genre,” Anella says. “I didn’t want to stick to any sound. I want people to understand it’s just me and how I feel while writing.”

That approach reflects Anella’s broader songwriting process, drawing on formative moments, personal experiences and stories from different perspectives to create music built around emotion and connection.

With co-signs from artists including 2 Chainz, Sada Baby and Jelly Roll, Anella has attracted attention well beyond any single genre. His growing fanbase and restless creative approach point toward an artist determined to keep evolving, following the story wherever it takes him.

Aasher Saintt is a rising hip-hop artist, producer, and songwriter from Charlotte, North Carolina, known for blending melodic storytelling with confident lyricism and cinematic production. Producing much of his own music, Aasher has quickly built a reputation for crafting immersive records that showcase both his versatility and artistic vision.

Nia J

Nia J is a homegrown pop star exploring what it means to be a Black, gay woman living in the South. Her music infuses lyrical storytelling and a deep sense of style: dainty, demure, and yet always with the power of a classic diva.