5 Questions with Ana Velez
by Dwight Easter
DE- Hi Ana, how and when was Community Witch founded?
AV- Ever since I was little, I've always had a deep appreciation and love for listening to and playing music. Sometime in 2016, I decided that I was gonna take on Community Witch as a solo project. It would be an avenue for me to write and complete songs. I always had small ideas for songs, but never really had anything completed. In 2018 I decided I wanted to make changes in my life and manifest goals. The first few months of 2019, I completed and found the courage to attend an open mic at Utopia Feni. Even though I was nervous and scared about performing a few songs on guitar, I gave it my all. I felt like it was right to be there because they always harbor a safe, warm, and inviting place for artists. That was the first time I performed under the name Community Witch. A few months later, I performed again at another Utopia Feni event showcasing a few more songs and with James Robert Smith, from Ladada playing a 3 piece drum set with me. Then a fellow musician friend from the Lazy Dangers decided to help support my musical endeavor and set up a house show with one of our other friends Dariel Clark. I ended up asking my good friend, Jordan Trotter to join me on drums. She and I have been talking about collaborating on art and music for such a long time, so it only felt natural to include her. It was actually her first time playing drums at a show! And then I asked my other friend Melissa Powers to play bass because she's been playing bass and singing for years. Ever since then, the 3 of us have been the solid members of this band. But we've recently added Rashie Rose to the mix at the end of last year, and I honestly feel so grateful for them. Now, our writing process is more of a collaborative effort.
DE- What is the band's unique perspective that enhances the music scene in our area?
AV- We all have intercepting musical and creative influences, so we want to be able to regurgitate it through our music. Plus, I feel like our voices as women should be heard. We all sing and are multi-instrumentalists, so we're gonna try to continue to learn and grow. We want to show that working as a team can only result in good things.
DE- I’m always curious about the live performances of a band, what would you like the audience to experience when seeing Community Witch?
AV- Some type of visual aesthetic with a release of passionate energy is what I always envision. We honestly just want to have a good time together and with the audience. There's a lot of things that we as humans go through on a daily basis, so I want the experience to be somewhat therapeutic.
DE- In our pre-interview, you mentioned working all day, what’s a Community Witch do for a living?
AV- I work full-time at a grocery store. My hours are literally… all over the place. Anytime I want to do anything, I have to plan ahead.
Our bass player, Melissa Powers is in the apprenticeship program at the shipyard. Our other guitar player, Rashie Rose is a hairstylist.
And last but not least, our drummer, Jordan Trotter is in marketing and events manager for Smartmouth. We all have extremely difficult schedules, but we make time to meet up and practice.
DE- Who are the artists and performers that influenced you to become a musician?
AV- I am constantly inspired by so many artists, but here's a few: Karen O, Norma Tanega, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, St. Vincent, Broadcast, Peaches, Melodies Echo Chamber, Joy Division, Angel Olsen, Thee Oh Sees, King Gizzard, The Coathangers, Black Sabbath, Patsy Cline, Blackwater Holylight, Sonic Youth, Screaming Females, Skinny Girl Diet, Best Coast, La Luz, and Glass Candy. Like I said, my list could go on and on and ON.
Here are some of the locals that inspire me and are the kindest most talented people I know, Ladada, Snake Mountain Revival, You're Jovian, Wandcarver/Hope Magnet, Reptile Tile, Dariel Clark, Demons, Raise Hell Over the Summer, Bantustans, Koren Grace, Pain in the Yeahs, Opal, V V (RVA), and Dysphonia (RVA).
My musical taste is vast, but I will appreciate almost any genre of music, especially if the musical energy and skill behind the performer is genuine. Plus, I am a firm believer that everyone has a right to voice themselves through music.
About Dwight Easter: Digital folk artist, family man and bread merchant. Some of the best moments in my life are experiencing the power and influence of great art. I came up in the Norfolk era of the M80’s, Buttsteak, and Antic Hay.