P&P Spotlight: Ana Luna
- Karly Ramnani
- Nov 28, 2025
- 6 min read
Ana Luna never intended to create a cohesive concept album from fan-favorite singles like "Can We Pretend We Just Met At A Bar?" and "Daddy's Empire." But often, the pieces fall into place on their own, as the music waiting to be made just reveals itself to the artist. That's what seemed to happen for this powerhouse's cinematic debut album, Tainted Silhouettes.
The project sets the scene with concise yet candid storytelling in "Fairy Tales," a flawless album opener that unfolds from soft and ethereal to dissonant and haunting - before a jarring transition into the steady electric guitars of "Dance in a Trance," whose soundscape somewhat mimics a thunderstorm and perfectly represents an out-of-body experience. This track characterizes the disconnect from reality following an abrupt heartbreak, and the painful rumination of missing red flags that seem blatant in hindsight. In another standout track, "Same Page," Ana's mesemerizing alto vocals contain charged yet poised undertones of anger, as she provides her take on the universal experience of struggling to communicate in a relationship.
Playlists & Polaroids had the privilege of speaking to Ana Luna about this record and her overall artistic journey, and to say that we're deeply inspired by her vision and ambition is an understatement. Keep reading for our full interview with her!
YOU'LL LOVE ANA LUNA IF YOU LISTEN TO: Lana Del Rey, Florence & The Machine, Adele, Portishead, Lizzy McAlpine, Boygenius, Ethel Cain, Lorde, Gracie Abrams
How have your Ukrainian roots, as well as your experience living in Paris and Los Angeles, shaped you as an artist?
I think traveling, living in different places, and having to adapt to different cultures has given me the drive to go after what I want, even when it feels scary. I’ve faced a lot of personal challenges in my life, but that innate drive has helped me pursue my goals as an artist. Experiencing so many cultural differences and meeting so many different people also taught me to adapt, stay open-minded, and remain curious. That curiosity carries over into my love for psychology and my music—I’m always interested in exploring what lies beneath the surface.
Does your background in acting also influence your craft as a musician? If so, how?
I think my acting background is what inspires me to make music that tells a story. I think it also helps me to really tap into emotions, even if I’ve healed from or moved past the experiences I’m singing about.
At what point did you decide to fully embrace music, instead of keeping your songwriting private while pursuing acting? Were there any specific moments or experiences that influenced this decision for you?
It all happened very fast! I was doing a lot of networking at the time but I definitely had a very “fake it til you make it” mentality. If an opportunity to make music presented itself, I was down to take it on and figure out my insecurities along the way—and that’s pretty much what happened!
Have you always wanted to make the style of music that you do right now? Or is the sound of Tainted Silhouettes a significant departure from what you'd pictured your debut album would sound like?
If anything, now that I’ve made this album, I see myself exploring new sounds in the future. The goal with Tainted Silhouettes was to open the door for me to make different kinds of music without being confined to one genre. The album is the sound I was aiming for, though I wasn’t exactly sure how that sound would take shape. Now that the album is out, I’ve grown and learned a lot. I have a clearer sense of what I like and don’t like, and what I used to think I wanted but don’t anymore.
I love how the cover art of Tainted Silhouettes itself contains lots of symbolism. How did you come up with the concept for it?
I had a lot of ideas for the cover. The image of a body covered in paint was something I’d been envisioning for a while. I wanted it to represent vulnerability and love or heartbreak, which to me are full of lessons, growth, chapters, and purging. It’s not one color; it’s everything combined, a rollercoaster of emotions. The hand symbolizes a lover, made larger than me to show how small and powerless I felt in the face of love and heartbreak, out of control over my own emotions. The snow globe was the final idea. When I visited my old college campus last March, I realized that during that time, everything felt so big and dramatic. Looking back, it felt like I was confined, like I was stuck in a snow globe instead of seeing the world around me.
You've shared that many songs on Tainted Silhouettes "weren't written with a project in mind." At what point in your overall process did they start to seem more like album tracks than standalone tracks?
When I knew that I was going to make an album. I didn't force myself to write, but I had the awareness that what I write might end up on the album. I did try to be attentive to what I was writing, how the story would unfold, and how the songs musically fit together.
Tainted Silhouettes truly speaks to anyone who's ever been told they're "too much" because of their emotions. How did you learn to start leaning into this, instead of viewing the fact that you feel things deeply as a weakness?
I think I’ve always been a “fake it ’til you make it” person. I rarely show people how their words or actions affect me, and I only trusted close friends enough to truly open up. College was a turning point for how I viewed myself and my relationship with my own emotions. There will always be things that get under my skin, but I’ve learned to manage how I respond. My coping mechanism has often been humor; whenever I felt like I was “too much,” I’d lean into it and say, “Yes, let’s be even more.”
Music is where I truly learned to embrace my emotions. I wanted to take the fact that I feel so deeply and turn it into something tangible. I still struggle with how intensely I feel at times, but I’ve learned to pay attention to it and channel it productively. My grandma always encouraged me to pour everything I feel into my art, reminding me that with creativity, there are no limits.
If you could pick any movie soundtrack to add any song from Tainted Silhouettes into, which movie and song would it be?
Oooh, that's a good question! I've had multiple people say “Dance In A Trance” would be a good fit for Wednesday (on Netflix), so even though it’s a TV show, let’s go with that!
After Tainted Silhouettes, what are your goals in music for the rest of this year and next? Anything that fans should be on the lookout for?
One of my main goals for this year and next is to perform more live shows. I’m going to continue to work on new music and engage with fans online, but I’d love to start making connections with my audience at shows. Definitely stay tuned for more LA live show dates!
Finally, the P&P classic! What’s a lyric from any track on Tainted Silhouettes that stands out to you? Walk us through the process of writing it, and how does it speak to you personally?
Hmmm, there are a lot of lyrics I really enjoyed writing, especially ones that describe something without being completely direct. But one that’s simple and seems to resonate with people is from “I’ll Keep My Promise”: “The world doesn’t need another bitch.” The song is about staying a good person no matter what happens, and not letting other people’s negativity turn you into someone you’re not. I remember being on the phone with my dad, completely enraged, saying that if I was treated badly, why shouldn’t I start treating people the same way? He gave me a pep talk about not letting others’ behavior dictate mine and reminded me that the world doesn’t need another person like that. It was a conversation that really stuck with me.
A first-of-its-kind statement, Tainted Silhouettes bounces between several genres - such as dream pop, alt rock, and indie folk - boldly introducing the adventurous and versatile artist she is. Though the album sticks to a central theme, there's something for everyone on it. You're missing out if you don't tune into Ana Luna now, as she truly has a bright future ahead of her! Here's a playlist we've curated to help you dive deeper into her world.