Ana da Silva: Full Life Interview 2021

In this oral history, Ana da Silva discusses growing up on Madeira Island, when she started creating art, and her childhood exposure to music and art. Da Silva talks about her teen years, including what kind of student she was, her family’s expectations, and family history of going to university. She recounts her college experience, and how she came to move to London. From there, da Silva talks about meeting Gina Birch, forming The Raincoats, and the band’s early reception. She discusses what it was like to be signed to a record label, the band’s anti-commercial attitude, and starting her own record label. Da Silva talks about why The Raincoats disbanded and her many projects since then. She talks openly about her creative identity, queer identity, and what it means to age in the public eye. The interview concludes with her thoughts on her role in rock history, the category of women in rock, and what she is most proud of.
Ana da Silva is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and visual artist best known as a founding member of The Raincoats.
Learn more at: WomenofRock.org
Interviewed by Tanya Pearson for the Women of Rock Oral History Project
The Women of Rock Oral History Project is a collection of digital interviews and written transcripts, housed at the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College-one of the oldest women’s history archives in the United States. Started by Tanya Pearson in December, 2014, WOROHP documents the lives and careers of women in rock whose work and careers have been underrepresented or omitted from rock journalism and historical scholarship. With a collection of publicized and accessible primary source documents, the Women of Rock Oral History Project seeks to facilitate a more comprehensive, inclusive, and accurate cultural history.
#rock #punk #interview #music #history

[@BJ-fj6jw]

You ladies are timeless and so inspiring to me. I always wanted to be in a '80's band. Just received my Arturia minilab3 and waiting for the rest of my studio equipment to arrive. After wading through the new technology figuring it out, I want to create music where the '80's left off. I'll send you some music hopefully in the near future! Great interview!

[@MrCFNA]

so proud of ana da silva being from madeira island as myself 😚

[@Ragnarokr]

Ana is so cute and awesome. It's like the knowledgeable, understanding aunt I never had.

[@jotopaxjotopaxx8188]

Ana is super cool!

[@MattDollMusic]

Ahhhh! That was magical. I cut out a photo of the raincoats and stuck it on my toy box at around 9 years of age. Then when I was 17 as I formed my band The Mavis’s I got a copy of their first album. I was madly in love with the music and collected everything. I always loved Ana’s songs, voice and guitar playing. Raw and original. Thank you both for this wonderful interview 😍

[@gabrielagelain810]

I love Ana, she's brilliant!

[@emmahaggerty4950]

Another great women of rock vid 🙂
Thank you! 🙏
...really appreciate hearing much more about The Raincoats and the background and history and about Ana's life and Art 😊
...so much better hearing from the Artist and not hearsay, misquotes or myth! 🥰 X

[@samuelblinne6040]

Awesome

[@myradioon]

You should do Jenny Toomey, Fontaine Toups and or Mary Timony. 90's Indie Royalty.

[@katiecannon8186]

Why isn’t “Shadows” available on Apple Music? All the other Rain Coats albums are.