To coincide with the release of her latest single Better Hands, and following a huge year of EP and single releases, and massive increases in organic plays, we caught an interview with the incredibly talented folk-country singer, songwriter and guitarist Annika Catharina.
We talk about the experience of fast-growth as an independent artist, as well as songwriting, collaboration, dealing with success, competitions, touring, and plenty more.
It’s an inspiring read, and we’re very grateful to Annika for her time and insight. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Annika – great to reconnect with you, Happy New Year! Huge congrats for the success of your EP and recent singles. What’s been the main change for you as an artist heading into 2026?
Thank you so much for having me. The biggest change has been how much more I’m writing, co-writing. and playing more original shows – which were big goals for me last year. A lot of that comes from everything that happened in 2025, which I’m really grateful for – it pushed me to try new things, put myself out there more in the creative space and focus even more on my own music/sound and what I want to say next.
Let’s talk about the new single ‘Better Hands’ – over 100K plays on Spotify alone, a huge country pop gem with slick riffs and hopeful intentions. What was the inspiration for the song, and how does collaborating with Doug and Aidan bring out the best in your songwriting?
Doug came into the session with the title Better Hands, and right away it felt like something I could really dig into with him and Aidan. The song reflects where I’m at in my life and relationship right now. I wanted to write honestly about what a healthy relationship feels like, especially after being in some not-so-great ones, and compare the two in a real way.
Where in the process did the hook resolve come, and how did you build the verses alongside?
We knew early on that we wanted the chorus to really focus on being in better hands, while the verses told the story of what life and love felt like before that. Building it that way helped the song feel more honest and relatable.
You were a semi-finalist in the SiriusXM Top of The Country Comp last year – how did that process feel, and how important or useful is competing as you continue to build your career?
It was one of the coolest experiences. The whole process was amazing and came at such a good time for me. It really made me think about my future and what I wanted to do next. I didn’t know how far I’d make it, but I knew I wanted to learn as much as I could and take everything in.
What about live shows – you’re building an audience, getting the streams; will you be touring this year?
I have some really exciting shows coming up. One is the Boots and Babes Ball at the Commodore in Vancouver, opening for Morgan Griffiths and Brett Kissel, and another is Fred Fest in Fort St. John. I have a few more in the works that I hope I can share soon as well. I’m planning to play more shows both in and out of province – my goal is to do as many live shows as possible in 2026.
In your experience, what’s been the single most impactful achievement in the past year that has helped skyrocket your streams and profile as a rising artist?
Last year was pretty incredible. A few standout moments were being part of the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition, the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Competition, being named an iHeartRadio Future Star, Rogers One to Watch, and JR Country’s Artist of the Month and announcing the Boots and Babes Ball. All of that really helped build momentum.
What’s the main plan creatively for this year, and what are the main values you want to bring to the country and pop realm?
Creatively, I’m leaning into more edge and rock influences while continuing to write from the heart. I’m really excited about this next chapter – it feels a little bolder and more honest. I’ve had such a great time writing these upcoming songs with co-writers and good friends.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Get ready for more Annika Catharina music!
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Find Annika Catharina on TikTok, Instagram & X.
