Q&A: Softness is Power, and Ella Vos is Living Proof With New Single “National Anthem”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
Photo by Annalese Nicole
IN ELLA VOS’ WORLD, SOFTNESS IS STRENGTH — and dreaming is its own form of resistance. The Los Angeles-based indie-pop artist is returning to our playlists on repeat with “National Anthem,” a glimmering track that combines mellisonant vocals, acoustic textures, and a quietly defiant message of empowerment. It’s the latest from her upcoming self-produced album ROSEBUDS, a deeply vulnerable and personal body of work Vos describes as “a modern fairytale for the late bloomer.”
Written in the lead-up to the 2024 election, “National Anthem” began as a general writing session, originally imagined for another artist, but quickly blossomed into something bigger. With lines like “If we ruled the world, me and all my girls,” the track leans into the true feminine spirit and emotional intuition, calling for empathy as a radical form of leadership.
At 38, and nearly a decade into her career, Vos is claiming her space more boldly than ever before. From cancer recovery and motherhood to navigating a constantly shifting industry, her voice has only grown stronger—soothing, but also ready to challenge the status quo. Through ROSEBUDS, out on May 23, she brings listeners into a nostalgic, cinematic world where late bloomers thrive out loud.
Read on for Luna’s conversation with Ella Vos, where she opens up about storytelling, self-production, and the power of reclaiming your creative timeline.
Photo by Annalese Nicole
LUNA: “National Anthem” feels both dreamy and defiant. Was there a specific moment that sparked the idea, or did it unfold gradually while making ROSEBUDS?
VOS: I tend to reflect the times in my work. I started writing music around the 2016 election, and it’s impossible not to respond to what’s happening—especially here in the U.S. My song “You Don’t Know About Me” came out of that moment, and “National Anthem” came from a similar place. It started before the 2024 election. At first, it wasn’t even meant for me—I was thinking maybe we’d pitch it to someone like Kacey Musgraves. But the concept started to take shape with that line: “If we ruled the world, me and all my girls, this could be our national anthem.” It felt fun, but also timely.
The whole ROSEBUDS album is about embracing the feminine—not just for women, but for everyone. It’s an anthem for that. I wanted something that was empowering, empathetic, and inclusive without being overtly political.
LUNA: You’ve called ROSEBUDS a modern fairytale for the late bloomer. What inspired that phrase? And what does blooming look like to you now?
VOS: This is my first self-produced album, and it’s taken almost a decade of making music to get here. I feel like I’m finally stepping into my voice and my power. As a 38 year-old woman in pop, I resonate with what Lady Gaga said—how she’s just getting started. I couldn’t have made this record in my 20s. I didn’t have the experience or the vocabulary.
The phrase “modern fairytale for the late bloomer” just made sense. There’s this pressure, especially on women, to achieve everything by a certain age. But that timeline isn’t real. Once I had the album's songs together, I decided to write a fairytale alongside it—each song is a chapter in Rose’s story. She’s a middle-aged woman who left the music industry, but still feels called to create. She returns to LA and rediscovers her voice, not as an ingenue, but as a wiser, softer version of herself. She leans on friendship and collaboration to find her way back.
LUNA: That’s so beautiful. I love that she finds strength in softness and connection. If ROSEBUDS were a movie, what would Rose’s opening scene look like?
VOS: She’s in her garden, tending to her roses, humming a melody. She’s daydreaming about being on stage again but unsure if she still has what it takes. It’s very Disney—she’s singing to the animals around her, wondering if she’s strong enough to return. And nature reminds her: softness is strength.
LUNA: I love that. So whimsical and powerful. Since this is your first self-produced project, how did that change your approach to storytelling and sound design?
VOS: I started most of the songs on my childhood piano, which I’ve had for over 30 years. Even the electronic tracks began there. Piano was my first language before songwriting, before my voice. I was shy and had a speech impediment growing up, so the piano was where I felt most expressive.
I brought in synths and built rhythms around that. I was the synth bass player in my first band, so I used all those past experiences. And for anything I couldn’t do, I brought in collaborators. It was a really natural, intuitive process.
Photo by Annalese Nicole
LUNA: That’s so special—especially that your piano has been with you for so long. There’s a nostalgic element to the ROSEBUDS era too, especially visually. The videos feel like old Hollywood with a modern twist. What draws you to that aesthetic?
VOS: If I had to pick a time to live in, I’d probably say the ‘60s—minus the obvious challenges for women. I’m inspired by that era because it was a time of rebellion and freedom. And right now, when it feels like we’re at risk of losing some of those freedoms, I wanted to channel that spirit. It ties into the feminist energy behind the album and also aligns with the music I love.
LUNA: Absolutely. You've navigated motherhood, cancer recovery, and postpartum depression—and transformed those experiences into music that resonates. How do you know when a personal story is ready to become a song?
VOS: If I feel safe sharing it. I usually like to reflect before I write—I need more than one perspective. “White Noise” was the exception; it was written in the moment. But generally, I process things through journaling first. Writing about trauma too soon can be re-triggering, so I wait until I’ve healed enough to frame it with clarity and care.
Photo by Annalese Nicole
LUNA: That’s powerful. What advice would you give to other artists—especially mothers—trying to carve out space for themselves without sacrificing their truth?
VOS: There’s guilt that comes with pursuing something outside of motherhood, especially something that feels selfish like art. But I’ve found that showing my son that I have my own passions and purpose is important. It sets an example—that women can be full people, not just caretakers. We can love our kids deeply and still have our own dreams. It’s not either/or. That’s the kind of world I want to help create.
LUNA: Perfect. Thank you so much again, Ella. This was a dream. I can’t wait to share your story.
Photo by Annalese Nicole
