Alana Rich on Forging Her Own Path in Pop Music
Photos provided by Alana Rich
By Emma Schwichtenberg
Alana Rich, a dynamic pop artist rooted in Portland, has always been immersed in creativity.
Her artistic journey began with writing poetry in elementary school, which later evolved into songwriting when she picked up the guitar at nine. Combining her love for writing, singing, and playing guitar, Rich started crafting her own songs, initially performing for family and small gatherings before transitioning to cafe performances. Her sound has continually evolved, traversing genres like acoustic pop, pop-punk, and blues pop, but always retaining a core element of pop music.
Moving from Seattle to Portland at nine, Rich continued to hone her craft in the Pacific Northwest, engaging with other artists and building a supportive community. She emphasized the importance of networking and supporting fellow musicians, which led to opportunities to perform at larger venues. Her engagement with the local music scene enabled her to transition from intimate cafe performances to more prominent stages, opening for notable acts like K-Pop artist SHAUN and the UK duo Let's Eat Grandma.
Rich's advocacy extends beyond her music. Recognizing the challenges faced by Asian American artists, she founded Pop Fever, a multidimensional music and art showcase aimed at amplifying Asian American voices. Through Pop Fever, Rich curates events that provide a platform for Asian American artists to perform and share their work, fostering a sense of community and representation in the creative industry.
With a decade of experience and a clear vision, Rich continues to make strides in her career. Her acceptance into the Grammy Recording Academy marked a significant milestone, opening new avenues for advocacy and connection. As she looks to expand her performances beyond the Pacific Northwest and continue her advocacy work, Rich remains dedicated to creating music that combines fun pop energy with thoughtful, reflective lyrics, aiming to leave a positive impact on her listeners.
Rich spoke to Converge Music about her journey from a young poet and guitarist to a pop artist with a mission to amplify Asian American voices in the creative industry.
Can you tell me about your early experiences with music and what drew you to pop music specifically?
"I actually started with writing before music. I loved writing poetry, painting, and singing as an elementary school kid—always a creative person. When I was about nine, I picked up the guitar and began learning chords. I eventually combined my love for writing, singing, and guitar, which morphed into my first song. I started playing for family, then at small gatherings, and eventually at café performances. I kept performing live whenever I could.
As for my sound, I've always loved pop music for its fun, carefree vibe. That’s shown throughout my evolution as an artist under different names. I started with acoustic pop, leaned into pop punk, and then into blues pop. Pop has always been the backbone of my songwriting, and it remains so today. I'm still making and performing pop music."
I’m interested in hearing about your early performances with your family. Did they give you encouraging feedback, even if you weren't great at first, or did they recognize your talent right away and genuinely praise your skills?
“I could carry a tune, but I definitely didn’t have the breath support of a vocalist who could sustain that. With practice, though, my family has been very supportive over the years of my expressing myself through music. I feel really blessed to have had that experience because I know that’s not common, especially given my ethnic background. In Asian culture, family members often push for a more "stable" career in fields like medicine. But my family has been super supportive, and I attribute a lot of my endurance over the years to them. They took me to gigs and were always there supporting me. Having such a supportive system has been a really important part of my career and journey.”
What led you to start performing your music outside of your family circle and in public venues like cafes?
“I feel like after I gained confidence performing in front of family members, it naturally evolved into thinking, "Maybe I can share my music with others in public spaces." It was a natural progression. When I first started playing in cafes at 14 or 15, my mom acted as my "momager." She helped me find contacts and reached out to any cafe or coffee shop in the area, asking, "Are you looking for live music? Great. I know someone." She helped me a lot with that, and it just took its course. You can only perform the same five songs in front of your family for so long before you need to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I wanted to evolve as an artist, so I started trying out different settings. Growing up shy and lacking confidence in social situations, this was a big turning point for me. It was about pushing myself to do things that scared me.”
Many musicians seem to start out playing small gigs like open mics and cafes, but then have trouble progressing to larger venues. How did you make that leap? Was it the support of your mom, or something else?
I would say it was a combination of things. Definitely having my mom as my cheerleader, getting me started at cafes, was a stepping stone. Open mics were also crucial. But a big part of evolving as an artist, at least for me as a performer, is engaging with other artists and supporting their shows. I wanted to be around other musicians—singers, guitarists, whatever. By showing support, those artists also supported me. Eventually, they asked me to join their shows at venues I wouldn’t have booked myself or even known about. It's a lot about going out, sharing your art at open mics, or wherever you can, and showing support to others in the industry. Building those connections was key to stepping out of cafes and open mics.
The pop music genre has evolved so much over the years, and it seems like we're seeing a resurgence of early 2000s pop with artists like Chapel Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. Who are some of your biggest influences in pop music, and where do you see the genre heading?
“Absolutely, the Spice Girls and all those early 2000s boy bands and girl groups were huge influences for me. Transitioning into the later early 2000s, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears were a big inspiration. I also really loved Hilary Duff and that whole era of music really shaped my early experiences and love for pop. Nowadays, there's a revival of that sound with artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chapel Roan. Even Charlie XCX has blended early 2000s influences with a modern-day sound. I think we're heading back to the carefree pop bangers of the early 2000s, and I'm all for it. It's a fun, nostalgic time for people in their 20s to early 30s.
Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to sustain a life where I can keep creating and sharing music. As cliche as it sounds, I want to grow from doing what I love. If I can create music that resonates with people and make a career out of it, that's my ultimate ambition. I want to connect with others through my music, whether it's playing a sold-out show or connecting with someone on a personal level. That's what I'm striving for—to keep doing what I love.”
When you play shows, do you notice any trends in your audience demographics? Is there a particular age group that seems to be most drawn to your music?
“It really depends on the show. There's usually a good mix, with younger folks and those rediscovering their love for music later in life. This diversity spans different age groups, but there's a noticeable trend in this genre of music. Typically, people from their teens to their mid-30s are more drawn to pop-oriented shows that are upbeat. So, it's across the board, with a significant presence of younger audiences.”
What are your plans for the future of your music career? Are you focusing on live performances, writing new material, or exploring other avenues?
“The next step is always creating new music, so I'm currently writing, releasing more singles, and working on an exciting EP set to be released by the end of this summer. After that, my focus will shift to playing more shows; while I've been heavily into writing and recording recently, I'm eager to ramp up live performances now that summer is here and the EP is nearing completion. Another big step is collaborating with other artists—I've had some great collaborations recently, and I'm looking forward to meeting new artists and creating together in the future.”
When you collaborate with other artists, do you have specific musical goals or themes in mind, or is it more of a spontaneous process?
“It's a blend of both for me. As a pop artist, there's always an intention to maintain a common thread of upbeat, catchy, and fun elements throughout my music. Collaborations are particularly enjoyable because they push me beyond my creative comfort zone. For instance, recently I collaborated with an excellent electronic DJ, which was a completely new experience for me. It still had that pop essence but exploring a different genre was exciting and refreshing. So, it's about balancing that familiar pop sound with the thrill of venturing into new creative territories.”
How do collaborations typically come about for you? Do you actively seek out artists you want to work with, or do these partnerships develop more organically?
“It's usually the latter. It often happens spontaneously, like when you're in the same space with someone and you both feel like trying something new. While there are artists I admire and dream of collaborating with, most of the time it's organic—just being in that moment together and saying, "Hey, let's try this out." The best collaborations, in my experience, are those that unfold naturally and unexpectedly.”
Do you feel like you're more of a spontaneous person? Or do you usually have a more structured approach to things?
“I would say, in general, I'm more structured. But when it comes to collaborations and creativity, I try to be more spontaneous because I feel like that's when the best ideas come out. So yeah, it's like a balance of both, for sure.”
Yeah, that makes sense. I feel like that's the same for a lot of people where it's like, you kind of need the structure to keep yourself on track, but then also the spontaneity to keep things fresh and exciting.
“Exactly, yeah. It's a balance.”
You mentioned earlier the challenges of being an Asian American pursuing a pop music career, did you face different expectations within your family, and how did you navigate supporting your family while pursuing your career?
“Yeah, definitely. Growing up as an Asian American aspiring pop artist was, and still is, very unorthodox, especially back in the early to mid-2000s. I had to forge my own path into these spaces, often bootstrapping and venturing into uncharted territory. Today, through my platform Pop Fever, I aim to amplify Asian American voices in the music industry. It's about providing a platform for other aspiring Asian American artists to perform in safe spaces and celebrate our presence and acceptance in pop music.”
Could you tell me more about the advocacy work you do within the creative industry to amplify voices within the Asian American community?
“One of the platforms I work with is Pop Fever, a multidimensional music and art showcase. Each show curates a lineup of music and visual artists, providing a space for Asian Americans to share their art. We've hosted events in venues like Sugar Hill and Holocene in Portland, with plans to expand beyond Oregon. It all started about two to three years ago when I reconnected with a friend doing social advocacy work for the AAPI community. That conversation sparked the realization that I could champion Asian American artists through events like Pop Fever.”
What inspired you to start Pop Fever, and how has it been building a community of artists?
“The inspiration came from realizing the shared experiences of Asian American artists who often feel unheard or unseen in their creative pursuits. Building this community through Pop Fever has been incredibly rewarding and cathartic. It's healing to come together and support each other, knowing we share common goals of visibility and recognition in our respective disciplines.”
What are some memorable achievements in your career that have been significant for you?
“Recently, being accepted into the Grammy Recording Academy was a major milestone. Opening for a K Pop artist and UK pop duo Let's Eat Grandma were also highlights. But overall, sustaining a career in music and art for over a decade, making connections, and continuing to grow artistically are achievements I'm proud of.”
Rich is currently working on several singles and has plans to release an EP or short-form album within the next year. Additionally, she intends to expand her performance venues beyond the Pacific Northwest and engage in more collaborations with fellow artists. Explore Rich’s music online at alanarich.com/.
