You may have heard her songs on "Grey's Anatomy" or "The Real World." If you live in the San Diego area, you just might have driven to work with her on KBZT. But if you're lucky, you'll catch her live while she travels the country in support of her new album "Slow and Steady Seduction: Phase II" (available on iTunes).

With dreams of becoming an actress, she moved to Los Angeles. That didn't work out quite as planned but not one to dwell on disappointments, she channeled her talents in a new and much more suitable direction.

Rolling Stone Magazine said, "Anya Marina's childlike voice doesn't jibe with her randy album title. But that doesn't stop the San Diego singer from growling come-ons on "Afterparty at Jimmy's" ("You got soul on stage, boy/How about soul in the sack?") or purring like Jessica Rabbit on the cabaret-style "All the Same to Me." She dials it back on "Vertigo," a sweet ode to a dizzying dude. With blippy drum loops, it sounds like a play date with a Casio — proof that Marina still has G-rated fun."

iTunes fans are even more glowing.

"This was one of the most clever, fun and creative albums I've heard in a really long time. Anya's a stud."

"This album gets in your head and nests there. You'll love it!"

So who is this new, sassy California girl rocking the music world opening for artists like Jason Mraz and Rhett Miller?

We caught up with her in the middle of her massive tour with The Virgins.



You began your show biz life as an aspiring actress. How do you feel with the way your career path has turned?

I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful.

Standing where I am now, all of the frustrations or questions I felt in the past with regard to my career all make sense. The acting career I thought I wanted at the time never materialized and that was largely due to the fact that I didn’t really know what I wanted. I knew I wanted to perform in some capacity but I wasn’t landing any auditions, really. The only things that I was getting were radio jobs, so I went in that direction—the path of least resistance, if you will. Through radio I fell more in love with music, and by virtue of falling in love with music,  I started to perform and find my own voice both as a writer of music and as an entertainer, so in a way, I came full circle and, in doing so, satisfied the urge that first drew me to acting.

Where does music fall for you? If you were given the choice...successful actress or successful musician, what would you choose?

Musician, by far. I’d equate it with being a director or a screenwriter in the acting world. You have much more autonomy and control over what you’re putting out there.

I've seen several reviews using the same essential phrase, "Sexy rock and roll." Is that the vibe you were hoping for?

If I was going for anything, it was to avoid be lumped in with all of the fairly bland and safe-sounding music that gets the “singer/songwriter” label slapped onto it. So if my record makes people think about rock and roll and getting it on, then that’s just fantastic by me.

There has been a shortage of successful female rock stars of late...what is your take on that?

Really? I think there are so many incredible girls doing really interesting stuff. I mean, I get it that there aren’t a lot of female stars in the “rock” genre, but that’s nothing new. I think there was more of a gimmicky phenomenon back in the Lilith Fair era, but I like what’s happening now better and I think girls are more exciting to watch now, too. Karen O and Shingai from the Noisettes and Emily Haines from Metric are incredible on stage. I think MIA and Santogold are doing really interesting things and making great music.  Missy Elliott is always fresh and fun. This girl I’m touring with now—Lissy Trullie is amazing. Just such a great songwriter with such a cool look and distinct voice. I love watching her every night. Beyonce is a fucking rock star! Have you seen her video for Single Ladies? Whoa. Moving like that and owning it like that and wearing a goddamn leotard is ballsy and fearless—and that’s rock and roll! Chrissie Hynde will always be the coolest rock star ever. Just her sense of style and her voice. I really like The Kills, too, and although I haven’t seen them live yet, I’ve heard Alison Mosshart is great.

Describe your songwriting setting. Sitting at a computer? Scribbling notes? Recording into a tape recorder? What is your process?

All of the above. Usually, I’ll get a melodic idea while I’m walking or driving or sometimes even while I’m sleeping. Then I’ll record it onto my phone so I don’t forget it. Eventually I’ll sit down and work it out on guitar and then play around with beats and rhythms, and lyrics usually come last.

Other times I might get a lyrical idea, and in those cases it’s usually feverish--I’ll finish a whole poem or song in a quick sitting. I did “Not a Through Street” that way after sitting on my curb in my cul de sac. Then I went inside and put it over music right away. That almost simultaneous music and lyrics thing rarely happens to me, but when it strikes you have to be available to it and make the time.

I love doing is working with other people, too. Right now I’m on the road with The Virgins and Lissy and I just started this songwriting game I like to play. Collaborating with other songwriters not only stretches you creatively but it puts a fire under your feet if you have a tendency to get complacent about finishing songs. It’s easy to get an idea, let it sit there, and then forget about it. You let yourself off the hook when you’re working alone, but when you’re working with someone else, you don’t want them to see you be lazy--there’s  a deadline and a desire to impress them or show off a bit.

So you try harder, almost, to make that particular project that much better/funnier/smarter/ sadder or whatever particular emotion or reaction you’re trying to elicit or achieve.

You have a massive tour ahead of you. What do you think of these extended trips away from the comforts of home?

Daunting, but necessary and fun. On the road there’s absolutely no downtime—no free time, even!—so, little things become the biggest hassle to orchestrate. Like today I had find a winter coat for an unexpected snow storm, find a soft case for my guitar, fill up the gas tank, and find some healthy food. I had about 30 minutes, so I figured this was all impossible, considering I was in a town I’d never been in in my life, but somehow I found a mall with everything I needed in one place. When you’re touring your ass off and stuff like this happens, you literally weep out of sheer happiness and relief. You start believing in a higher power and everything—There must be a God if he put a Whole Foods and a Burlington Coat Factory right here by the Guitar Center!