Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Alanna Sterling (they/them) shares “Down,” an energetic and emotionally charged pop/indie rock single that transforms a moment of uncertainty into one of resilience and release. Upbeat, empowering, and full of forward momentum, the track captures the strange clarity that can emerge when everything seems to be falling apart at once.

Inspired by a real-life experience while travelling, “Down” began after Alanna found themselves stranded and alone with a dead phone battery, no money, and no way to reconnect with friends. Armed with only a skateboard and guitar, they sat outside a strip mall busking for spare change before being confronted by police and threatened with a hefty fine for performing on private property.

“After reviving my phone, I called my friends, found a secluded area under a palm tree, and wrote the whole song in 15 minutes while I waited for them to pick me up,” Alanna explains. “My songs come from an emotionally charged space, so when I feel intense emotions, I get them out in a song to process.”

What can you share with readers about your new project?

Down is an uplifting indie-pop anthem about getting back up each time life tries to knock you down. It encourages listeners to rise up and shake things off in the face of adversity. And it’s really, really, REALLY catchy.

For the music video for Down, I flew all the way to LA to collaborate with my longtime friends and indie filmmakers, Courtney and Ashleigh (CA in LA). We collaborated on the concept and filmed it all in one day. It features me as a skater-punk character who captures the rebellious spirit of the song, and, on the other end, an ethereal mermaid character who captures that uplifting voice that tells you, “You can do this,” even when times feel tough.

How does this release compare with your other projects you’ve had in the past?

Down used to be personally one of my less-liked songs, but it turned out to be a huge crowd favorite. Viewers would request the song every time during my Twitch livestreams (twitch.tv/MermaidUnicorn). For a song I considered silly and basic, it actually ended up being so much bigger than I could have imagined. My fans have been begging for it to be released into the real world for years now, and I’m happy it’s finally out.

What about this single makes you most proud?

I’m proud to say that throughout the recording process, I took a big lead. I not only performed almost all the instruments (guitars, keyboards, harp, and more), but led the production of the song alongside my lovely engineer and co-producer, Jace Lasek.

The way I layered harp alongside dozens of vocal harmonies to make the last chorus huge is so satisfying to me. I think it’s crucial to have women and non-binary creators in the production industry. We make really good stuff and sadly are often underrepresented.

Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

My goal with any release is to have it reach the people that need the song the most. My focus is rarely on how many numbers I’m going to get, but rather on being able to answer yes to the question, “Is this a top-quality banger of a song?”

Fame means nothing compared to the reward of simply making good music for music’s sake, and for the sake of the listener who’s going to hear the song and be like, “Wow, this tune made me feel something and changed my life.”

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

Inspiration is everywhere if you let it find you. In my experience, I don’t necessarily need inspiration. I just sit down with my guitar, my piano, my pen, and my paper and open up my heart and mind to what the world has to say.

I can’t stop even if I wanted to. There’s undeniably this unstoppable driving force inside me that keeps me creating.

If you could collaborate with anyone—dead or alive, famous or unknown—who would it be and why?

I have so many dream collaborators. Do I really have to pick one?

Dead: Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Janis Joplin, Prince, Amy Winehouse.

Alive: Lady Gaga, Elton John, Jacob Collier, Snarky Puppy, Raye, P!nk.

What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

I won’t lie, the last song I listened to was my latest release, Down! You’d think I’d be tired of my own song after performing it for a decade and spending months in the studio creating it, but it’s still a favorite of mine that I listen to regularly.

Lady Gaga is my favorite artist of all time, hands down, period, point blank. Her impact on the queer community is extraordinary. Her artistry is impossibly unique, her voice commands the room, her fashion and visual aesthetic are worthy of obsessing over, and I will gladly binge every piece of content she produces.

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

On a wider scale, Instagram (@SterlingSilverSinger) is my main social media outlet where I post regularly.

On a more personal scale, fans can connect one-on-one with me and my community on Discord (discord.gg/MermaidUnicorn), where members share pictures, stories, comments, music they’re enjoying, and whatever else they feel like discussing in an interactive forum.

I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?

Uplift queer voices. Black Lives Matter. Mental illness is real illness. Trans rights are human rights. And let’s put an end to missing and murdered Indigenous women.