Before the tours, before the studio sessions, before the slow rise of her own catalog, Vana Liya was just another diehard fan chasing songs that made her feel something.
“I’m a Pepper fan girl, super fan,” she says, laughing at the memory. Back then, her connection to the music was simple and obsessive. Living on the East Coast, she would make an annual pilgrimage west, cramming into her dad’s minivan and catching as many shows as possible. “I’d take my dad’s minivan and catch five of their shows in the area, and I’d go by myself because I loved Pepper so much.”
What she didn’t know at the time was that those same songs she was chasing would eventually circle back and change her life.
Like a growing number of artists in the digital age, Liya found her footing by reinterpreting the music she loved. “I ended up doing some covers,” she says. It was a simple move, but one that would quietly open a door she didn’t even know existed. There was no master plan, no rollout strategy, no calculated industry play. Just a voice, a guitar, and a deep connection to the songs.
Then everything shifted.
“Next thing you know, I got signed to LAW Records,” she says. “It was pretty full circle… I didn’t even have music written yet, and they took a chance on me.”
The label, founded by members of Pepper, didn’t just sign her, they welcomed her. What could have been a traditional artist label relationship quickly became something more personal, more rooted.
“Honestly, it’s just a family,” she explains. “Before we talk about anything business related, it’s always, ‘Hey, how are you? What’s going on with you? How’s your mom? How’s your brother?’ Then we talk about business.”
That foundation has shaped not only her career, but the kind of artist she’s becoming. In a genre often built on community and connection, Liya’s story feels less like a breakthrough and more like a natural extension of the culture itself. The same band she once followed from city to city is now part of her everyday reality.
“I got to tour with Pepper for the first time last year, and that was wild,” she says. “To do that with them and have them pull me up—it’s just crazy to be seen by people you never thought you’d be seen by.”
There’s a quiet disbelief in her voice when she talks about it, not because she doubts her place, but because she still remembers exactly where she came from. That perspective continues to fuel her songwriting, which leans heavily into emotional honesty and personal growth.
Songs like “Carry On” and “New Light” reflect that shift, moving from interpretation to introspection. “These songs are kind of an extension of me hoping that maybe somebody out there feels the same way, and through music we can overcome that,” she says.
Now, Liya is stepping into her next phase with a clearer sense of identity and purpose. No longer the artist covering other people’s stories, she’s building her own.
“I’m working on my second record right now with Johnny Cosmic,” she says. “Carry On and New Light will both be on that record, and we’ve got a few more features coming too.”
It’s a natural progression, but one that still carries the same core energy that started everything. The fandom hasn’t disappeared, it’s just evolved into something deeper, something reciprocal.
Because for Vana Liya, the journey from fan to artist wasn’t about leaving anything behind. It was about bringing it all with her—and finding a place where it finally feels like home.
“It just feels right,” she says. “It feels like home.”
Watch the full Vana Liya Interview Below!
