Ana Popovic continues to fuse ferocious blues-rock guitar with R&B, soul, and funk. Dance To The Rhythm covers all of the bases from the sounds of the disco period to Gary Moore-inspired blues ballads. Popovic resides the artist’s dream. Her band is on level and the songs are killer, however her secret weapon was lately constructed by Fender.

You’ve been mixing genres on the previous couple of albums.
I wish to carry all of it to life. I’ve just a few totally different formations, however my child is a giant band. It’s 11 items and we carry soul, funk, blues, and rock. It’s a powerhouse. Ever since I began writing, I wrote for a giant band. I simply didn’t have the means to carry it on tour. Even after I don’t have horns, I assume horns. If I don’t have background vocals, I hear them. I like huge gospel choirs.

Was there an idea if you have been compiling the tracks for Dance To The Rhythm?
We wrote the whole lot only for this report besides, after all, “50 Methods to Go away Your Lover.” The themes got here to us. The principle factor was to not repeat what I’d already executed. There’s a sense that overcomes you that tells you that it’s best to go in a sure route. A music like “Labored Up” is one thing that I’ve by no means executed earlier than, and I at all times attempt to high myself. Similar goes for after I write a sluggish blues like “Dwell on the Feeling,” which was impressed by Gary Moore’s “Parisienne Walkways.” The guitar opens, however I added gospel vocals and I believe it’s beautiful. Then we closed with “Sisters and Brothers,” which has a optimistic message about dwelling collectively. I believe this sort of message is important for the world.

I at all times wish to transfer issues ahead. I’ve two dance tracks that I’m tremendous enthusiastic about, with background singers and horns and the whole lot. I like clubbing, however these songs by no means have guitars in them. So, how do you place blues guitar in a dance music? It was a quest for this report. Each dance tracks comprise a number of guitar, and I can’t wait to carry out them dwell. I actually needed individuals to really feel the pocket after I was engaged on the solos. I needed to provide you with the great licks, however not intrude with the groove.

You will have new guitar tones on this report.
I’ve a brand new Customized Store Strat named Foggy. I made it with John Cruz and Greg Fessler, and it has a Foggy Mirror Chrome end, ’60s-style single-coils within the center and neck positions, and a Seymour Duncan 78 within the bridge. It was necessary to have one thing totally different. My favourite is, after all, the ’64 Strat that I’ve been utilizing for fairly a while. It’s my highway warrior guitar, and my favourite. I needed one thing extra fashionable. I haven’t used a number of humbucker Strat sounds, and Foggy is nice for taking part in slide. The neck has a more-modern really feel than my ’64; it has a spherical, huge tone, and it’s inspiring.

Which different guitars did you employ on the report?
I used some Gibsons, together with my Les Paul and ES-175.

The solo on “Resolution” is intense.
That’s Foggy, and I did it in a single take. I used to be free and did it within the second.

You don’t get sufficient credit score on your slide enjoying. The solo on “Sisters and Brothers” is nice.
Thanks. I loved it. For some motive, my slide work at all times finally ends up on the tip of the report (laughs).

What sort of amps are you utilizing?
I wish to have a Mesa Boogie within the studio and some Fenders. I like the Bandmaster. I actually get pleasure from that amp, and I at all times have a Bassman as a second. However I’ll at all times have a Mesa Boogie Mark V; a Bassman and a Mark V is my favourite mixture. I’ve used some Marshalls, and generally I add that to a Tremendous Reverb and a Bassman, relying on the day. There’s actually nobody amp that I take advantage of. It’s at all times a mixture of amps relying on the observe.

What’s subsequent?
I’ve a giant band cruise arising, and I’ll get to play all my songs. I get to play a number of music, which my band is worked up to dig into. I’ve festivals within the U.S. and Europe, and I’m going to maintain on releasing music movies. I’ve fairly just a few popping out. – Oscar Jordan

This text initially appeared in VG’s November 2025 concern. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.