Laid Back in Chicago with Folk Artists Malena Cadiz and Anna Ash

^{Interview and article by Audrey Strand}

On July 31st 2025, I sat down with folk artists Malena Cadiz and Anna Ash in the WLUW studio to chat about their music and broadcast some live songs for our listeners. Both artists are from LA, and were visiting Chicago for a show in Evanston at SPACE that night. Immediately upon meeting them, I felt put at ease by their soft voices and open hearts, chatting about train travel and high school debauchery. I knew Chicago was in for a treat.

Once we got set up on air, Malena performed a beautiful rendition of her song “My Kind of Thief” from the Hellbent and Moonbound album, which she described as a record that celebrates “following your own path and whatever lights you up.” Her distinct voice and echoing guitar filled the small space, making it feel enchanted and warm. Malena Cadiz’s recording is linked here. 

After Cadiz’s performance, Anna Ash set up to play a brand new song of hers that hadn’t been recorded yet, which felt so special for both me and our listeners. It was called “Drive-Through Dead End” or “Dead-End Drive-Through,” she hadn’t decided yet. The song was bright, introspective, and peaceful, something that reminded me of the cool summer night after a big-get together when most people have gone home, and all that’s left are the string lights and a porch swing. Anna Ash’s live recording is linked here. 

Once the lovely performances were over, I had prepared a few questions for each to answer and talk about themselves. I asked about some of their favorite things to do when visiting Chicago, and both had amazing answers. Ash mentioned the Chicago Music Exchange, which she loves visiting when in the Windy City. 

I also asked about their songwriting processes, and both musicians had a lot to say. Cadiz said she tries to write every day, and begins writing songs by using her surroundings and senses. The one lyric we talked about was from her song “Museum Shoes,” where she sings “you and me let’s be the coin thrown/flickering in the stream.” The song’s overarching theme commented on the fact that everyone has their own “museum shoes,” a special pair they wear when they want to feel special or go someplace fun.

Anna Ash’s song “Good God” was the next topic of conversation, and I asked about her experience writing it. It turns out that it was a song she had written a long time ago, but revisited and recorded somewhat recently. She said that she decided to come back to it because although much time had passed, the song still held weight with her in a different way. 

Finally, to close things out, I asked them a question. If Anna Ash and Malena Cadiz could have coffee with any music artist, living or dead, who would it be? Ash was quick to say Tom Petty, even mentioning she has a tattoo for him. “I’d have coffee with Tom,” she laughed. Cadiz decided on Leonard Cohen, and both agreed that Petty and Cohen would have been friends in a different life. 

You can stream Malena Cadiz and Anna Ash’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, or anywhere you listen, and both will be on tour in Colorado later this year.