In Conversation with Janeilla Burns

Janeilla Burns—better known to her fans as Androtta—doesn’t so much enter a room as she radiates into it: equal parts starlet and soul-sifter, with the kind of voice that makes you feel like the two of you could be forever 21 together. She writes. She composes. She sings like she’s bleeding glitter. And in the quiet between choruses, she tells the truth.

We met for a day of beauty and brunch (she brought over her favorite teas for us to share!), and what followed was part interview, part confessional, and part cosmic alignment.

So… how’s life lately?
"Chaotic. Beautiful. Overwhelming in a good way. I’m in school, I’m creating constantly, and somehow I’m surviving it all with Billy’s support and a little caffeine sorcery."

She laughs, but there’s exhaustion in it too—the kind that comes from building something real while life throws curveballs from every direction. A growing career as a singer, songwriter, artist, and composer doesn’t exactly leave room for naps.

On her creative process:
"Honestly? It’s messy. I have a notes app full of poems, lyrics, scraps of thoughts I swear made sense when I wrote them at 2am. I don’t sit down and write—I leak art. It pours out in weird, inconvenient ways."

That rawness shows up in her work. One piece in particular—“The Adventures of Sad Boy and Sad Girl”—is steeped in personal ache and sharp reflection. Originally a playful nod to her and her half-brother’s shared dreams, the project evolved into something far more haunting.

"My father only really shows up when I succeed," she shares, her voice steady but distant. "It’s strange, watching someone celebrate a version of you they never actually helped build. It makes you question how people define love and pride."

But Janeilla isn’t here for performative love. She’s carving out something real—something earned. Her music isn’t just melody—it’s memory, reframed.

The turning point?
"Billy."
Her voice softens. "He changed everything. If I hadn’t met him, I don’t think I’d be doing any of this. I didn’t think anyone would believe in me like that—not really."

Together, they dream of van life—traveling the world, creating on the road, playing shows under moonlight and gigging across the country. “A little dreamy, a little DIY, a lot of freedom,” she says.

It’s not all trauma and transformation, though. Sometimes, she’s just one of the girls. Janeilla has a secret skincare routine passed down from her grandmother: coffee grounds, honey, sugar, and a little olive oil. (“Disgusting to look at. Magic on the skin.”)

She lives for those late-night writing marathons fueled by music—especially Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. (“They’re unapologetic. I love women who say the quiet things out loud.”)

When she needs comfort, her go-to treat is caramel anything. “Or kettle corn,” she adds. “But only the fresh kind. Bagged popcorn is a betrayal.”

She talks fast and dreams faster. One day she hopes for a house, but she’s not sure where yet—somewhere between Florida and California. “Or who knows,” she shrugs. “Maybe someday I’ll have a residence back home in the Philippines.”

What keeps her going?
"Hope. And spite. Honestly, it’s a little of both."
And she’s not joking. The grin on her face is equal parts glitter and grit.

What would she tell the version of herself who didn’t believe in all this yet?
"You were never wrong for wanting more. You were just asking the wrong people to give it to you."

Mic drop.

Bonus: Want to fall a little more in love with Janeilla Burns?
Watch her serenade our family’s cat in this chaotic, magical moment caught on video:

(Warning: May cause spontaneous heart swelling and an uncontrollable urge to adopt a cat.)

Want to know more about Janeilla? Check out My Top Story featuring her music release: