Brooklyn-based (by way of San Diego) Anaïs & The Hoops just dropped the music video for “Growing Pains,” and it’s the kind of soft, nostalgic gut-punch that sneaks up on you.
The track is the standout from her debut EP Growing Pains — and instead of centering romantic chaos (because we’ve all had enough of that), Anaïs turns her focus to something just as life-altering: friendship. The kind that starts in childhood. The kind that survives versions of you that don’t even exist anymore. The kind that feels like home.
“Friendships shape us just as deeply as romantic love,” she’s shared — and you can feel that truth stitched into every lyric.
The video, directed by Grace Pomilla, blends intimate live performance footage with nostalgic childhood home videos. Shot at Purgatory in Bushwick, the visual features Anaïs alongside her full band and a circle of close friends — reinforcing the idea of chosen family. It’s dreamy. Slightly melancholic. Warm in that late-afternoon-memory kind of way.
But let’s talk about the sound.
Anaïs & The Hoops isn’t just another indie act floating through Brooklyn. Her vocals are jazz-inflected (she spent much of her 20s singing professionally in jazz clubs before carving out her own lane), layered over catchy pop melodies and introspective songwriting. There’s a retro glow to her aesthetic, but it never feels like cosplay — it feels lived in. Honest. Earned.
And people are paying attention. Her debut EP has already earned support from outlets like NPR Music, Ones To Watch, and WFUV — which tells you this isn’t just another drop in the algorithm.
She’s building something real.
At OutLoudCulture, we believe in spotlighting artists at the moment where the story is just beginning to unfold. Anaïs feels like one of those artists you’ll want to say you discovered early — before the rooms got bigger, before the streams multiplied, before “Growing Pains” became the soundtrack to everyone’s nostalgia era.
Watch the video. Sit with it. Text your childhood best friend after.
And don’t say we didn’t put you on.
Follow Anaïs & The Hoops:
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook
Spotify
