In the early 2000s, Angela Via was the queen of teen movie soundtracks. Her crystal clear (and incredibly powerful) voice mixed with her sugar-sweet persona made her an artist perfect for millennials to look up to. 

My journey with Via began when I purchased the soundtrack to Pokémon: The First Movie. While I came for Billie Piper’s “Makin’ My Way (Any Way That I Can” Via’s “Catch Me If You Can” wriggled its way into my eardrums and it’s been beating there ever since. 

Her first official single, “Picture Perfect” came with a music video starring future superman Tom Welling while her second single

“I Don’t Care” remains as an anthem for anyone who’s ever fallen in love with someone your family doesn’t approve of. 

“Wonderland” featured in Pokémon 2000 is bubblegum happiness as is “Best Friends” featured on the soundtrack to The Little Vampire. Her song “We Could Be Free” is a bit more adult. Released as Christmas Wishes on the MTV TRL Christmas Volume 1 CD the song is about a love that dares not speak its name. As a queer kid, dating someone who was in the closet, this song more than the others resonated with me in a way very few have. 

Though her debut album was supposed to be released through Lava / Atlantic the project was shelved though it was released digitally in 2004 through Real Player ( advance physical promos do occasionally show up on eBay). However, her song “Papi Chula” was used as the theme for Six Flags theme park in Texas. 

Via did have a brief contract with Virign records and released the single “Speaking’ Spanish”

And “Baila Baila” which was featured on So You Think You Can Dance.

From what I’ve heard Via is making new music. As a fan, I hope so.

More music soon so…

Stay Tuned!