Mini Trees

In 2024, Vega, who records under the name Mini Trees, channeled emotional exhaustion and industry disillusionment into Burn Out, a deeply personal and quite compelling EP. It marked a creative turning point, both in sound and spirit, as Vega embraced a more collaborative and pop-forward direction.

Now in 2025, Vega is once again charting her own course, this time without a label or timeline (or even a title). In the process, she's redefining what creative joy looks like. We recently caught up with Vega in this in-between time, armed largely with the permission to follow her instincts.

Analogue: You were saying this is sort of a transitional moment, especially since you're in the middle of pivoting from an EP to a full-length album. Can you take us inside that headspace a bit?

Lexi Vega: Yeah, it’s a little more thrown together than normal. This is my first independent release in a long time, since I’m no longer working with a label, so I’ve just been figuring things out on my own.

Originally I planned to release an EP in September, but when I showed some new material to my producer, we realized it might make more sense to go for a full album. That kind of threw things for a loop—I don’t even have an album title yet, and we’re still figuring out the tracklist—but it feels like the right move.

Analogue: I love that you’re willing to talk about it now, before everything is fully formed. What are the values guiding your decisions in this moment?

Lexi: It’s definitely evolving in real time. I didn’t think I’d be able to press and distribute vinyl, which was part of why I was leaning toward an EP. But I connected with a really artist-friendly distribution team called Many Hats, and that changed things. It got me excited about doing a full-length on my own—which I’ve never done before—and it just felt like something I’d be proud of.

Also, I’ve always loved albums. I don’t listen to playlists; I put on full albums from start to finish. I think the people who listen to my music are the same. They buy LPs. They want a cohesive body of work. That really influenced my decision, even though a full album is more demanding financially. But if I can make it work, I think it’ll be worth it.

Analogue: Were you having to leave songs off when it was just going to be an EP?

Lexi: A little bit, yeah. I had a lot of older demos going into this process, but then I started writing newer material that made the older stuff feel outdated. I was just more excited by the new ideas. The EP version would’ve been five really strong tracks—no fillers, just my best material from that batch. But now that I’m in album mode, I haven’t really returned to those older demos. There are a couple I’ll probably revisit and reimagine, but I’m focused on the newer songs that feel stronger to me.

Analogue: What gives you that sense of confidence in these songs? Is there something specific you can point to?

Lexi: I think it’s partly a gut feeling, but I’ve definitely evolved. I’ve pushed myself more vocally and melodically, and my voice has just gotten stronger from years of touring. My producer, Jon [Joseph], and I talk a lot about writing songs that are strong at the core—not just a vibe, but actual good songs. We’re trying to write things that still work if you strip everything back. Like, if I played a song solo on acoustic guitar, it should still feel powerful.

We’ve also gone back to doing everything ourselves, which limits production in some ways but really puts the focus on the songwriting. The demo has to be something I’m proud of on its own. Even if someone heard that version, I’d want it to feel strong.

Analogue: How much of this shift, of doing it on your own, feels empowering versus stressful? Or is it both?

Lexi: Definitely both. There are moments when I’m like, 'I don’t know what I’m doing,' and it’s stressful. But at the same time, I feel a huge sense of freedom. I can make the decisions. I don’t need to get approval from a bunch of people. I can move at my own pace and do what feels right.

I think I’m coming out of a season of burnout, honestly. The last album cycle was amazing in a lot of ways. I got to tour with incredible artists, had great press and label support, but I also just ran myself into the ground. I was dealing with mental health struggles that made it hard to keep going. I took some time off to rest and really ask myself why I do this in the first place.

Coming back to music from that place has been really clarifying. I feel more in touch with why I started writing songs at all, and that’s influencing how I approach this new chapter.

Analogue: That’s a hard but important thing, to slow down enough to examine why you’re doing any of it.

Lexi: Yeah. The industry moves so fast, and there’s always this pressure to keep up. I remember feeling like if I took even a few months off, I’d lose all my momentum. But I just couldn’t keep going like that. I needed to rest. I needed to write without thinking about deadlines or strategy or what people would think.

And it turns out, I’m still here. People are still listening. It’s okay to move at your own pace. That’s been a big lesson for me.

Analogue: Do you feel like that slower pace changed the kinds of songs you’re writing?

Lexi: Definitely. I feel like the songs are more grounded. I’ve always written pretty introspective lyrics, but this time there’s more confidence underneath. Like, I can write about uncertainty or doubt without being consumed by it. There’s more perspective in these songs.

And I think the production reflects that too. We’re not chasing a trend. We’re not overthinking how something will play live. We’re just trying to make a record that feels true.

Analogue: There’s something really full-circle about that. Like, you had to pull away from the machine in order to hear your own voice again.

Lexi: Exactly. I don’t regret the support I had on my last album. It got me to where I am, but it also taught me a lot about what I want, what I need, and what I don’t want to compromise on again.

This new record feels like mine in a way nothing else has. It’s not fully finished yet, but I already feel proud of what I’m making, and that’s kind of the whole point, right?

Analogue: So what happens next—what’s the plan once the album is finished?

Lexi: Once it’s done, I’ll start figuring out the release plan. Probably an early 2025 release. I’ve already been playing some of the songs live, which has been cool. I think I’ll do some shorter tours around the release—more regional stuff that’s manageable and sustainable. I used to think I had to say yes to everything, but now I want to be a little more intentional.

If I can build a community around the album and connect with people who really care about the music, that would be enough. I don’t need to be on every playlist or tour 200 days a year. I just want it to be meaningful.

Analogue: That’s such a healthy reframe. It feels like success used to mean constant visibility, but for a lot of artists now, it’s more about longevity and wellness.

Lexi: Yeah, 100 percent. It’s like, 'What does success look like for me?' Not what the industry says. Not what someone else is doing. If I can keep making music I love, connect with people in an honest way, and still have time to live a real life outside of music—that’s success to me. That mindset shift has taken a while, but I feel like I’m finally there.

Analogue: You mentioned that you’re still figuring out a title. Is there a lyric or phrase that’s leading the way?

Lexi: There’s one I’m circling, but I’m not ready to commit yet. Titles are hard! I want it to capture the themes of trust and movement and letting go, but also growth. This album is a big step for me. It deserves a name that reflects that.

I’ll probably know it when I see it. That’s how a lot of this process has gone—just trusting that the right thing will come at the right time.

VISIT: Mini Trees