ASH is taking the music scene by storm with her outstanding trademark of alternative R&B. Her distinctive musical manner is constructed on vocal layering, bilingual lyricism and intricately crafted electronic production.
We sat down with this talented music artist to learn more about what makes her tick, her approaches to the creative process and much more in this exclusive interview with TAGG!
Hey ASH, how’s it going? Sum up your music for us in three words!
Hi! Thanks so much for having me. If I had to sum up my music in three words, I’d say moody, intimate, and atmospheric.
You’ve had quite a journey so far! What inspires you now more than ever to write?
Writing and producing music is how I feel I can express myself most authentically in this world and, as I continue my journey as an artist and as a person, the thing that inspires me most is being able to further explore my artistic voice and discover what else I have to say through my work.
Why do you make music?
I make music because I feel that it is what I was meant to do on this earth. And I don’t mean that in some mystical way, but in that when all the things that make me come together in their most natural form, it’s through music, so I feel I owe it to myself to honour that. Aligning with my strengths and my passions allows me to be the best person that I can be in this world.
Tell us all about your new single ‘Reverse Psychology’!
My new single ‘Reverse Psychology’ is like my own psychological analysis of the dynamics between two people who are inevitably falling apart. I wanted to capture the complexities of emotional manipulation, codependency, and desperation when it comes to the turbulence of love. Centering the hopelessness of being in that state, grasping at straws to make things work, when everything seems to make the situation more tainted. But it’s also a very candid reflection on the situation and almost like an acceptance of the end of something and taking it for what it is.
What was the recording and writing process like for this one?
Like many of my songs, I originally wrote it on my loop station, beginning with stacking vocals to create that repeating vocal harmony that ended up being the fabric of the song. From there I beatboxed into the looper til I found a beat I felt brought the harmonies to life and layered different guitar ideas on top of that. The repeating “please don’t please don’t leave” using the looper’s built-in effects sparked the emotional core of the song and I built the rest of the track from this world I had now built on my looper.
Is there an EP/album in the works after all your amazing singles?
Yes! These two singles have been leading up to the release of my very first EP, Holding Water, which will be dropping next month on October 4th. I can’t wait to share my first project with the world. It’s been a long time coming!
And finally, what does the rest of 2024 look like for ASH?
Well, I have my EP release, which is a major highlight of the rest of my year, so I’m mainly focused on that. After it’s been released, I hope to start doing more live performances, both around the city in NYC and in my hometown Beijing which I will be visiting in the fall. I’m looking forward to connecting with more people through those live experiences and building my community of artists around the world. I’ve also been continuing to make music so there’s lots more to be excited about, even if it’s behind the scenes. All in all, I just can’t wait to continue sharing what I’ve been working on and discovering more about myself as I create more.
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