SoulBounce: ASH.! We here at SoulBounce have had our eyes and ears on you for a good year now. Your Perfect EP is what we consider a perfect introduction. But for the readers who may not have had the chance to hear it yet, introduce yourself. Who is ASH.? And what does she represent?
ASH.: ASH. is really just your regular American girl who has a life full of things that make up really cool stories and situations and events and fears. I wanted to put something together that was simple, honest and that I felt like could connect with everybody. Male or female. No matter what your background is. I just wanted to give my art to the world that way.
SB: Prior to embarking on your own journey as an artist you were blessed with the opportunity to sing background vocals for Janelle Monáe. How did that happen?
A: I have a few friends who are musicians for different artists and they were like “hey, I think Janelle Monáe is looking for a singer!” I had just left DC and moved back to Atlanta to try to do my own thing, and I was actually looking for an opportunity to sing background, because I felt like singing background for an artist would give me some insight and understanding about taking the artist route to the next level. So, I heard about a few and couple of months later I got a call from her music director that he had heard about me and I was highly recommended. I didn’t even have to audition. So I got that opportunity which was really, really fortunate.
SB: How much has working with Janelle affected your own work and work ethic?
A: She’s an amazing woman who has an amazing voice and great vision, and she stands for something. I really took to her ideas and her vision on just community, courage, leadership and even modesty. Owning your sexuality. It definitely inspired me and gave me the courage to know that I can do this on my own if I wanted to. Just to stick to my guns and go forth with humility, confidence and passion. It definitely inspired everything that I am doing now. She’s a great, great, great, great leader.
- Advertisement -SB: And what made you decide to branch out from the Wondaland camp and release your music on your own?
A: Within the Wondaland Camp, I only worked with Janelle Monáe as a background vocalist, not an artist. She picked the artists she signed to Wondaland Records/Epic Records. I am so proud of that accomplishment for her and her artists. She is such a leader. With that being said, having spent a few years traveling as a background vocalist and over time gaining so much inspiration and creativity, I knew that, by any means, I had to put music out and let my voice be heard. My father was definitely a part of that inspiration and I was not going to allow anything to get in the way of me releasing music, although I was very nervous. I am so happy that I released the record on my own, however, in the near future I'm totally looking forward to being signed so I can continue giving and spreading as wide and far as possible. So I'm totally crossing my fingers for that amazing opportunity one day.
- Advertisement -SB: Speaking of your music, we first caught wind of you when you released the title track and lead single “Perfect.” What made you choose that as your debut single?
A: It was really simple. “Perfect” was just simple enough. I felt like it was a mirror of me at the core. If you wanted to say who is Ashley at the core, that is me at the core and then there are all these other layers. I think “Anyway” and “Dear Dream” are just other layers of me. But I thought that it would be cool to put my core out first and see if people took to my voice and my message. It was just a lighthearted way to say hello.
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