Written by Marilù Ciabattoni
Discovered via Musosoup
From a small bedroom in Brooklyn to a home studio in LA, ASHA and her music have gone a long way since she first started ten years ago. A music producer for ads, podcasts and films, she succeeded in making music her main occupation.
The fact that she’s constantly learning new styles and production techniques for her job allows her to experiment with different genres, making her craft hard to categorize. As the artist herself said, “I don't hear my style on the radio, I feel like I make music I don't hear anywhere else and I'm filling in a void.”
Her latest single “Hard Shit” spills the tea about the unwillingness of people to commit to relationships, quitting right after the honeymoon phase. It’s a sincere and fun track to listen to, and one I would personally consider “hyperactive” for its fast-paced rhythm and chaotic energy.
Introduce yourself: who is ASHA? How and when was she born?
Asha is my solo project. She was born around 10 years ago when I moved to New York City and reinvented myself. I've gone through a few different artist names, and been in and out of different bands but Asha is wholly me and my work and the music itself are always changing.
How has your music changed in the past few years?
Each project has slowly changed the genre. A few years ago I was working in a small bedroom in Brooklyn so my music was more trip-hop/electronic-based because I was limited with what I could do. Now I have a home studio in LA with more room to record so I have more real instruments to play with. This album I'm about to release is a mix of electronic and rock music, I would put it in the indie pop rock genre. I already have another album underway and that one is pushing even more into this world music/rock thing that I've been striving towards for a long time.
Who inspired your music? Who are your biggest influences?
Some of my biggest influences are Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, Olafur Arnalds, Fiona Apple, Daft Punk, Death Cab For Cutie, I'm all over the place. But I also love film and video game music so I'm inspired by that, too. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where my taste is at any given time and it's always changing.
Could you introduce your favourite singles you've released so far?
I love “Kiss Me Tender” because it's so different for me. For a long time, I was making more serious, kind of sad music, and this was the first time I really put in the effort to make something that was just fun and lighthearted. I also loved “House With a View,” because to me, that is one of the best songs I've ever written and I think it's a really unique song that showcases my talent not just in performance but also songwriting.
How did you develop this style? Will you experiment with other genres in the future?
I think my style is a culmination of everything I've learned. I make music for a living, I'm a hired gun and I have to constantly be learning new styles and production techniques. Because of that, I'm always experimenting with genres which is why it's hard for me to categorize what I'm doing. I don't hear my style on the radio, I feel like I make music I don't hear anywhere else and I'm filling in a void.
Let's talk about "Hard Shit:" what inspired it and how did it come to life?
“Hard Shit” is a song that just came to me one day. I heard the chorus in my head and I immediately had to go and write it down. It was an idea that had been brewing for a while. I talk to my girlfriends a lot about how people just don't stick around when relationships start to become more serious. I've had that experience a few times when things get past the honeymoon period and it's no longer this fun, new thing, a lot of people tend to bail. The dating world is overrun by dating apps and too many choices, and it's hard to meet someone who likes you for you and wants to stick around. It's something that is talked about so much in my circle of friends that I felt like I had to make a song about it because it's incredibly relatable.
Who produces your tracks? How do you choose which producers to work with? Do you have some dream producers you'd like to work with?
I do. I make everything. I'm a solo producer and songwriter. Sometimes I have a friend play a guitar part or something but it's all me otherwise. I learned how to produce music out of necessity because I couldn't afford producers and even when I did work with producers I realized I liked my own style more and that I could achieve what I wanted myself. If I could work with anyone I'd love to work with Mark Ronson because he makes hits and Trent Reznor because I love his unique style.
Is music your main occupation at the moment? If not, how are you conciliating your day job with your music career?
It is, my songs are not, but I make music for a living. I mostly write for ads, podcasts and films. Sometimes it is hard to work all day making music for other people and to set aside time to make music for myself. It requires a lot of balance to not get burnt out. I would love to make songwriting my main job someday.
Have you ever been on tour? If not, would you like to embark on one? If yes, tell us about it.
No, I've always wanted to at least once, but it's not a priority for me. I do love playing live shows though.
Who's your dream feature?
I'd love to work with Doja Cat, I think we could make something really fun and weird.
Where do you see yourself in one year as a musician?
Hopefully releasing my next album and making more kick-ass music videos.
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