Here at The Young Folks, we have quite a staff of music writers on our team. With that said, we all have our own ideas of who is on our “Artist to Watch” list for the upcoming year. For instance, on my list I have retro-beach-pop singer-songwriter Ashe on my list whom we had the pleasure to interview (keep on reading!) She’s recently been picked up as one of Vevo’s Dscvr’s Artist to Watch 2018 which was literally just announced about two weeks ago. (Great minds think alike, Vevo!)
If you’re a fan of Louis the Child or Whethan, you’ve more than likely come across Ashe since she’s one of their opening acts! She’s also the accompanying voice to some of the electro-pop songs you may know such as Louis the Child’s “World on Fire.” And in the upcoming year, she’ll be opening up for Lauv. She’s been hitting the road non-stop and we don’t see it stopping anytime soon. She did tease putting out an album in 2018 so fingers crossed she’ll get her own headlining tour. This girl deserves her time to shine. Check out our interview below where Ashley interviews Ashe.
The Young Folks: I feel as if 2017 was a small introduction to Ashe and 2018 will be your year! As that’s happening, we’d love to know how you first got involved with music. How did you get your start – how did you know this is a career move you wanted to follow?
Ashe: Well thank you for saying that! That’s very sweet.. I started with piano lessons at 8 but never imagined being an artist ‘til well after college. I knew music was the only thing right in my life (which is why I applied to Berklee College of Music) but I never had the confidence to be an artist. I left college to pursue a career in songwriting in Nashville and everything changed there.
TYF: What was your first step in following this career path? Who was (or is) your somewhat mentor through it all?
Ashe: I think a big step was road-tripping to Chicago from Nashville which is when I met Louis the Child. They gave me a voice for the first time. Freddy Kennett from Louis the Child was a big inspiration and mentor in a way (even though he’s younger).
TYF: You’re doing a crazy amount of touring and I think I read this is your first tour too! So, what’s it like being on the road? What’s your favorite thing about it?
Ashe: Touring like crazy these next few months! My first tour with Whethan was A LOT. [laughs] It was incredible but I got sick within the first 4 days, QUICKLY learning that the way booking agents book tour dates for DJ’s is much muuuuch different from how they book out singers. We had 8 shows in a row and I thought I was going to die, but I made it. My voice is still intact and I learned how to take really good care of myself on the road.
My favorite thing no doubt is meeting every fan and gaining new ones. There’s nothing cooler than someone coming up to you and being like, “I had no idea who you are, but I fell in love with you!”
TYF: What’s it like for you to step on the stage in front of massive crowds ready to hear you for the first time? Do you ever get nervous about it or is stage fright non-existent?
Ashe: I always get a twinge of nervousness but it goes away pretty quickly once I’m on stage. I’ve just tried to remember that everyone is just there to have a good time, no one is critiquing my every move and if I fall and eat it on stage, we’ll all just laugh together. I’ve tried to maintain that attitude :)
TYF: How has it been interacting with fans for the first time or maybe for the 5th time? They all seem to really love chopping it up with you!
Ashe: Ah, that’s the best part, ya know. I probably enjoy it 10x more than them.
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TYF: How do you stay true to yourself and not overcome with pressure to make the music you think people want?
Ashe: That’s a daily battle. I just try to remind myself that I’m not doing anyone favors pretending to be someone I’m not, or making music I think they want to hear. Maybe not everyone wants authenticity, but I do think most people are craving it and can see right through an artist who is doing something just for likes or something like that.
TYF: To add onto that, how do you remain so confident? Where do you draw your confidence from and what would be your advice to someone who is lacking confidence but wants to overcome it?
Ashe: Well I appreciate that you think I’m confident! [laughs] I go through all kinds of insecurities daily, but I think confidence comes from knowing who I am. I think a lot of people are searching for “who” they really are and lose confidence when they compare themselves to others, etc. Trick is figure out what you like/what you don’t; who you like/who you don’t; start with your favorite color and fuck anyone else who says that color sucks. Dare to be different from the rest – it’s empowering.
TYF: You’ve worked with other major artists which I’ve read are all friends of yours. What have you learned while working alongside someone like Louis The Child or Whethan?
Ashe: I’ve learned that age doesn’t define maturity or creativity and that making music with your friends is far superior to anything else.
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TYF: Major huge congrats for becoming one of Vevo’s Dscvr’s Artist to Watch 2018. What does that mean to you? What was the moment like when they told you you’d be on this list?
Ashe: Thank you thank you! I have NO IDEA what it means, but as another artist who was on Vevo’s list Lewis Capaldi said, “If it all goes tits up now it’s going to be extremely awkward.” [laughs] I was dying. Like… No pressure! You’re one of the “Artists to watch! Hopefully people actually watch you!”
But in all seriousness, I was really excited to hear they wanted me to be apart of it. I was super honored.
TYF: Speaking of 2018, what do you want to accomplish in the new year?
Ashe: I try not to set too many crazy expectations. Keep my head down, work my ass off and just let things go where they need to. BUT I will say, I desperately want to put out my first album in 2018 which is the plan and of course, go on my first headline tour. I don’t know if people are gonna show up, but fuck, it’d be a riot.
Connect with Ashe:
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