Rising Music Star Ash Easton On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry
An Interview With Ming Zhao
Do You. I often feel that I don’t fit into the lane of female singers I admired as a kid. They sounded beautiful but had a very delicate voice. I was young and wild — or as my friends have said — I’m like a bull in a china shop. I once played at this brewery with a very “open concept” dining space. They were very nice and had heard me play before but then the day of the show, they asked me to turn it down and kept asking me to turn it down. After the show a man came up to me and said he had really missed seeing someone play with all their heart and just go for it. Then he said, “and you weren’t too loud”!
As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Ash Easton.
Not your average Southern California artist, Ash Easton came to disrupt the music scene. Returning to her roots, she’s ready to light the music scene on fire. Ash Easton has spent much of her life perfecting her craft. From vocal training of various styles and genres, to national and international shows, she is well rounded in the art of music. She pulls creativity from artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Brandi Carlile, Salena, and Chris Stapleton. As a Puerto Rican, Ash also finds inspiration from the latino community. Her writing is straight from the heart — raw, real, honest. Above all else she’s 100% authentic.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in a large family in the northern part of San Diego county. My father was hoping I’d be a big softball player but music was always my first love. Every Sunday as a family we would go to this restaurant — it was the only Mexican restaurant that could fit all 17 members of my family. We would always sit at this table that had a giant photo of Salena and when the movie came out with Jennifer Lopez, it totally changed my life.
Salena was fierce. Her voice was big and she wasn’t ashamed of that. I just loved it so much.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
Once I was on the softball team and was lost in daydreaming and my thoughts. I got hit by the ball not paying attention. After that, my dad finally agreed to let me take voice lessons. There was no looking back for me since that moment. Music has been in my heart and soul.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
The most interesting is also my most rewarding and fun — my recent album release. I was able to craft my exact vision with a great group of musicians and artists. Then the actual release night was spectacular — that one moment you always hope and dream for.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Yes mistakes are absolutely a teacher! One time I was young and in the choir, I got a bit nervous during a long set. One of the songs I couldn’t breathe for 13 measures -the longest note I had held out — and holding that note as a first soprano, I almost fell over! Luckily my friend caught me at the last moment.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I’m currently working on my next record and it’s definitely my most exciting thing. It’s always exciting to make music but very rarely do I like to sit on that too long, I like to get moving to the next thing. In fact the day after the release show, we started demo’ing songs for the next album. It’s very important for me to keep moving so I’m excited for that.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
I love this question SO much. I think diversity is paramount in all facets of life because each person is a product of their environment. You can be very boxed into your ideas of thinking and your ways of living. We need to get to know people of other cultures and backgrounds so we can learn from one another. Also to step outside of ourselves for a moment and to be curious. It helps us to become well rounded humans who are inclusive, respectful, self aware and kind. It brings perspective into life when you step outside of your own awareness and you get to learn about other people.
It affects our culture in a very big way; without diversity you become very stale. At least that’s what I’ve seen — people lack the ability to think outside of themselves, their upbringing and where they came from. I think it’s important that all people are represented.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
- Do You. I often feel that I don’t fit into the lane of female singers I admired as a kid. They sounded beautiful but had a very delicate voice. I was young and wild — or as my friends have said — I’m like a bull in a china shop. I once played at this brewery with a very “open concept” dining space. They were very nice and had heard me play before but then the day of the show, they asked me to turn it down and kept asking me to turn it down. After the show a man came up to me and said he had really missed seeing someone play with all their heart and just go for it. Then he said, “and you weren’t too loud”!
- It’s not just a boys club. Being a female musician is not for the faint of heart and when I first started I was very timid. I was overly grateful for the bare minimum. People would tell me “oh well it’s a male dominated scene” and that bothered me; all the men I was around were great to me and respectful. I learned very quickly that being timid did not help me and I started asserting myself. I learned how to balance my feminine grace with strategic aggressiveness.
- Never leave the house without multiple layers. I had this gig in the winter at a winery in Temecula and they set me up in between these two buildings, outside. One cold night I was playing — with leggings under my jeans, a long sleeve thermal under a collared button down tee, plus a cardigan. But I didn’t anticipate being placed in the windtunnel from hell! During the break I noticed I had a hard time playing, when I looked at my phone, it was 40 degrees with a windchill. I ran to my car and got every other clothing item I could find so I could finish the gig!
- Use the Pain. Mistakes are a great teacher but pain is a better teacher. Musicians are really good at making use of sometimes useless things, we can sing about surface things and connect with people that way. Or we can sing about the tough, deep things that keep us up at night. Music is therapy for most of us, we find ways to connect through music. I had a period of a year where I was having a really tough time. I would wake up in the middle of the night and instead of tossing and turning, I started writing. I used what haunted my soul and made something beautiful out of it.
- Keep it Simple. I hesitated to write music for a long time because I would overthink about it. I was consumed with the words being perfect, the melody being perfect. The times I’m most successful in my writing is when I just let go and let it come out. Those are the songs that are the most successful every time.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
My immediate reaction is to have blinders. I think people get burned out because they get distracted and it takes the joy out of music. It becomes a job and not a passion that you pursue every day. I’ll go through some periods where I don’t listen to music, or go out too often, and that’s because I’m in a season of keeping my blinders on. I want to keep inspired in my own space.
It can become monotonous but that’s when you need to find ways to keep it sexy! Change up the set list, change up the venues, change the instrument. We are in service to this craft. We leave every bit of ourselves on the stage.
Sometimes I take mini breaks — just me and my guitar — I tune out the world and tune into myself and my music. I rediscover myself and my passion.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
This is hard for me to answer because I want to spark change everywhere. I have so much love to give and I want the chance and the platform to do that.
Right now I would like to figure out ways to empower women. I always noticed how strong my mom was and being 1 of six girls {plus my brother}, I really learned how important it is for women to encourage one another and support each other. Because of how strong my mom is, I want to be that woman as well and help others become that way. I want to unite us in our strength and respect.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I have so many that it’s hard to choose just one. I have so many people that I would love to thank for the strength and support they have given me. One that really stands out is Steven Crowle, he plays guitar in my band and produced/arranged my last record. That came about when we were on tour, going from city to city, and I kept playing music that inspired me that I would hear on the radio. He turns to me and says ‘is this what you want to do?” He got a guitar out right then and there, and figured out how to turn songs I wrote and turned them into something absolutely magical. I had been searching for someone to take my music to the next step, unpack it a bit and breathe life into it. It was effortless for him and felt like we were speaking the same language. The way he invested so much time, effort and energy into that was huge. It was really magical. I’m forever grateful to him.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
This is my favorite question! I absolutely have a Life Lesson Quote, actually since middle school. It’s “I don’t care about the storms you encounter, just bring in the ship.” The reason I love this one is because in life we go through many storms, many trials, and it can be scary to see those waves just go over you. It’s scary being tossed in wave after wave and you’re trying to come up for air. What I love so much about it — Just Bring in the Ship — go through those storms, be scared, but do it anyway. That’s what propels me forward. I say it to myself constantly in my head before shows.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
Definitely I would say Rick Rubin. I would be scared but I would love to meet with him. That guy has his hand in so many works of art. I would love to sit with him, have a chat, give him my record and have him critique it. I think he’s very wise and has produced many of my favorite artists, including Brandi Carlile. If I could sit down with both of them, I would just pass away.
How can our readers follow you online?
I am on all the socials! Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify.
https://www.instagram.com/asheaston.music/
https://open.spotify.com/track/5dtGkfalHIEbNrr1dkh3mF?si=ShFc5bIsTl2kwATUvEeAVw&nd=1
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
