He’s an exciting new name on the local music scene as he effortlessly blends R&B and hip-hop in an exciting and refreshing way and now, Ash has finally dropped his debut album ‘Ash Muzik’. This week, I chat to the star who opens up on his rough childhood, the new album and all those tattoos!
Where did your passion for music begin?
I’d say my passion began from the first time I ever heard music. It’s been my outlet. I didn’t have it easy growing up. I didn’t have any parents around so my comfort zone was music.
Dance is also a big passion of yours. What is it about dance that spoke to you from a young age as well?
Dance was a way for me to get my frustrations out. I became so good at it because I put everything into it. I won my first dance competition dancing to Michael Jackson at the age of two at a nightclub. Dance also helped me make money. At that time, all I had was my talent and I used it to help me get ahead in life.
You singed to a major record label and opened for Trey Songz shortly after. How was that experience like?
What an honour! The news took a while to sink in. There was added pressure because I have never performed by myself to such a big crowd so there were a few nerves before I went on stage. I felt like I deserved to be there. I’ve been working so hard to get to where I am and it felt like my time had come. It was the most amazing feeling and a blessing to be up there with him.
Your debut single ‘Temporary Lover’ opened a lot of doors for you. What is it about your music that sets you apart?
My music is all me. My heart and soul is in it. My music is fresh and I am creating my own sound. There are hardly any R&B artists in South Africa. Everyone is just rapping. There should be so many doors open for the R&B genre here but there is no one in that room. My music appeals to both young and old as well which is really cool and I want to be known for the guy who does something different.
What inspired your new single ‘Been Waiting’?
That song was inspired by so many different things. It was inspired by my haters, by the entertainment industry, and my love for music. I come from the South and I grew up around a lot of poverty. When you come from poverty, you don’t see bigger and better things and many turn to drugs and it’s killing our youth. I do it for all those people who get told they can’t make it because they didn’t finish school or who are addicted to drugs. I am the perfect example of that. I’m also reminding the industry not to sleep on me.
You just dropped your debut album ‘Ash Muzik’. Tell us a bit more about it.
This album is my baby. This is the album which got me to the place I am today. The stories on that album are my reality. My heart and soul went into this album and it’s a very personal one. I went through a lot of things while making this album and my emotions all went into this album and I’m excited for people to hear it.
Which track on the album means the most to you?
‘Hustle In The Streets’. It’s basically my life story. I was homeless and all I had was a suitcase and a matress. My girlfriend was pregnant at the time and neither of us had a job. This is a song about that time in my life and how I got out of it.
Where did your obsession with tattoos start?
I got my first tattoo at 15 and it took me 10 years to get this full. It was never an addiction, though. I was an angry kid and tattoos were a gateway to channel that. Each tattoo means something. It’s my life story from memories from wrongs I never want to do again, to family and friend’s I’ve lost. There is so much to my artwork. It’s my story.
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