Powerhouse electronic trio ASHRR has captured the hearts of critics and music lovers alike with their intoxicating blend of space disco and indie dance. ASHRR is composed by Grammy-nominated producer, composer, and mixer Ethan Allen, recording artist Josh Charles, and internationally renowned artist Steven Davis.
The trio’s infectious energy is palpable in tracks like “What’s Been Turning You On,” which has been given a fresh injection of life through remixes by System Olympia, with more to come from Ron Trentg and others. Their newly unveiled ASHRR SOUNDSYSTEM, the band’s alter ego, is a testament to their dance floor dominance, promising high-energy sets that will keep crowds moving. As if that weren’t enough, the band is set to drop their highly anticipated album, “Sunshine Low,” on September 20, 2024.
Now we’re delighted to have ASHRR here with us, where they will be discussing the details of their upcoming album and giving us more insight on “What’s Been Turning You On?” and what else they’re preparing for us in the near future. Get ready for an exclusive look behind the curtain!
How has your sound changed since your debut EP, and what influences have driven this evolution?
We have embraced our love of funk, soul, hip-hop, post-punk, and experimental music to incorporate into our songs.
What memorable experiences or insights have you gained from collaborating with artists like Scientist and Felix Dickinson?
Working with Hopeton (Scientist) was an incredible experience to watch him do his magic in the studio. My ears have not fully recovered! His workflow is really unique, and he’s such a legend of the dub sound that it was very surreal to watch him mix Fizzy. Felix brought his unique flavor to Fizzy as well, and we’re really proud of that EP and being able to work with such great artists.
“What’s Been Turning You On” explores desire and connection. What themes resonate with you in your music, and how do they reflect your personal experiences?
Sensuality, longing, desire, hope, and faith, are universal themes that resonate with us as individuals and as a band. Each of us has had our share of personal relationships, friendships, and trials that each and every one of us goes through in life that help to form our thoughts and how we react to situations.
How does “What’s Been Turning You On” relate to your overall body of work?
That has a really great, darker, slower groove that seduces you and invites you in as a listener. It’s a really direct statement! Musically, it was a blast to do the rework of this for our soundsystem as we dove deeper into the dark electronic rhythms and drums.
One aspect is when you are in a long relationship, where desire can become elusive. Nobody dings that song. Waking up those fires is a reminder of the fire you once felt, and it is often not as easy as the insistence of your first encounters. But it’s the same, really: a space to be protected, an ember to be reawakened, and then it becomes a flame much stronger than it ever was before the experience of life.
Who or what outside of music inspires your artistry and songwriting?
Each one of us draws inspiration from different things. Reading books, watching movies, being in nature, having conversations that you might overhear at a coffee shop, etc.
Art makes you think and feel. Then instinct takes over, but it’s not a zero-sum game. The spirit of art you can create is directly proportional to the amount of life you’re able to let yourself feel completely.
Can you describe your creative process for writing and producing songs? How do you balance individual contributions with collaboration?
Most of it starts with just a rough demo idea or Ethan and I will pick up instruments and start jamming to a tempo. The song is basically formulated that way with a dummy lyric and melody, and then we’ll all meet up and write the lyrics together. We’ve just started working on new music, and this time we’re all playing live in the same room with our drummer, and we just go with any idea… A tempo is chosen, and we start jamming all together. It’s been a really fun experience so far!
With your diverse live show history, how do you create set lists for different venues or festivals? What do you prioritize to engage your audience?
A set list is important in that you have a sensitivity to what the room is feeling. You do what is needed to elevate.
As you prepare for your new album release this fall, what can fans expect regarding musical direction and lyrical themes? Are there any new elements or collaborations you’re particularly excited about?
ASHRR has always been a place where new inspiration is welcome. And that means a continuous turning of the wheel. We want to move forward all the time, and that takes us to new, unlooked-for places. Let’s go!
What else do you have in the pipeline beyond the new album?
After the album comes out in the fall, we’ve got a brand-new set of reworked versions that we created under our ASHRR SOUNDSYSTEM alter ego, which are designed for the club and dance floors. We’ve slowly been releasing them with every remix, but we’re really excited for that to come out next year too!
