Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: My name is ash angel and I’m a Filipina-Singaporean singer/songwriter, producer, audio engineer and sound healer based in Vancouver, BC. I’ve always seen music as a form of healing, songwriting has always been an outlet of mine where I felt free to express my true feelings. I make music for the little girl inside me that grew up holding her tongue because she felt her say never really mattered, to give a voice to those unspoken feelings. It’s part of why I’ve developed an ethereal, soulful sound – to create music that heals.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “ash angel”?
A: I plan to grow my fan base by performing wherever I can, collaborating with other artists, creating captivating visuals that bring people into my world, and building an authentic online community. If you’re just discovering me, know that my music is meant to be a safe haven for all emotions you experience in your life. I create in hopes to provide a sense of healing for those who resonate and find solace in my art.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: An artist who truly inspires me is Kali Uchis. I grew up listening to her in high school before she became the international star she is now. Seeing her growth over the years and the way she approaches music creation while staying true to her unique sound with the most heartfelt lyrics is so incredibly inspiring. I find inspiration for making music through my own life experiences and real emotions I’ve felt. Turning them into music I love is like free therapy.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “twisting the knife.”?
A: In this song, I wanted to capture the complexity of mixed emotions, a feeling that isn’t often written about. “twisting the knife” reflects the ache of longing for connection with someone but being met with silence, and yearning for love when it feels out of reach.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Ethereal
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “twisting the knife”?
A: Fun fact, I actually wrote an entirely different song to the same beat I’d produced at first, but the lyrics didn’t resonate with me so I scrapped it. I waited until the right moment and emotions came, and that’s when I rewrote it into what is now ‘twisting the knife’. The biggest challenge was finding poetic ways to express what I was feeling without being too literal. It took a couple of revisions but once it clicked, my pen flowed naturally.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: I create music you can feel deep in your soul, from the beat down to the lyricism. My songs explore everything from peace to love to sadness, and I want people to know they’re never alone in what they’re going through. My goals are to keep releasing honest music while building a fanbase that feels held by it. I want to play more live shows, create immersive healing performances, and collaborate with artists who can expand my sound. Ultimately, I hope to leave a recognized healing impact in this world and build a community of listeners rooted in love, kindness, and compassion.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Ahh too many to choose from, I’m torn between Kali Uchis & Raveena.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Trust your intuition if you feel like you are meant for bigger things in this lifetime. Try not to get stuck on the “what ifs” and instead focus on the journey and your love for creating music, it will find who it’s meant to in due time. Spend time consistently practicing your craft, but remember to give yourself space to rest. Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate!! I can’t stress enough how valuable it is to build relationships in this industry. The path won’t always be smooth, there will be highs and lows, but if you have the passion to create impactful art, don’t let anything or anyone stop you.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Your voice matters, don’t worry so much about what others think of you cause no one is above anyone else!! Don’t be discouraged if anyone tries to dim your light and your passion for music, create the art you want to make – regardless of what you think, it’ll find people who resonate and open doors you never knew existed.
