An Interview With The Singer-Songwriter TASH!

Meet the singer-songwriter and musician, Tash! Check out her newest video for “The Signs” here-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH7Hsl2AqfI&feature=youtu.be This song can be found on her newest collection, Volume 1! Working with producer Mark J. Feist (Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Little Mix), Tash has found the perfect recipe for pop/R&B perfection.

At just 17 she’s already got a slew of notable things going on: 

· First artist to ever perform of the roof of the Facebook Campus 

· 15 million collective streams in 19 months across all of her releases on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

· Her music was featured on 15 Spotify playlists including 8 New Music Friday’s

·  Tash was featured on the Apple Music Swipe Up viral campaign

· Music has also been featured on several Amazon Music Playlists

· Sold out performances at SoHo House, Sayer’s Club Los Angeles, Hotel Cafe and more.

Learn more about Tash in the following All Access interview here-

What does a typical day look like for you? What do you have scheduled the rest of today and this week?

A typical day for me is normally pretty relaxed if I’m in Sydney. I’m no longer at school so I spend a lot of time hanging out with loved ones, binge watching shows on Netflix and writing music as much as I can. I also work casually at a local music store to pass the time.  The rest of the week is mainly just getting ready for my trip to LA, and filling in my diary for when I’m back.

Now that we are more than half-way through the year, how has 2019 been treating you? What are some goals that you have had for yourself this year? How close are you to reaching them or did you already? What are you already excited about for 2020?

This year I really wanted to write more than I did last year – I don’t think I’ll achieve that goal though, I wrote 80 songs last year and I don’t think I’ve written nearly as many. I’ve been a bit dry for inspiration lately but it’s totally normal to go through cycles as a writer.

I also wanted to release music that we did as part of the Facebook sound collection, which we recently did! My EP “Volume 1” is a small collection of my favourites from the Facebook sound collection.

Earlier this year I got to release a collaboration, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. My single with Jon Vinyl “Euphemism” was the first collaboration I’ve had with another artist and I’m keen to do many more.

In 2020 I wanna do more shows. We’ve done a couple of cool ones this year but I’d love to do some shows in Australia and around the US. The other main goal I’ve had since the start is to put out an album. Not sure if it’ll happen this year or the next but it’s something that I’m always working towards.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be in this industry? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?

I always knew I wanted to have some kind of career in the music industry. Both my parents are very musical which influences my love and interest in writing music. It was difficult at times, especially when I was given a deal because it was like taking a leap of faith. I had no idea whether this was going to be a flop or the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’d never even met my producer / manager Mark Feist in person before signing the deal.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Would you be as fulfilled in life?

Yes, there are definitely times when I consider other paths. Being a developing artist doesn’t come with a lot of stability and you don’t really know if your career is going to take off or not. I’ve thought about maybe being a florist or doing something that involves my creativity but I’ve never pinpointed what that would be. Music has always been my first choice.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best part about it all?

The most surprising thing I’ve experienced being an artist is how much politics there is in the music industry. I was 14 and very naive when I started.

The best part about my journey has been how close I’ve grown to my manager and our little team. We’ve become a family over the past few years.

Let’s talk about your newest single “The Signs.” What was the inspiration for this track? How would you say that it compares to anything else that you have released?

“The Signs” is about being superstitious and fearful that omens do have an impact on your fate. I don’t actually believe that black cats are haunted, but when I wrote the song I was feeling like the odds were against me. So I used the imagery of black cats and four leaf clovers because I’d never explored a concept like that in my writing before.

Lyrically it’s different from some of my other music because it has its has a dark, contemplative dialogue that continues throughout the verses, however it still ties in with everything I’ve put out because it has melodic and soulful elements to it.

What was it like making the music video for “The Signs”? How creatively involved with the overall process were you?

I was quite involved in the discussion about how we wanted to go about creating visuals for The Signs. Mark and I knew we wanted something simple that complements the chill vibe of the song. The performance shots are what brings out the conversational tone of the lyrics, and the cool car was just for aesthetics.

How does this track compare to the rest of your latest EP, “Volume 1”? What was it like working with your producer Mark J. Feist on this music?

Compared to the other tracks on the EP, again lyrically it’s a bit darker and moodier and explores the idea of superstition. Some of the other tracks on the EP were recorded a couple of years ago, where as “The Signs” is much more recent. I can hear how my voice has developed and my style of delivery has changed, compared to tracks like “Bite Back” and “Boys Are Dumb.”

What do you think of women’s representation in the music industry right now? Who or what do you think is truly changing the environment these days?

Women are much more respected in the music industry than they used to be. Unfortunately there is still pressure to be Instagram worthy/pretty or become a sex symbol but more and more women are taking control of the direction of their careers which is really cool. I think Billie Eilish is one of the many women who has helped reshape how people view women should be in the music industry. Her fashion choices especially are an example that female artists don’t need to be confined to wearing feminine clothing. It’s really comforting and empowering to see that people are opening their minds to the ways women can be represented. I know I certainly struggled with having to wear excessive amounts of makeup in the early stages of my career, and clothes I didn’t like (things have changed now) but I know from experience that it sucks to be a woman in this industry sometimes. However, there has been a lot of change over the last couple of years which is really awesome.

Where can people see you perform next? Do you have any fall tour dates scheduled yet?

Unfortunately I have nothing scheduled in yet, but I’m sure I’ll be doing another show in LA in the near future, and hopefully some other cities in the US.

What was it like being the first ever artist to perform on the roof of the Facebook campus?

It was such a special opportunity to be the first one. Facebook has been so welcoming and supportive of my music, and I’m so grateful that they let me perform on their campus. I got to perform acoustic versions of some of my favourite songs from the Facebook sound collection, on the rooftop of their office. Then afterwards they gave me and my team a tour of their campus. It was an experience I’ll never forget and I hope to do many more visits to Facebook soon.

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music?

When I started making music I was heavily influenced by Tori Kelly, which swayed the kind of songs I would write. Since discovering many of my favourite artists (SZA, Noname, Mac Demarco, Billie Eilish etc) I feel like I’ve developed into a mixture of them.

Working with Mark has also changed the way I write. His ideas, in particular his vocal arrangement has inspired me to create my own arrangements in my demos at home. He’s been a really good mentor to me.

How do you feel about social media? What has social media done for your career so far?

Social media is what started everything for me. Although it has become quite a judgmental environment, it has really helped people to discover me and my music. It is unfortunate how it has a negative impact on a lot of young individuals battling self esteem, but I can’t deny how much it’s pushed my career forward.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

My favourite artists change from time to time but the ones that have remained constant over the last 12 – 18 months are Billie Eilish, H.E.R, Noname, SZA, Kaytranada and Mac Demarco. I’d love to Kaytranada in the future, I feel like we’d be able to come up with something dope.

If you had an unlimited budget and your schedule was free, what would your dream music video look like?

Honestly I’m not into having big fancy music videos but I’d probably hire someone like Sarah Bahbah to direct (she directed Kygo’s music video for Think About You), and maybe some actors to portray the message of the song. She’s got a vintage, movie-like style and I love the narratives she creates. All the cinematography in her visuals is really vibey.

Where would you love to hear a song of yours played?

In the shops. Everyone keeps telling me they hear my song at the supermarket or in clothing stores but I never hear it when I’m there… lol. I’d also like to hear it in a movie soundtrack or an ad for something, that’d be pretty cool.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I hope it becomes someone’s favourite groove but also tugs on a couple of their heart strings at the same time.

Would you like to share anything else about yourself or your music with our readers?

I want to be the kind of artist that’s never confined to one sound or genre. It’s so important to keep evolving and exploring new things throughout your career in this industry and I definitely plan on doing that!