A Chat with Leah Ashton (04.11.22)
Influenced by artists like Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones and Carole King, singer-songwriter Leah Ashton has a profound, tender and soul-stirring sound. We speak with her about her album Late Bloomer, why she chose to become a musician, future plans and more.
OSR: What made you decide to become a musician?
Ashton: I’ve been singing since I was very young and have always had a deep love of music. It’s something I always felt called to and, honestly, never seriously considered another path aside from that of a musician/artist/performer. Not sure if I chose music or if music chose me…
OSR: How would you describe your music?
Ashton: I’m influenced by so many different types of music, so it’s often difficult for me to nail down the best way to categorise my sound. I think one way to sum it up would be to call it jazz and soul-infused singer-songwriter pop. Something along the lines of Sara Bareilles meets Sharon Jones meets Norah Jones.
OSR: What can you tell us about the album Late Bloomer?
Ashton: Late Bloomer is my first full-length album. It was released on September 9th of this year and was co-produced by myself, Grammy award-winning multi-instrumentalist and producer Jonah Levine, and my husband, saxophonist Eric Letta. It includes 10 original songs plus one cover (‘Tighten Up’ by The Black Keys). Influenced by the likes of Sara Bareilles, Carole King, Lake Street Dive, Bill Withers, and Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Late Bloomer combines soulful vocals, funky horn lines, and piano grooves to take listeners on a genre-bending, pandemic era + election year journey from the perspective of a maturing woman coming into her own in her mid-30s. The record addresses themes such as the passing of time, systemic injustice, and chasing after a dream.
I think everyone has something in their life that makes them feel like a late bloomer, so hopefully, when people listen to this album, they feel empowered to embrace the journey that life has taken them on – no matter what the timeline looks like. There’s no right or wrong time or place to bloom.
OSR: What was the most difficult part of creating Late Bloomer?
Ashton: This project was produced and released completely independently, so it was entirely up to me to make it all happen! Making an album as an independent artist is a lot different from those who are backed by a label. The creative freedom is there, but all of the responsibilities (financing, organising, scheduling, managing, promoting, etc., etc.) fall on your shoulders.
OSR: Do you have a favourite track?
Ashton: The answer to this question changes every time someone asks me! It’s really hard to pick one, but I think ‘Better Days’ is toward the top of the list. It’s the funkiest song on the album and has a message of hope.
OSR: What about a least favourite song?
Ashton: I don’t think I have a least favourite. Each song is special to me for a different reason, and each song has its own journey of how it ended up on the album.
OSR: If you could change one thing about Late Bloomer, what would it be?
Ashton: I’m not sure I would change anything major because if I did it wouldn’t be Late Bloomer the album; it would be something else entirely. I guess if I had to change something, I’d say it would be my limited budget for the project as a whole (aka I wish it were limitless!). But part of making an album on a budget means getting creative with how you do things!
OSR: What advice do you have for emerging artists?
Ashton: The artists’ journey is not an easy one and it’s full of tumultuous ups and downs, but if it’s really what you want and what you feel called to do, stick with it. Work towards making music of the highest quality that is true to who you are as an artist. Don’t get wrapped up in comparing yourself to others and don’t let the algorithm dictate your worth!
OSR: If you could spend a weekend with any celebrity (not necessarily a musician), who would it be and why that person?
Ashton: I’d love to hang out with Shaquille O’Neal… is that crazy?? He was my favourite athlete as a kid (I was a basketball player back in the day), and I’ve always wanted to meet him!
OSR: Do you have future plans?
Ashton: I’d like to perform the songs from the album in front of new audiences as much as possible. I’m doing that in the Los Angeles area right now and I would love to do some touring down the line.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Ashton: Go check out Late Bloomer wherever you listen to music! Thanks for reading!
Many thanks to Leah Ashton for speaking with us. For more from Leah Ashton check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
