tunesday – a chinwag with ashwarya

Well, hello again lovely frankie readers! For this tunesday, we caught up with Melbourne-based muso, ASHWARYA, who’s just released a new EP that’s chock-full of introspective lyrics and vocals that pack a heavy emotional punch. Have a read of our interview down below, and don’t forget to check out ASHWARYA’s newest tracks too.

Hiya! Please introduce yourself and a bit of what you do. I'm an independent artist and I guess the best way to get to know me is to go check out my music and the world that I'm building around it.

Who, or what, are the biggest influences on your music? I grew up consuming Bollywood movies and inevitably a lot of Bollywood music, and I’m also a big fan of early 2000s pop music. I think the artists that influence me the most are those who are holistically the whole package in terms of music, visuals and branding. At the moment, my biggest influences are Rosalia, Labrinth and JPEGMAFIA.

Please describe your artistic process. Do you usually start with lyrics or melody? I always start with the melody. Melodies are what I hear first when I listen to any song – it's the feeling I'm after more than anything. Dropping in melodies on the mic, more often than not, subconsciously helps me with lyrics as there are always a few words I can jump on to or use for the final lyrics. I like the improvisational process as it lets lyrics come through subconsciously and less forced, I guess. 

What’s the best mood to be in for creating music? I think it’s usually always dependent on who I’m working with, as well as my relationship and connection with said person. The energy in the room is always great when I'm working with people who are on the same wavelength as me and we can bounce ideas off one another freely and honestly.

Talk to us about your latest EP, Why’s It Gotta Hurt. What inspired the name? The name Why’s It Gotta Hurt was inspired by the track with the same name. Whilst writing the EP I explored my past and present experiences that involved themes of longing, desire, resentment, and chaos and finally, the realisation and acceptance that sometimes letting go of the things you love will give you peace. But at the end of the day, that action of letting things go still leaves you with the feeling of ‘why’s it gotta hurt?’ and I think it was important for me to highlight that sentiment. With pain, comes growth and more space to love the people in your life that deserve it. 

How do you feel about using music as a method of introspection? I’m big on this. Writing music is inevitably a method of introspection and (potentially) closure on feelings even if you're not expecting it – at least in my case. That's why music is so powerful – it can change the way you perceive other people and yourself, and making music is an extension of who you are in most cases so it's always going to be a reflection of yourself. 

You’ve also used TikTok as a way to connect with fans. What are the pros and cons of fostering a creative space online? The pros are that you can find so many new and diverse audiences on the platform, but the con is probably the amount of time it takes to establish yourself on that platform. Music is a funny business and it involves so much more than just writing and releasing, but I think if the opportunity is there then why not take it and use it in a way that is most authentic to you?

What do you hope people will get out of Why’s It Gotta Hurt? I hope people feel comfort knowing that it's okay to feel hurt and it's valid to go through the cycle of emotions through heartbreak. It means that you care. 

Is anything coming up we should keep an eye out for? Yes! I'll be going on my very first tour playing in Sydney on October 5th at Oxford Art Factory, and then in Melbourne at The Workers Club on the 14th of October.