Since their 2018 debut, Los Angeles trio ASHRR—formed by Steven Davis, Josh Charles, and Ethan Allen—has built a sound that refuses to be boxed in. Blending electronic soul, post-punk, space disco, and indie dance, they’ve carved out a global presence through constant reinvention and undeniable creative chemistry.
Their new release, Sunshine Low (ASHRR Soundsystem Versions), showcases another side of the band under their alias ASHRR Soundsystem. Here, they reimagine their own songs with dub, cosmic disco, and psychedelic layers. ASHRR told us this process gave them the freedom to rediscover each track and explore possibilities they hadn’t envisioned in the originals.
We sat down with the band to dive into the inspiration behind the project, the challenge of keeping creativity in constant motion, their unique hybrid DJ/live shows, and their ventures into film and visual art scoring. Above all, they said what drives them is keeping wonder alive, surprising each other as much as their listeners. As they put it, ASHRR will always be a license to take risks and start fresh chapters.
You’ve just released a remix album under your ASHRR Soundsystem alias. What inspired you to reimagine these tracks through the lens of dub and cosmic disco?
We had the good fortune to work with Ralph Lawson at 20/20 Vision Recordings, and remixes were a part of our album release. He encouraged us to do our own remixes in addition to the other luminaries who took part in remixing the record. We took to it immediately and have really reveled in it, and now it’s a big part of our work.
What was the creative process like in revisiting and transforming your own songs for the project ASHRR Soundsystem?
There is a freedom in the complete reinvention of a piece of music, not only from a dance perspective but also in newly discovering the essence of a track. We would keep very little of the original and then embark on a journey of new basslines, rhythms, and spirit. We love the sky-is-the-limit openness of that.
“Sun Song” carries a very unique spiritual and energetic atmosphere. What were you hoping to convey with this new version, and how do you feel it differs from the original?
The dance floor version incorporates just the vocal hook, but otherwise it is a completely brand new idea based around an up-tempo groove with a psychedelic modernist approach to the remix, while maintaining the original hook.
Since 2018, you’ve been building a sound that blends electronic soul, post-punk, space disco, and indie-dance. How would you describe the evolution of ASHRR up to this point in your career?
It’s always evolving, and we set a very high bar for ourselves that we always move for every album. Currently, we are working on the next album, and it is a new sound for us that we are really excited to share, as it is now starting to reveal itself.
You also have a hybrid DJ/live set scheduled at The Basement in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 27. What can you share with us about that experience, and how do you plan to combine the energy of a DJ set with the dynamism of a live performance?
We have a few special surprises in store for the Basement, as we are thrilled to be asked to perform at such an iconic underground venue. We love the creators and artists who are the backbone of the whole scene, and we do not plan to let anyone go home without dancing their ass off! Good times will be had, we can promise!
The chemistry between Steven Davis, Josh Charles, and Ethan Allen has been key to your project. How do you manage to balance your different influences and backgrounds within music?
Having different backgrounds is a real advantage in reimagining something. Each of us brings something to the table, and that’s the toolbag you keep reaching into. Everyone has a different thought or feeling from reacting to the new version, and that keeps things fresh and surprising. We all want to be surprised.
You’ve had your music remixed by artists like Scientist, Lovefingers, and Ron Trent. How does it feel to see your work inspire such respected names in the scene?
It’s fantastic! You can never imagine what someone is going to do, so we’re like kids at Christmas when you get to hear it.
Looking ahead, what new projects or collaborations are you most excited to explore after Sunshine Low (ASHRR Soundsystem Versions)?
New creations, collaborations, and things we hadn’t thought of before. We’re also doing more work as composers for film and visual work, which is another realm of expression with no rules.
Finally, what do you still dream of achieving as ASHRR, and what do you hope listeners take away from your music?
ASHRR is a license to take chances and to keep finding ways of feeding our hearts and imagination. But it’s always us. I think of my favorite artists from my youth who would do a different thing, and I was so excited by a new chapter. That inspires us. I hope people hear our work and have a little of that spark that got us going when we had nothing but a blank page.
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