Artist of the Day | JOHNNY ASHBY
ARTIST OF THE DAY
21.03.2021
JOHNNY ASHBY
LOCATION
Los Angeles, CA, USA
GENRE
Folk Rock
CURRENT MEMBERS
Johnny Ashby
With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt?
We'd just started writing the "In Bloom" EP. I think we'd recorded the first song and then when everything locked down we were forced to finish writing and recording everything from home. It was a bit weird to go from working all together in the same room to writing virtually over Zoom. But in some ways I think it really helped the creative process. Working from home enabled me to have more time when tracking vocals, I felt less rushed and was able to focus longer on getting the "right take".
How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
Before Covid I was gigging a lot and about to tour with another project. I'd been playing with the idea of relaunching the solo stuff for a while, but had only written that first song. So when we were locked down and everything changed over night, I was lucky I had something else I could focus on and I threw myself straight in to it.
What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?
I always have to do something creative. To begin with I found it hard to be inspired. I got myself some paint supplies and tried painting and read more than I usually would. I tried to spend more time outside going on walks than I used to when I was always in the studio. I think that was a big change for me. Now I'm still at home but finding inspiration all around me. As a teenager I used to sit in my room for hours, playing guitar and writing songs. So it's been kind of nice to be able to do that again.
How are dealing with the Covid second wave?
Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee and vinyl. I'm listening to a lot of jazz at the moment. The Billy Taylor Trio and Mose Allison are this week's favourites. It's jazz... I hear its not for everyone haha.
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
If you listen to my new song Getting Started I think think that sums up everything I'm feeling right now. I think everyone can relate. I hope it helps get ya through.
If you would like to be our next ARTIST OF THE DAY please email us at:
JEN@CONCERTWORKS.CA
