INTERVIEW WITH… U.K. ALTERNATIVE POP SINGER SALT ASHES


Since her 2020 debut EP ‘counting crosses’ London based Alterna-Pop artist Salt Ashes has been channeling her unique sense of style and raw emotion creating her signature sound. Born Veiga Sanchez the singer-songwriter often explores darker themes amongst the brighter eclectic tones of dance beats. I chatted with Veiga a few weeks back about her music and what lies ahead for her. You can read my interview with her below.


THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: You released a new EP last year called, “counting crosses” and released a few standalone singles which include your current single "Too Many Times". Can you talk about your typical writing and recording process when making music? How has it evolved on these new releases?

SALT ASHES: I usually start with some chords on the guitar or the piano which I’ll mumble a tune over and see what feels good. Once I have a melody that’s when I’ll add some lyrics. Sometimes we would've already started building the track around this melody and at this point we might only have one section of the song which then helps us build the rest of the track. More recently my producer and I would be in the studio and just start with a synth sound, build a beat and then I’ll jam some melodies over that.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: So, can you delve into the backstory or inspiration on the track "Too Many Times"?

SALT ASHES: Too Many Times was born in the middle of lockdown when both my producer and I were suffering with intense anxiety and probably a bit of depression because of grief, family feuds.. friend feuds… the pandemic!…all of it! And we were both pretty low so we wrote this track. It was very cathartic to get all that shit down on paper and into a song. We actually started the song a year or so before but it had different lyrics.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How did the music video for "Too Many Times" come together? What was that collaboration process like?

SALT ASHES: There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears making this video. I wanted to work with a director for this but it all fell through so I was almost forced to direct it myself which then led to me doing so much more - styling, producing, hair styling, choreographer!! It was a lot of work and there were so many times that I thought I wouldn't be able to achieve what I saw in my head with the budget that I had but I’m so proud of the final product. It all started with an idea of being trapped. The synths at the start of the track always reminded me of a doll and so those two ideas married and eventually led to me wanting to be trapped inside the doll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvLuH7rWbUc

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Being a London based artist and songwriter how does London or the broader range of the U.K. influence or show up in your sound?

SALT ASHES: London is full of life and diversity and powerful, driven people so this really influences me as an artist and me as a person - because they are to separate things a lot of the time. I get a lot of inspiration from people's stories and my own experiences which are always in abundance in London.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What is the one thing about being a songwriter that you are most proud of?

SALT ASHES: When you write a song and you have no idea where it came from or even how you wrote it… I think that’s a pretty special moment. But to be honest, I’m always proud once I’ve actually finished a song. There’s no other feeling quite like it.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What is your pick for the song of the summer for this year?

SALT ASHES: Sene Kela - Mr Raoul K, Sona Diabate, Laolu

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What was the last thing that made you feel nostalgic?

SALT ASHES: Eating fish and chips on Brighton Pier.

Salt Ashes

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: And lastly, what's up next for you, Veiga?

SALT ASHES: I have an album launch gig on Nov 1st at The Grace in London which I’m so excited about. It’ll be my one and only show this year so people really shouldn’t miss it. The album is coming out later that week too.


You can stream Salt AshesToo Many Timeshere or her latest ‘Love, Lovehere.


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