Welcome to the latest edition of Six Questions With..., a weekly short and sharp interview with a live music figure. Email jhanley@nbmedia.com if you would like to take part or recommend someone for inclusion.
This week's Q&A is with singer-songwriter, DJ and producer Andrew Ashong, who will perform at the Deep South Music and Arts Festival in Tunbridge Wells from September 9-10.
What was your first job in music?
I was playing records at clubs and parties from the age of 16. By the time I was 17/18 it was more regular, so by then it felt more like an actual job I suppose.
How long have you been in your current role?
Still not entirely sure what my current role even is, or should be, to be honest. But I guess digging on (and digging for) records, as well as sharing and presenting my musical discoveries has been a major part of my life for longer than I care to remember. Recording and experimenting with my own recordings and productions has been almost as long, while public performance is much more of a recent thing for me.
What is your favourite thing about working in the live music industry?
The spontaneity and potential for discovery is always an inspiring thing. I find people's willingness to participate on the journey to be humbling too. It's always fun exploring opportunities musically, creatively and emotionally and any openness on the part of the audience is a blessing. So I suppose the most compelling thing is communion.
What is the one thing you would like to change about the business?
If I'm honest, sometimes it seems as though the principle of business is almost fundamentally at odds with the essence of music. The business doesn't always allow music the freedom to truly breathe and exist with sincerity. I suppose it would be nice if business priorities didn't stifle artistic integrity as much as it seems to do. It's definitely a shame to lose sight of the deeper meaning and purpose of art and our cultural expressions.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
All of the collective times anyone has ever reached out because they've felt that the music has resonated with and reached out to them. Each and every reminder that we're all essentially connected is a moment of magic, as far as I'm concerned. Having a career in music generates layers of connection across perceived boundaries. Nothing beats that.
What's the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Experiences are so subjective and multi-layered, I find it very difficult to rank them in terms of best and worst. It also seems to be harder to be impressed or deeply affected the older we get. I think I was probably more easily impressed by technical virtuosity when I was younger, whereas nowadays open honesty and sincere communication feel more significant to me. So there are different modes of affinity that perform different functions at different times, within performance itself.
