Electroniq is a showcase of some of the best up-and-coming names in electronica. With a focus on live vocals and immersive visuals, the event puts female artists front and centre, highlighting the talent shaping the future of the scene. We caught up with ASHKAT for the July (31st) event.
ASHKAT, a solo alt pop artist from Brighton, is an alluring and vivacious blend of FKA Twigs, Grimes and Kate Bush. Her music weaves from innocent and enchanting to expansive and powerful through her enigmatic songwriting – exploring the human experience in all its most ugly and beautiful glory – and synth heavy production.
How did you get into making music?
I’ve been doing music in some way shape or form for as long as I can remember. One of my friends reminded me (as I have a terrible memory) that I was chosen to be the bus driver and sing ‘The Wheels On The Bus’ in playschool because the teacher loved my singing voice. I was lucky to have keyboard and dancing lessons from a very young age as well so I feel that musicality has always been in my bones. I didn’t start writing my own songs until I was about 13 or 14 which is when I taught myself guitar around the same time. I still remember most of the very first song I wrote, which is an extremely cheesy and cringey song from the perspective of Wendy from Peter Pan. I was and still am always obsessed with that story and find endless inspiration within it as I do with many fantasy worlds. My lyric writing now is very metaphor driven because I love writing songs that people can put themselves into and get lost in and create their own narratives around.
You’ve been compared to Kate Bush, is she one of your influences?
It’s a huge compliment when people compare me to Kate Bush. She’s such a unique and quirky artist however she actually wasn’t one of my influences. People started comparing my music to her more after Running Up That Hill went to number one again from Stranger Things so it’s interesting how people draw comparisons to artists depending on what’s mainstream at the time. I can definitely see how we have a similar singing style and a lot of my instrumentation is very driven by electronic elements with some 80s synth influences.
One of my main influences is definitely FKA Twigs. To me, she is what real artistry is really about. She is a multi-media creative with her skills spanning in so many different directions. I love the metaphors within her story telling and her theatrical performances. I’ve seen her live twice now and she is extremely captivating to watch. I also love the juxtaposition between the ethereal vocals combined with heavy, gritty electronic sounds which also feature a lot within my own music.
You’ve played at some pretty big festivals including The Isle Of Wight, what has been your best experience to date?
I would say my best experiences are usually connected more to the engagement with the audience rather than the size. One of my favourites has been performing at Shambala on the Woodland Stage which is a treehouse. The festival goers at Shambala are always so connected and true adventurers of creativity and music so they bring incredible energy. Also, who doesn’t want to perform in a treehouse?
My other best experience absolutely has to be my growth on the Cirque De La Quirk stage at Isle of Wight. My first performance ever there I managed to snag a short set playing between acts with a guitar with a snapped string. It was when I was still doing mainly folk/singer-songwriter music before the birth of ASHKAT. The Cirque De La Quirk crew are like no other I have experienced. There is creativity, talent, joy and connection bursting from everyone who works there which really comes across from the talent that is booked on that stage. I last performed there a few weeks back which was my best set to date. Again, the audience were so captivated and gave me so much energy. It’s really incredible and humbling to be able to look back across my journey from when I first performed there in 2019. I feel so grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to grow with that stage and that crew.
You won the Ninja Tunes live electronic music performer in 2022, tell us a bit more about the competition
It was my friend Mike Freear from Slamboree who suggested I enter. I heard about it but assumed I wasn’t what they were looking for because I thought it was primarily more for people who do live sampling or use more tech. I guess I hadn’t been producing or doing electronic music live for what felt like very long at that point and didn’t have the confidence to believe in myself. I have been singing for as long as I can remember but for the first few years of producing didn’t feel that I could officially call myself a “producer” yet however Mike believed in me and really encouraged me. I was the only person who entered who did singing and live looping. We were challenged to create a beat using some samples from Dub FX. I thought we were being given the samples on the day of the competition however when I got there and chatted to the other competitors I couldn’t believe it when they said they’d had the samples for weeks and had been practicing their songs so I had to completely freestyle and blag it! Luckily I am a well-versed professional in blagging and in some ways I think it gave me an edge because I wasn’t over thinking. Improvising is actually a very comfortable place for me to be and something I frequently do in my live sets. I love feeling connected to myself and the audience in that moment and creating something that no one will ever hear or see again. There’s something so special about that.
Which artist would you most love to support?
Definitely FKA Twigs or Eartheater
You’ve played Electroniq before, what can we expect from Ashkat this time?
In classic creative human style, I love getting new toys (instruments) to play with and re-titillate (don’t think that’s a word but it is now) my musical senses. I go through waves of boredom and stagnation so I love to mix it up with new things to try and experiment with. A good friend has leant me her Q-Chord which I have gotten completely obsessed with and played for hours every day for about a week before taking it to the Isle of Wight with me and playing it live on stage for the first time. I also was requested to play it on the train for the carriage who were all a very lovely audience so I’m excited to bring it with me to Electroniq! I’ve worked it into some of my existing songs and also am excited to write some new ones inspired by it so that’s certainly something to look out for!
Be the first to hear the forth coming single ‘Here with me first’
Electroniq July 31st also features Sophie Sirota, Leg Puppy 2.0 feat Nownois & Lia Mice with live visuals by Jack Hollywood.
Tickets on sale
Sophie Sirota socials | Instagram | Bandcamp |
Article by Mr Laurence
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram | Threads | Mailing List