ASH drops debut EP ‘Holding Water’

Hailing from Beijing and now based in New York City, ASH is an exciting new name in the alternative R&B scene, crafting a sound that’s emotive and innovative. With a background in classical piano and self-taught skills in multiple instruments, her music is a compelling blend of haunting melodies, bilingual lyricism and intricately layered electronic production.

Raised in an international community in Beijing, she was exposed to a vast array of musical influences from a young age. This diverse environment shaped her early artistic vision, fuelling her passion for composing and performing. It was during her Ivy League education at the University of Pennsylvania and later at The New School in New York City, that she developed her talents, refining her voice as both a performer and a producer.

Following her well-received debut single “Infatuated” and her sophomore outing “Reverse Psychology,” ASH now brings us her highly anticipated debut EP titled Holding Water. The seven-track EP, which she wrote, composed, produced and performed entirely herself, showcases her ability to blend genres, moving between alternative R&B, indie, neo-soul and rock with pure flair.

It’s no surprise that her demo for Holding Water caught the attention of Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer Jeff Ellis, known for his work with artists like Frank Ocean, Doja Cat and Kali Uchis. Lyrically, ASH draws on her bilingual approach, blending English with Chinese to explore ideas of emotional release, fleeting moments and personal reflection, offering a work that’s personal and relatable in equal measure.

Following the stripped-back, ethereal “INTRO” opener, her debut single “Infatuated” casts a laid back indie R&B groover full of blissful melodies and delicate instrumentation. “Pearl” delivers slick stuttered rhythms and airy vocals that glide across the shifting arrangement to deliver a sultry anthem. “These Clouds” sees her lean into the melancholic side of her sonic vision with an elegant and atmospheric sound of drifting vocals, minimal instrumentation and a smooth sax solo. Title track “Holding Water” closes the release with a mellow rhythmic patter of clopping beats and pulsing bass notes as ASH’s silky vocal layers blend with pitched vocalisations to cast an enchanting finale to her incredible debut EP.

With Holding Water, ASH has firmly established herself as an extraordinary talent to watch. Her ability to create deeply personal yet genre-defying music is attests to her limitless potential and it’s clear that ASH is set to leave an lasting impression on the modern music scene.

Commenting on the release, she offers, “For my very first project, I wanted to reflect on some of my very first vividly emotional experiences in life. Beginning this project in 2020 came at a time when I was able to step back and tend to my soul the way I always needed to through music. I leaned into writing and producing to release old knots. Over these few years, the most potent lesson I learned was that letting go of my need for emotional agency was the only thing that could create space for the mental freedom I craved. Holding Water illustrates the moment in time where you can admire the reflection of the sky in your hands before the water inevitably falls away. The EP taps into my moody ponderings on transience and acceptance and I hope it fossilises the confluences I’ve dwelled on so that you can venture all the paths I’ve taken to meet me here.”

Listen to Holding Water below