Meet ASHEN, the rising French metalcore band that’s quickly making waves across Europe. Brought together by a series of chance encounters, each of the members bring something unique, forming a band that embodies raw emotion and introspective themes.
We had the pleasure of sitting down for a quick chat to learn more about the band's formation, their creative process, where they find inspiration and what fans can expect over the next couple of months.
To start, can you tell us how the band was formed and where the name ASHEN comes from?
ASHEN was actually formed through a succession of random encounters that we are all very thankful for. It started with Thibaud and Niels, who both came from the same town in the suburbs of Paris. Niels then became friends with Antoine, whom he met in a Parisian music store, and met Tristan at the music school he studied at.
We then posted a video on Facebook to audition a singer and got some applications from singers all around the world. Funny enough, the best audition we received (and by far) was actually from a guy that lived only thirty minutes away from us, in a small town nearby, and that guy was Clem.
As for our name, we were looking for a short name that could suggest something visually, but still open to interpretation, and that's how we ended up with ASHEN. We think it's also tightly linked to the mood of our music, like if we were always trying to get out things we hold inside, and thus ironically, become less "ashen" haha.
What have been some of your biggest highlights since ASHEN’s inception in 2021, and how has the band’s look and sound evolved over the years?
I'd say we value our artistic achievements as much as the typical highlights we could see as "indicators of success". Of course, we have to talk about our first European tour last February and our French tour last year with While She Sleeps, as well as some big shows we've done recently like our first Radar Festival. But what happened while shooting the music video of Outlier or Desire, or during the writing of Angel or Chimera, were as much highlights as the rest because they were turning points for us in terms of what ASHEN could mean and become artistically. We've had a sense of self-discovery through every song we've written and I hope it'll never stop.
Your music deals with some intense topics, with themes of trauma, anxiety, and fear. How do you approach these sensitive topics in your songwriting and performances? How do you balance those raw, intense emotions in your music with the need to connect and resonate with your audience?
Everything we've written so far has been very introspective. We’re always trying to rely on Clem’s most personal experiences for our songs because usually the deeper you go, the truer it gets, and it’s usually hard to connect with something fake. This really helps us connect as a band on stage and ultimately gives purpose to what we do. We also believe that even if we talk about specific experiences, poetry is there so that people will write their own meanings to the songs, making them theirs.
Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you develop a song from an initial idea to the final production?
I wish I could explain to you the magic formula, and sometimes I wish we could have one, but the truth is that it's always different. I can explain what happens most of the time, though. The songs usually start from a small musical idea, though sometimes they'll start from themes we'd like to talk about or structure concepts, then the songs will be written instrumentally by Niels, sometimes Thibaud, but with the other members taking part very actively in the process. The lyrics and vocal lines are then written between Clem and Niels, and then the production, recording, mixing, and mastering are done by Niels.
The French metalcore scene has really been popping off in the last few years. How has being based in Paris influenced your music and artistic expression? Are there any specific elements of the city's culture that have impacted your work?
I don't know if living in Paris has had a direct impact on our music, but it's undeniable that it has had a real influence on who we are as artists. I'd also say that the French metal context has forced French bands to develop a different approach compared to, let's say, English or American bands. Here, there aren't any producers you go to to produce your stuff; all the French bands are producing their music on their own, and I think that might have given the French bands a more holistic vision of their creative direction.
Another important factor is that French bands have always been told that to "make it" and to be taken seriously, we needed to be at least 10 times better than bands from the UK or from the other side of the Atlantic. Whether it was true or not, at least we can say it has created a bunch of real try-harders, haha.
From an aesthetic standpoint, French art, fashion, and architecture have always been at the heart of our inspirations; to make something true for us, we knew we had to reach into what we'd grown from. As to why the French scene has been popping off, I think we'll never know for sure, but I do believe in the "French touch" and that maybe, it happens to match the current tastes and trends of the world of metal at the moment.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? Any bucket-list bands you would love to tour or collaborate with one day?
Even if our musical influences are ever-changing and evolving, at the moment I'd say we take a lot of inspiration from emo and rock bands, a lot of UK bands too. We truly love artists like MCR, Yungblud, Palaye Royale, Static Dress… We also take a lot of inspiration from outside of rock and metal though, from artists like Arca, Grimes, Radiohead, Queen, The 1975, and more.
As for a bucket-list, we'd love to be able to collaborate with Chris Greatti, a producer that continues to amaze and inspire us with everything he puts out. Then for features, if the sky was the limit, I'd say Static Dress, Arca, Yungblud, My Chemical Romance, Dan Lancaster, and Bring Me the Horizon.
Beyond the studio and the stage, how do you guys unwind and recharge creatively? Are there any hobbies, activities, or even places that inspire you outside of the world of music?
Our interests in the band are very diverse, and we’re basically big consumers of art in all its forms. Lately, though, if we’re doing something other than music, ASHEN’s always in the back of our heads, and we can’t help but look for ways to transform the movies or shows we watch into ideas and inspirations for ASHEN. It comes from everything that touches us, basically. Other than that, we also try to work out to stay in shape and make sure we don’t run out of breath on stage haha.
What can fans expect from your upcoming releases and shows? Are there any new directions or themes you're excited to explore in the future?
We’re writing our debut album. Our next releases will drop at the end of 2024 and at the beginning of 2025. We’re also working on our very first Parisian headline show that’ll take place at La Boule Noire, October 12th. We already have a pretty good idea of what the album is going to look like and absolutely can’t wait to finally share it with the world!
Listen to ASHEN here.
Follow them on Instagram here.
Buy ASHEN merch here.
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