Brighton-based singer Salt Ashes hopes to discover diamonds on her quest to dig deeper than usual into the vault of uncharted territory – her heart. The new single ‘Didn’t See It Coming’ unleashes an unexpected blend of popping visuals of Saturday Night Fever meet David Lynch and Nadia Lee Cohen.
‘Didn’t See It Coming’ follows up the instant success of her latest single ‘Body Says,’ powdered with Salt Ashes’ signature dark-pop elements fused with huge electronic-dance rhythms.
The songstress touches base with LOCK Magazine about her current inspirations, future plans, and other creative processes.
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Right now, I would call it like a club night in 1979 with Jungle and Daft punk playing with the dance scene from Saturday Night Fever happening.
What would you say helped you to get through the pandemic?
I lived in a house of 6 people and it was the best thing. We had our own little world happening, we had barbecues, themed costume parties and cooked for each other all the time. It was like one big, diverse family and it got us all through.
Were you still inspired to write or be creative?
Initially I wasn’t at all. I kept hearing of people feeling so inspired and making 8 albums and I was like… nope I’m just going to cook and make some cement plant pots with the house haha. By the second lockdown the creativity came back and that’s when I started working on the second album.
What are some female artists you look up to in the industry?
Women who don’t give a f*ck about being themselves like Sevdaliza, Ashnikko, FKA Twigs, Tove Lo. It never feels like they are trying to fit in with what’s popular right now and they always feel very authentic.
What inspired you to write ‘Didn’t See It Coming’?
It’s about my own life and real life events. I tend to write about something that I or someone close to me has experienced.
What do you want people to take away from the track?
You know I just want people to feel something. Whether that something is just to dance hard then that works for me. It’s a disco track at the end of the day so I hope people want to at least move their body to it.
What was the intention behind the music video’s visual inspirations?
We wanted to create something surreal but yet disco themed. The director, Kassandra Powell and share a love for David Lynch and Nadia Lee Cohen so we wanted to marry those kind of surreal, popping visuals with something straight out of the Saturday Night Fever dance scene. It’s all meant to be quite tongue in cheek and dream like.
What themes are currently inspiring your songwriting the most?
My own life experiences. I’m really enjoying delving deeper into my heart to pull dig some dirt out of there and hope I can shine it up and discover diamonds.
What are some things on your bucket list you would like to achieve during your career?
I would love to go on my own tour and play a decent stage at Glastonbury, that would be sick.
Could we expect a bigger project form you anytime soon?
Who knows, let’s wait and see.