Interviews

Noah Ashwood August 8th interview.  

 

Music


What was the moment you knew music would save your life?

Noah: When I wrote my first song at 5; it sounds absolutely ridiculous but from that point I realised that I had an outlet that couldn’t let me down. Once I started getting older and I found myself in a really dark place mentally and struggling with substances, I always used my notebook to get things off my chest and not be terrified of being judged or someone looking at me differently because of what I was going through. 


If you could speak to your younger self, what would you say?

Noah: Stop doubting yourself as much as you do, especially your voice. Eventually, you will learn how to control your voice; you’ll reignite the love you had for singing when you were a child. You are not bad at what you do and love, a little bit of self doubt will help you grow but you put too much unnecessary pressure and stress on yourself; stop trying to be someone you’re not. You don’t need to sound like Billie Eilish to have a good falsetto, you sound better being you. 

How do you balance law school, barbering, and your music career?

 

Noah: I study during the day and take breaks where I write or work on some music. I took a short course on multiple pillars of law that were noted to be particularly hard prior to starting my degree so that I could have some time to work on what I love too. I don’t cut hair as much as I used to, but I cut and dye my hair and my family’s so I have a relatively easy balance across everything 


What’s the darkest chapter of your life that you’ve turned into art?

Noah: For my debut album, all I was doing was channeling the abuse i endured at a young age mixed with my addiction problems and trying to heal by putting it into the world. 


How do you want your music to make people feel?

Noah: Art is always about the perception of the listener. I can’t tell someone how to feel about it but I hope that at least one person who listens to the album feels validated in their feelings.


What’s the one lyric you’ve written that means the most to you?

Noah: The song is currently being written and will be released in the future so it will not be on my debut. The lyric simply goes “thought you’d let me go, thought I’d walk this road alone” very simple lyric but the song itself carries a deep meaning. 


How did you find your vocal style?

Noah: In probably the most ridiculous way possible. I always tested how high my voice could go by using pitch finders etc. I didn’t find my true range and vocal type until I started doing some voice lessons and learning how to scream without giving myself laryngitis. I tried my lowest guttural scream and hit a B1 which I genuinely thought was impossible to hit but i somehow did. Prior to this, my lowest note was a C2.


Do you approach clean vocals differently than screams?

Noah: Absolutely. When I record a clean vocal, I definitely look into it too much; i layer like most vocalists do. I find myself obsessing over how each letter or word sounds compared to the rest of the layers/ takes. 99% of the time those layers are so low in my mix that they’re not even heard. For screams, I do layer them too, and definitely still obsess over how each one sounds. Screaming is much easier to deliver for me so when I’m thinking about pitch etc I can usually get them finished quite quickly.


Which song challenged your voice the most?

Noah: While my debut doesn’t have vocals on, the CD version features multiple vocal covers. Though I am actively working on recording some vocals for the future.  But back to the question, for my debut I’d definitely say that my covers of Billie Eilish’s “ocean eyes” and bad omens’ “the grey” challenged my voice the most. Trying to replicate Billie’s voice to an extent definitely became a challenge; while my falsetto can reach that high, I struggled with breath control a bit. Having asthma and vaping is not the best when controlling your falsetto so I do not recommend. “The grey” for me was hard because of the amount of takes I did for the pre-chorus, belting is probably not my favourite thing to do and so transitioning from a falsetto to a much louder and open vocal was challenging.


Which instrument do you feel most connected to?

Noah: Definitely my voice; because it’s a part of me. But my first instrument was guitar and I got that when I was 7. Drums for me,  however, is my one love; I grew up listening to twenty one pilots and wanted to become like Josh Dun when I grew up, he’s the reason I picked up the sticks for the first time. I started playing by ear when I was 10 before I got my first kit at 11 or 12 I believe. Bass, keys and everything else I also have a great love for.


How do you decide what tuning or key a song should be in?

Noah: I don’t really choose a key before I start writing. Sometimes I do, if I find a song I like and want to write in the same key then I will. A couple of the songs on my album were written in the key G major, I find myself writing in that key quite a lot. In terms of tuning, it really depends on what works the best with the chords i initially wrote the song in. Most of the album is in drop F, but there’s some in drop D and double drop D. I’ll post the tunings of each song once the album is released.

What’s your favourite part of the recording process?

Noah: Drum tracking. While guitar was my first instrument and the one I’ve played the longest, I can’t confidently say that I’m good at writing, tracking and performing guitar. I definitely feel that drums are by far what I am best at.


How do you know when a song is truly finished?


Noah: When adding more makes it sound wrong. The last part of my process is synths, I use them to accent instruments etc so if I’ve added quite a few layers and adding something else completely ruins the song I know that it’s done and it doesn’t need more. 


What’s the most meaningful thing a fan has ever told you?

Noah: Being told you saved a life is the most valuable thing you will ever hear in your life. I was once that kid/teenager that was in a place where nothing helped but music. 


What message do you want your fans to take from your music?

Noah:Healing is possible. It’s never easy and you will relapse, you will break down but you will get there. No matter what you go through, no matter how much weight you carry on your shoulders, no matter who you are; you will always be loved, accepted and supported.


How has your community helped shape your career?

Noah: The people who’ve supported me unconditionally are the people who shaped my career. I might make the music but they bring people together and make this community stronger and a better place.


What’s been your proudest moment as an artist so far?

Noah: Having the TSB family with me. I didn’t come into this industry expecting anything, i actually expected nothing. But this community and having the opportunity to make a movement that unites people is what I’m most proud of. 


If you could erase one moment of self-doubt, which would it be?

Noah: I wouldn’t. I think that if I didn’t doubt myself then I wouldn’t be where I am and I wouldn’t have become better at what I do.


What kept you going when it felt like giving up was easier?

Noah: Hoping that one day someone would connect with what I stand for and my story.


What does healing look like for you now?

Noah: I’m focusing on the things and people I love. I’m sharing my story so that other survivors feel less alone and have a safe space to feel.


How do you want people to remember you as an artist?

Noah: If I’m not remembered for music I hope that the beautiful communities are remembered. To the core and TSB deserve recognition


What’s the one message you’ll never stop sharing?

Noah: I stand with you. You are not alone. You are seen, you are accepted. I am so grateful you exist.


If your younger self could see you now, what would they say?

Noah: Probably “what the fuck happened to us?


What does success mean to you beyond fame and numbers?

Noah: Success to me is having a community. Not fame, not money, not numbers. Success is having a family through what you preach. 


What’s the moment you knew you’d never give up on music?

Noah: When I first picked up a pen and wrote a song at 5.


How has your relationship with yourself changed over time?

Noah: I’ve come to accept who I am, which took 19 years. I take care of myself so that I can help others.


What’s one thing you still want to prove to yourself?

Noah:I can make it. 


How involved are you in the mixing and production side?

I do it all, everything I make is made by me alone at my home studio. I started learning how to do everything myself at 16 or 17.


If you could collaborate with anyone, living or gone, who would it be?

Noah: Bad omens, sleep token, Billie eilish, the list goes on. 


What chapter of your story are you writing right now?

Noah: Healing.


When did you first feel proud of who you are?

Noah: When people said that they looked up to me.


Which song of yours feels the most like a diary entry?

Noah: I’m dropping an upcoming song title right now, this is the exclusive. “Where were you?” It was written after someone had told me that they saw the abuse; All I could think the whole time was “where were you? Why didn’t you do anything?” I felt like I couldn’t actually count on that person anymore. 


What’s the moment in your career that healed a part of you?

Noah: When I released my scream to the void and it resonated with people.


How do you protect your mental health while making vulnerable music?

Noah: I don’t. I feel it.


 

Personal experiences


How has living with tics shaped your resilience?

Noah: It’s like how living with OCD shaped it. You can’t change something you’re not in control of, but you don’t let it control or define you. I am someone outside of the things I deal with.


What’s the biggest myth people believe about colourblindness?

Noah: People ask a lot if I see in black and white. In some ways I do, yes. But not completely. 


What lessons did abuse teach you about strength?

Noah: Wow. Abuse taught me that I had a voice for a reason and even though it was hard, telling somebody was what got me out of it. Walking away is the strongest yet most difficult thing you will ever do but that is the first step and it will hurt, once you’re out you will start to feel everything you couldn’t feel when you were in it. You will question if what you did was right, you will be in pain. But you will get through it, you will come out the other side and you will survive. You’re never alone, ever. Asking for help is the strongest thing you will do after getting through abuse, and I’m not going to tell you it will be easy because it isn’t. But, having a support system and living life again will help you make your way to healing. And if you have no one else to turn to I am here. 


How have your struggles with mental health shaped your songwriting?

Noah: In a way id say I’m thankful for what I’ve been through, to an extent. I try not to look at the things I’ve been through as just trauma, because even though I’m aware that I will never recover from it, I also know that I learnt a lot. I wouldn’t say it made me stronger necessarily, I’d actually say it’s made me more cautious and hyper aware; and while it can be exhausting, I think I’d rather be aware than not. I now understand self worth and also what to look out for when it comes to abuse, manipulation etc. I believe no one should have to experience it to know the signs; which is why I like to be open about it. In writing, I really channel every emotion that I held onto from those experiences into my music. 


 

 

 

 

To the core


Why is building a movement like “To The Core” so important to you?


I feel like the world lacks support systems in a way, therapy is expensive, it’s hard to talk to the healthcare system. To the core is a place for everyone and every single person is welcomed with open arms. There is so much love to give, and everyone is deserving of it. To the core and TSB is one big loving family.