Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashton Chase.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
To begin, I’ll share a little about how I found myself as a performer, and how my band later came to be. I started performing in high school theatre, and went on to study it in college. I loved being onstage. What began as a love for acting changed into a love for stage design, and eventually died out as I found my creativity elsewhere in life. However, I started finding confidence in my singing voice in my mid-20’s. I had enjoyed singing since childhood, but never took it very seriously. I was pushed into school choir but didn’t enjoy it. Plus, I wasn’t one of the musical theatre kids because I couldn’t dance, so I just never thought of myself as a singer. I picked up guitar in my mid-20’s and fell in love with singing Jeff Buckley, Fleetwood Mac, and Beatles tunes with myself. I started slowly putting myself out there online with my voice. I was hired on by a former coworker to sing backup at one of his gigs, and there noticed another hired gun with crazy, curly red hair and a banjo. He interested me right away. I slid into his DMs a few months later, and we began hanging out and singing songs together. Six years later, we’re married and have a rock band together: Ash and the Endings. The group is comprised of myself (vocals), my husband Kody (bass), our friend Jamie (drums), my old coworker and friend Luis (lead guitar) and a fellow theatre school friend, Conor (rhythm guitar + keys).
In 2020/2021, Kody and I had been playing music with our friends in a rockabilly group we called Kitty in the Wheel Well. It was a short-lived project but a lot of fun and a great introduction to being in a band. We met Jamie when we shared a bill one night with his other band, county outfit Welcome To Texas. I knew I wanted to start my own band, and initially had my sights set on it being a jazz project. I wondered where I’d find a drummer, and my friend Alli pointed out that the way Jamie held his sticks meant he was jazz-trained and she was like, “that’s your guy”. Soon, Kody, Jamie and I were playing jazz covers. I remembered my college friend Conor had just moved back to Austin from Brooklyn and was a part of our school’s jazz band. We invited him to join on keys and it wasn’t long before he also blew us out of the water with his writing, which moved us from a jazzy cover band into alternative rock. When our friend and former bandmate Josean decided to pursue another area of music, we had an opening in the group, and we snagged Luis Meza who was previously playing with The Dead Houseplants. Luis and I used to work in a restaurant together and had spent a lot of rides home after work listening to Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.
Ash and the Endings began in late 2021 and it’s been the creative pleasure of my lifetime. Collaborating with people I love whose talent and work I look up to is such a specific feeling of inspiration and admiration. They’ve helped me grow as a writer, performer and occasional guitarist. Being onstage is just the highlight of my life. It’s like falling in love with theatre again, but in a different form. The stages are all over the city I love, and it makes me feel good to be a part of that city. I feel so alive every time we play together and like I’m counting down the days until the next show. Aside from how amazing the performance aspect is, I’ve gotten to grow as a visual artist making our album art, show graphics, and social media content. Finding what hair, makeup, and clothing makes me feel like me onstage has let me get to know my authentic self. Music is really cool and I just really love Ash and the Endings, mmkay?
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are always periods where creativity waxes and wanes. I’ve been struggling with writer’s block for a few months now, but it helps to be a part of a creative group with others who bring their own inspiring work to the table.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I make music with Ash and the Endings. We put on a fiery alt rock show with bits of funk and psych influence. I’m really proud of our most recent song, “Holy Water”. I think it’s out grittiest song so far and I hear a lot of Black Sabbath in it. We’re about to get into the studio to record it, but you’ll have to get out to a show in the meantime to hear it! We’ll be at Chess Club for my birthday show 9/26, at Kick Butt Coffee 10/17, and we’re playing the OK Go after show at Stubb’s 11/8!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Fellow musicians, GO TO SHOWS and don’t be an island! Money is tight for a lot of us and it’s easy to only watch the bands you’re playing with that evening, but try to make a point to show up to other artists’ shows here and there. Hang out and talk and try to learn from what other people are doing. Share the wealth and scratch other bands’ backs. When someone throws you a gig, throw one back. When someone releases a single, shout it out on social media or text it to a friend. Get involved in the community outside of your band. I started a booking/graphic design company I run on the side called Shorty Presents and it’s connected me with so many of Austin’s many talented musicians, and allowed me to create opportunities for my own group.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ash.and.the.endings/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_zNQo67mLGEpT4J6O42jHQ
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1SYY5vIzCMYwdGFJvT1ILu
Image Credits
All photos by Prime Contrast
