ASH DA HERO Interview on ‘New Bankruptcy’ Album & New Lineup

On Friday (Jan. 31), ASH DA HERO launched New Bankruptcy, the primary album to function the band’s new lineup. The rap-rock quartet, made up of vocalist ASH, bassist Sato, drummer WANI, and DJ Dhalsim, celebrated its 3rd anniversary in September and used to be reborn with a brand new lineup. On November 29, it placed on its first solo in another country display, ASH DA HERO LIVE 2024 in Taipei, and it has frequently been bringing its sound to a rising circle of listeners.

Billboard Japan spoke to the band about their mindset as they set out with their new lineup, the introduction in their new album and what they concerned about when writing new songs, and their upcoming February 1 display at Zepp Shinjuku (TOKYO), titled ASH DA HERO LIVE 2025 “New Bankruptcy,” which will likely be their first solo display in Japan with their new lineup.

To start out off with, may each and every of you introduce yourselves?

ASH: I’m ASH, and I’m the vocalist. My specialties are rapping and making a song. My roots lie in punk, hip-hop, and reggae.

Sato: My title’s Sato, and I play the bass. My strong point is brewing espresso. We don’t have a guitarist, so I additionally play bass within the guitar’s pitch vary.

WANI: I’m WANI. My strong point is taking part in the drums. My roots are in punk, and I’m particularly professional at drumming with a rap-rock really feel. I additionally sing, and I’m operating on getting into form, so I’m in point of fact into weight coaching at this time.

Dhalsim: I’m the DJ, Dhalsim. My strong point is high-speed scratching. I additionally program tune on pc. I’m accountable for the total sound design of our songs. We don’t have a guitarist, however we’re making the most of that to do the entire issues that we couldn’t have carried out if we had a guitarist. We’re totally transferring over to that composition taste, so at this time we’re within the strategy of rebuilding our sound.

What benefits have you ever present in turning into a quartet?

ASH: I feel there are an increasing number of bands and not using a guitarist, particularly amongst more youthful musicians, however a rap-rock band with a DJ however and not using a guitarist continues to be a rarity. I feel that’s a significant robust level for our band from an international marketplace standpoint.

So how does it really feel in fact having began the following bankruptcy of your band’s historical past and not using a guitarist?

Sato: We have been firstly a five-person band, and now there are 4 people, so we each and every do our personal phase to make up for the alternate. That signifies that we’re each and every taking part in extra. Having a look at it from any other standpoint, it additionally way we each and every have extra chances to let our personal individuality shine. We’re overhauling the whole thing—our make-up, our costumes, our taking part in kinds, and our tools—in accordance with our personal core essence and our roots. Via that, we’re redefining ourselves and turning into a brand new band, which is a surprisingly a laugh procedure. We’re growing one thing new that doesn’t are compatible into the “rap-rock = guitar” development, so all people can tackle plenty of new demanding situations, which is in point of fact pleasant.

WANI: In the beginning, I used to be nervous about what would occur. I used to be positive that we’d lose some fanatics since the guitar is the core software in a band. However the four-person association felt much better than I’d anticipated, and I noticed that the fanatics had their hopes up for this new incarnation of ASH DA HERO, which used to be greatly encouraging. We need to are living as much as everybody’s expectancies with the tune we create and with our are living performances, in fact, however Sato and I also are fascinated with following up with what ASH and Dhalsim are doing.

ASH: After we have been a five-piece band, there used to be a large number of “that is what a rock band will have to be like.” Now that there are 4 people, there’s a miles more potent feeling that we will have to take a freer method. Now we’re doing what we need to.

New Bankruptcy will likely be your first idea album. What sort of album will it’s?

ASH: At the moment we’re growing our most up to date tune, with a legitimate that shall we best reach as a four-person band. The name of the album, New Bankruptcy, is equal to the name of our are living display, and we picked it to constitute that we’re beginning a brand new bankruptcy as a band, with a brand new lineup, beginning on February 1. I additionally really feel just like the tune that we’ve created is surely distinctive within the Eastern rock scene, so the album’s title additionally represents the truth that we’ve invented a brand new approach of constructing rock.

“Wrangler Beat” used to be your first liberate as a four-piece, and it carried at the really feel of the ASH DA HERO of the previous.

ASH: Proper. It’s were given just a little of a antique rock vibe. It’s slightly paying homage to “Octave.”

After sweeping apart the by-the-numbers method with this track, then you definately launched “VANDALISM.” The rap lyrics in the second one verse in point of fact resonate. I think like the best way you inspire folks via songs like because of this that ASH DA HERO moves this type of chord.

ASH: In existence, you’ll all of sudden get sideswiped proper when issues have been going smartly. That’s now not simply one thing that’s took place in my existence, however one thing that I feel occurs to everyone. The query is, when that occurs, do you glance down in dejection, or do you stay your chin up? I’m the type of one that’s like, “No, I’m now not going to cringe, are you loopy?” So I put all the ones emotions into the lyrics.

And then you definately tie all of it in conjunction with the completely glorious nearer, “I’m your rock big name.”

ASH: That’s what a rock big name is all about, proper? It’s cool when any person’s in a troublesome spot however they’re like “No giant deal.” For me, Jack Sparrow (of Pirates of the Caribbean) is that more or less persona. Even in unattainable eventualities, he simply laughs it off. I put that feeling in phrases, like, “Don’t you even consider forgetting!”

What are you able to let us know concerning the sound manufacturing?

Sato: The principle riff has a large number of repeating words, so I concerned about how a lot swing I may put into the ones easy words. I in point of fact vibed on it.

WANI: The drums are easy however catchy. Our older songs had a large number of intricate fills, however on “VANDALISM,” I removed all that. I concerned about that easy, cool sound. It’s were given a in point of fact convincing rhythm. Whilst you pay attention it are living, you’ll understand that it’s now not only a easy beat.

Dhalsim: I additionally stripped down my scratching to the restrict. What influenced me within the early 2000s have been songs with easy scratching. That, and intros.

That’s one of the vital cornerstones of the track.

Dhalsim: Within the 2000s, Kanye West would accelerate data and pattern them, and I added that very same taste into the track. It used to be common, particularly in Eastern hip-hop, to document authentic subject material to pattern within the studio, after which to pattern that subject material and chop it up. I am hoping that playfulness and ancient background come via.

Any other track at the album is “BDC.”

ASH: That’s the only the place we simply shout “botanical dance membership.” It’s the type of track the place you transparent your head and also you simply shout and dance.

Dhalsim: The refrain is sung through scratching, which is new. The ones are the types of new issues we’re doing. We’re making the most of the loss of guitar to check out out a wide variety of latest concepts.

What are you able to let us know about “Damage Loose?”

ASH: Drum and bass has come complete circle, so we would have liked to look what it might sound like if a rap-rock band and not using a guitar attempted its hand on the sound of teams like Prodigy, which we’re massive fanatics of. Sato’s vicious bass riff loops throughout the track. Then on most sensible of that there’s rap with a U.S. hardcore vibe, and an emotional refrain.

The rap is tremendous competitive.

ASH: The lyrics opt for the throat, as they will have to for a rock band. The track is more or less a caution concerning the consumerism and idol worshipping of society.

What number of different songs will there be at the album?

ASH: There’ll be two extra songs, which we’re operating on now. I feel they’ll function our new four-piece sound much more prominently. All of it comes right down to February 1. That’ll be a significant milestone for us.

What sort of display do you suppose it is going to be?

ASH: The solution to the query of ways we’re remodeling as a band will likely be transparent on February 1. That’s when the brand new bankruptcy of our historical past will get started. I do know the entire folks studying this interview have their palms at the pulse of tune, so we’ll be seeing you on February 1 at Tokyo’s Zepp Shinjuku.

After you open this new bankruptcy with the display, what are your plans for 2025?

ASH: We’ve already finalized plans for a number of in another country displays, so we plan to excursion the arena, whilst at all times staying conscious of our fanatics in Japan.

—This interview through Sachie Tojo first seemed on Billboard Japan