The man is back! If you’re anything like me, which everyone should strive to be, then Ash Riser’s VS The World EP Pt. 1 left you wanting more. Well your calls have been heard and the Buygore hip hop Jesus has returned with part 2! As always Mr. Riser is gracing our ears with supreme lyrics, smooth flow, and beats/instrumentals that make bitches so wet you could drown a toddler in her pants. ‘Stella’ has to be my favorite track on this EP, mainly because it really showcases Ash Riser’s creativity in terms of lyricism, seriously just listen to it and try to follow along.
I got the opportunity to chat with Ash Riser about life, love, and the pursuit of ratchets:
TSS: How and why did you get your start? Any interesting anecdotes there? Is there anyone you owe “big time?” Why?
Ash Riser: I started at 14 in a rock band called “pistol pistol” we had a good run for a while but by the time I was 20 interpersonal problems had separated the group and I continued to do my own thing. Aside from working with Kendrick Lamar , I did a e.p. called “doc brown and the kid” as Ash Riser, and toured with the material, but my heart was in bass music. I was going to warehouse parties in LA watching artists like SKREAM, Benga, Joker and many more. I found solace in trying to hone in on a new chapter in my life, music production. I became ASHTROBOT, started a collective called DREAM BRIGADE and went hard for a few years. In the back of my head I knew I had to start singing again and writing actual songs, so January 2012 I made a couple of music videos on some hip hop tracks I had made in my bed room, released “The Kid’s just aint alriiight” ep around October. Went to SXSW for the second time in 2013 and it confirmed my decision when everyone in the edm industry was dismissing me (except the Buygore camp) and the rappers were showing hella love. When I got home I started working on a collection of music with producers Greg Ogan and Spencer Nezey when they created “Chest Rockwell Music” I signed my production deal with them before I had even left to sxsw. Two months later, steven pahel, who was a longtime friend and now label manager for Buygore records called me up, and the rest is a wrap. People I owe big know who they are. Some of em still owe me tho. But that’s the business
TSS: Tell us about a specific event or period in your life that is linked in your mind to a song/album.
Ash Riser: I just realized that I was the only person who could control where my career will go, I was tired of people telling me they were going to do shit for me and never coming through, so I manifested this into existence and worked my ass off completely dropping out of the night life scene and getting my shit together for like a year.
Also as you grow up, you become a better person if you choose to, and that’s what I’ve been aiming towards, I had allot of regret for some decisions I’ve made in my past, I felt like this was a perfect opportunity to be as real as I possibly could in an art form that I felt comfortable doing so in.
Ash Riser vs the world is a mind state, not like fuck everyone, but I’m done relying on anyone for anything, and I’m here.TSS: Which do you prefer, a smoky, low-lit club or a big stage with bright lights and colored gels? Please explain.
Ash Riser: Uhmmmm, fuck I don’t know I like underground vibes, but lately it’s just been flashy light gogo clubs and shit, which kind of makes me feel like I’m doing something right haha. I can’t stand crowds cause I have serious anxiety or whatever and I smoke a lot of weed so that doesn’t help when you’re surrounded by a bunch of raver kids, So I’m usually downstairs in the green room drinking someone elses bottles, watching the same scene chicks get passed around like blunts while laughing about it and kicking’ it with my fam.
TSS: Favor us with a moment in life that changed the course of, or defined, your sonic/aesthetic philosophy/position.
Ash Riser: I was fucking up, and I checked myself tough. That’s all I can really say about that.
TSS: What producer/DJ/artist would you love to perform with for a live set? Why?
Ash Riser: I can tell you my dream live band haha, it’d be fabrizio from the strokes on drums, flee from RHCP on bass, omar rodriguez lopez from the mars volta on guitar, ,jack white on other guitar , uk grime producer Swindle on keys, and like a gospel three piece female back up vocal group called the riserettes.
TSS: Name a few essential things that are a must on your rider. Why?
Ash Riser: Green m&m’s (only green), an ounce of the city’s finest, jack Daniel’s, XL tall t shirts and fresh packages of socks and boxers.
Also The hottest go go dancer at the show has to poor my drinks and feed me grapes while I watch trailer park boys and smoke weed with the owner of the venue.
And a gold plated 45’ beretta loaded
RSS