Actress/musician Lauren Ash has just released her debut full-length album, Call Me When You Get This and is heading out on her first tour throughout Ontario. We caught up with Lauren once again, this time to chat about the new album and focus track, what’s left on her career bucket list, and her dream music festival.
From The Strait: Tell us about the new album, Call Me When You Get This.
Lauren Ash: I wrote this album as I was going through an especially difficult breakup. Truthfully, I don’t know how I would have survived the last year without this outlet to help me process the grief I went through. I know it may sound dramatic but I had never experienced this kind of profound heartbreak before. It wasn’t that I set out to write a break up album, I actually started writing the record before the breakup happened. But once I got hit with that blindside, it’s all I could write about. In terms of the actual structure of the record, I had documented myself throughout the breakup almost like I was keeping a sort of video diary. I wanted to implement audio from some of those clips on the album in an effort to give more insight into the state of mind I was in during the course of recording. I felt like I wanted to provide more emotional context for what I was going through at the exact time those songs were being written. Also, with the last clip “Outro (ACCEPTANCE?)”, I wanted the listener to realize that this whole album had just been one long voicemail I left for my ex. I would never do something like that in real life so I figured, hey, why not just say everything I would want to say to him on this record and then pretend like I left it as a 23 minute long voicemail for him? Honestly? Pretty cathartic!
From The Strait: The focus track for the album is called “Diet Coke and Lexapro” – tell us about the creative process and meaning behind it.
Lauren Ash: A lot of my other songs are tongue in cheek, playful, sarcastic but “Diet Coke and Lexapro” is a true representation of the actual me and what I went through. Every word in that song is close to me. I wasn’t getting out of bed, I didn’t feel like myself, I was all consumed by my sadness. I have generalized anxiety disorder but my anxiety has never been higher than it was at that time. I couldn’t function. Musically, I feel like we captured those feelings. The bass drum mimicking my elevated heartbeat, the fading out ending giving the sense that the song continues on a loop forever just like my never ending, looping thoughts at the time. Also, the vocals in the bridge are slightly out of time because I started crying in the vocal booth on that take. We all agreed that we liked the feeling that it captured and left it in the song that way. I honestly can’t think of anything I’ve ever put out into the world that is more personal than this song.
From The Strait: How does it feel to have your first full-length release put out into the world?
Lauren Ash: I’m honestly equally excited and terrified. Lol! Music is SO vulnerable. Even the light hearted/funnier songs are still me, not a character. I hope that the songs resonate with people.
From The Strait: While your fanbase is incredibly supportive across all of your endeavors, there are always a few comments on your socials urging you to go back to comedy and acting (even though you never stopped). What’s your message to them?
Lauren Ash: My message would be that the film/tv industry has gone through a lot over the past few years and TRUST ME I am constantly looking for TV work. But I can’t force anyone to cast me! That being said, I’m hosting a brand new baking show called Halloween Bakeshop that is airing on Flavour Network in Canada starting September 14th! So I will be back on your TVs in no time!
From The Strait: You’ve long been a successful actor and comedian, now also a successful musician – is there anything else still on your career to-do list?
Lauren Ash: Definitely getting a TV show or film that I’ve written, made. That’s absolutely on the bucket list. I wrote an episode of Superstore and have been in development deals over the years where I came very close but haven’t been able to crack that nut yet. I’m going on the record right now saying that it’s only a matter of time!
From The Strait: If you could curate a festival (with you headlining, of course), who else would you want on the bill and what would it be called?
Lauren Ash: I would want to do an all female rock festival. I’d call it “Venus Envy” and other than me, the lineup would include: The Beaches, Winona Fighter, Ecca Vandal, Wet Leg, Fefe Dobson, Lolo and a special surprise set from Alanis. Come ON! I mean, I’d buy tickets to that show in a heartbeat!
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Check out Lauren Ash’s new album, Call Me When You Get This featuring the focus track “Diet Coke and Lexapro”!
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Follow Lauren Ash on Facebook / Instagram / TikTok
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