It can be somewhat rare for two artists to not only instantly connect when they meet, but to also create a song together on the very same day. But that’s exactly what happened when producer davey met singer and songwriter Ashwarya.
“Ash hit up my band Vallis Alps to remix her song ‘Best Friend,’ and it was clear that there was alignment between the two of us on taste and interest,” Iranian American producer davey tells Draw Your Box. “So when a few months later I was in Sydney for a festival show, we put aside a day to jump in the studio and 'HONEST' happened.”
With its sound and feel described by Ashwarya as “relentless”, the pair’s collaborative single ‘HONEST’ releases today. It’s about taking control of your own decisions without letting anyone tell you otherwise.
“I think regardless of being an artist or not, we are always at the centre of every decision, move and way that we decide to present ourselves, so that can feel overwhelming at times,” says Ashwarya, “but HONEST serves as a reminder to embrace that centre stage and to shield our passion and clarity from the noise and distractions that may get in the way of our self-belief.”
Ashwarya. Image Source: Supplied
After an initial studio session in Sydney where the foundations were laid out, the pair reunited in LA a few months later to finalise the track. An openness to experimentation was key to making this collab work.
"Neither of us had any expectations, and because of that were able to adjust and pivot really quickly when new ideas came up," says davey.
'HONEST' started as a ballad, until Ash said, 'What if you cranked the tempo up like 40bpm?' and I responded with 'What if you rapped instead of sang?' and from there we were both like, 'how much of this production can get away with deleting?' It was a super high pace session, and we were both so stoked with the result."
Navigating a career in the spotlight as a woman of Indian heritage can be challenging, especially when the music and entertainment industry is not necessarily as culturally diverse as it could be. But Ashwarya takes the challenges in her stride and embraces her South Asian identity, using it as fuel to propel her creative career.
“I think I’ve always strived to allow my passion and drive towards my music to override that sense of imposter syndrome,” she reflects. “I know that I own equal space as anyone else and am just as deserving for success and opportunities, despite the certain obstacles that we can face as people of colour in an industry that lacks that diversity."
Ashwarya's parents – her father hails from Gujarat and mother from Lucknow – migrated to Australia from India when Ashwarya was six months old.
“I think my parents really nailed it in me early on that my South Asian identity is an asset, not a barrier to success or opportunities,” she says, adding that this is reflected in the new song itself.
“‘HONEST’ speaks to this notion of owning your space and knowing your worth and I think you'll feel that energy when you listen to the lyrics as well.”
With a sharp beat and punchline rap vocals, this song, according to davey, oozes “Ultraminimal Matrixcore Windows 95 Self Help Crash Bandicoot Music” vibes.
“My biggest adversary throughout my music career has been myself,” he says, when thinking about how he resonates with the themes explored in the track. “So to me, ‘HONEST’ is a reminder to move confidently and intuitively at all times, and not allow a destructive inner monologue to sow doubt into my creative process.”
Prodcer davey. Image Source: Supplied/David Herington
Considering they’re based in two different countries, it’s interesting to see the different perspectives both artists offer when it comes to analysing how diversity and representation fares in the music industry.
“I see a lot of amazing cultural representation among the artist scene in LA, but little representation among positions of power,” says davey, referring to “festival promoters, label heads, A&R’s, agents”.
“And those are the folks who gatekeep most commercial opportunities in music. The problem is spiritual in nature and structural in form, and it’ll require both spiritual and structural thinking to solve.”
Melbourne-based Ashwarya reflects on the Aussie music scene, noting that we still have a way to go in pushing the boundaries and welcoming diverse, emerging voices.
“More often than not, It does seem like the music industry (at least in Australia, I can't really speak for other territories) does like to stick to what they know or what has worked in the past instead of taking more risks,” she says. “It’s an interesting landscape to navigate, especially for someone like me whose representation isn't as common.
“South Asian music and media has undeniably left an indelible mark on mainstream pop culture, from Bollywood to South Asian music that has crossed over into the global music scene and the rise of South Asian artists worldwide is a testament to the untapped talent waiting to be discovered."
Like davey, she mentions gatekeeping, explaining that while she sees progress made in terms of cultural representation in music, the "gatekeepers need to provide way more opportunities, exposure, and space for artists like myself to thrive".
"I think embracing more diverse voices is the shake up that the music industry landscape desperately needs here in Aus.”
'HONEST' is out now and you can buy/stream it here.