Ashley Wallbridge provides the next musical promise of 2012
December 6th, 2011
Dance land will get plenty of exercise in 2012. With several up and coming producers releasing their debut album, the speakers are bound to do overtime. One of them to make the floors tremble, is Ashley Wallbridge. The UK talent has made a quick rise in EDM, growing part of the producer elite with tracks such as ‘Harrier’, ‘Jynx’, ‘Shotokan’ and collabs ‘Faces’ and ‘Mansion’. In 2012, his debut album will find its way to all dance lovers. But first, there’s new single ‘Vision’. And the fact that this diversity-seeking producer is our artist of the week!
Hey Ashley! It’s been a while since we last caught you for an interview! How are you doing?
Ashley:”I’m doing great, thanks ! At the moment I’m in Zürich on the way back home from the US & Canada, which were freezing and I have a really bad cold now. (Man Flu, haha!)”
Your new track ‘Vision’ is finally out on AVA Recordings, after months of waiting! What makes this one work so well, you reckon?
Ashley:”I don’t really know, haha. I mean, I first tested the track out about 4 months ago in Space Ibiza when it didn’t have the guitar solos in there. But I felt when I played it out it needed more and was lacking that spark on the dance floor. Got back into the studio and started to play around with different instruments and the guitar just worked like a dream…”
It was featured on Armin’s Universal Religion Chapter 5 compilation and already travelled the globe as a much-requested ID. What was your first thought after Armin asked you to keep it as an ID till UR5 was out?
Ashley:”Massive pleasure and honor for me to have the track listed on UR5. When Armin asked me to keep it quiet because he wanted it exclusive I was over the moon. Then when I found out mine and Gareth Emery’s track ‘Mansion’ was on there I was reallllllyyy happy!”
Creating a follow-up doesn’t seem to be such an easy task. Any news on the next ‘Vision’, ‘Moonlight Sonata’ or ‘Jynx’?
Ashley:”Yeah, at the moment I have been road testing about 5/6 new singles including follow up collaborations with artists and vocalists.”
We heard rumors about you working on an artist album, how’s that one going so far and when can we expect it?
Ashley:”I’m about 90% complete with the album :). So happy it’s nearly done after nearly 1.5 years of working on it. I’m finishing off the last vocal track now and then its complete. It will be dropping around the same time as Armin’s ASOT 550 in March. But some of the singles may be released before but we aren’t 100% yet. The album was my biggest project to lead into 2012. So many different styles on there, such as Sound Score Classic music, Progressive, Vocal down tempo, Progressive trance and my usual sound. Hopefully people will enjoy it as much as I did making it.”
Any spoilers you can give away regarding that one? New collaborations perhaps?
Ashley:”Hmmm, yeah I’ve done quite a few collabs. Without giving too much away, some of the people I have worked with are: Andy Moor, Audrey Gallagher, Elleah and a full orchestra. I’d love to share more info about it but then you won’t have any surprises to look forward to…”
When ‘Harrier’ skyrocketed your name, people talked about a ‘new style of proggy trance’. Do you feel that more and more producers started doing this sound after you first rocked it out? How do you make sure your productions always remain original?
Ashley:”Hmmm, there are for sure a lot more producers doing new sounds now. When I made ‘Harrier’ I had no intention of creating a new style and was really happy to hear people liked it. I just sat in the studio and made a track which I was feeling at that time.”
Your DJ career started with entering DJ competitions under age, using a fake ID to enter the clubs. Looks like these adventures finally got their results, huh? ;)
Ashley:”Haha, yeah that seems like ages ago. So funny when I look back at those times. But I’m so glad I did it because I wouldn’t be where I am today without doing it. Entering an over 18 DJ competition with fake ID was funny, haha!”
What does your December month look like, any special NYE celebration going on?
Ashley:”December so far has been really cool. A lot of U.S. shows, Canada, Sweden and a few others. Apart from that, it’s mainly finishing off the album and putting on the last touches before Christmas. Unfortunately I can’t say anything about NYE yet . But soon! ;)”
And what about your new year’s resolution, how will you make this world a better place in 2012?
Ashley:”Hmm I would say my new year resolution would be to stop smoking. But I say that every year and it never works. So I think my new years resolution is going to be to cut down on my intake of KFC’s and Burger Kings. Every time I enter Manchester airport I automatically go to 1 of them haha…”
