South London artist and illustrator Ash Shakur presents the experimental EP ‘If You Build It They Will Come’. With hard hitting flows, and high energy production, the project encapsulates the themes of self-confidence, empowerment, and faith.

Lead single ‘Fly Ish’ is the type of song you want to listen to while putting on your flyest outfit. With a catchy hook and cruising bassline, it's the perfect introduction to the rest of the project.

Speaking on his release, Shakur writes “The EP title for me represents building a foundation and creating a new path that changes your life. 2020 has been a tough year for everyone and still as recent with the virus still active and wars going on, this project provides hope and silver lining, helping us make the best of our current situations and possibly changing them.”

The South-London native blends thought-provoking lyrics and storytelling with a touch of poetic wit. His unorthodox style and unwavering approach to thinking outside the box has been praised by the likes of Highsnobiety, Noisey, MTV, Gal-Dem, Mass Appeal, Earmilk, and Complex to name a few.

Inspiring people through vibrant visuals and incorporating his art direction into his music videos and album artwork, Ash is the co-founder of Art Life Central a collective that expresses creativity and freedom through music and fashion.

Ash sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I think for me it was curiosity. I wanted to know how it would sound if I made my own music. I liked how my voice and tone stood out when I first recorded in the studio. I loved listening to music as a kid and I love the feeling it brought.

I wanted to bring that feeling to people when my style and sound developed. I'm an artist and designer by trade and wanted to channel those mediums into music to bring a unique perspective in the game! The great thing about music is, it can be played everywhere from stores, houses, cars and anywhere you choose to go with your earphones…..I love that!

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

That list is a very long one as I listen to everything, my ears are open to whatever sounds good to me but in short I would say early influences would be Nate Dogg, The Neptunes, Erykah Badu, N*E*R*D and Outkast.

I would like to get into the studio with Pharrell, Chad Hugo, Kanye West and Andre 3000.
I know we'll come up with something dope!
Those records would be fire!

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

The main focus is my latest offering "IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME" can't say too much just cooking up though, so expect more gems!

4. How would you describe your sound?

That's a tough one, I fit into so many styles that I have my own sound.
You'll know, yep that's Ash when you hear it.
it's a bop, it's a bounce it's mellow, it caters to all moods!

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

For me it would be new people tapping in and listening!
People telling me how my music impacts them and how my music inspires them and helps them through their day.
Everything else is a bonus!
I appreciate everybody that took their time out to listen.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

I would say study yourself, experiment with your sound and whatever you like in the music you already listen to, figure out what you like about it.
Once you've found out what you like about it, that would give you an idea of what you'd like to make.
Tell your story in the sickest way.
Write the illest hooks!

Find the right people that can elevate your vision once you've got a steady sound and image.
Stay true to that sound and don't follow the trend because if that trend dies out you'll die out with it.

That's the creative side, tap into the business side, now research labels and what role the team in those labels play and start contacting folks like Radio Pluggers, PR firms and Sync licensing companies, I heard they hand out nice cheques over there :)

You're gonna go through a lot of folks frontin’ on your shit, but be cool and focus, don't like that knock you off your course, keep going!
Build the leverage and folks will come through!
Keep making fire and most importantly have fun.
I wanna hear it once it's done!

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
Yezzir check out Luna Li, Pat Van Dyke, B R O.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

I know Nigo!
It's Almost Dry,
Ghetty Green.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I like to travel, visit galleries, museums and chill out with my people!
I'm not one of these people that stay and write in the studio all day.
I knock them out in a couple hours and I'm gone.

10. Name three things you can't live without when in the studio?

A pack of Haribo’s cause I got a sweet tooth, a bottle of water to stay healthy and my phone.