Musical Chairs: Ash Smith

BY GEORGIA MCDONALD

‍

This week I sat down with Ash Smith, a familiar face around the Whitsundays music scene. Originally from Lisburn in Northern Ireland, Ash had been travelling round Australia when he decided to come up to Airlie Beach. In typical Whitsundays fashion, what was supposed to be a one week visit turned into eight years.

“I came here for a week, played one gig at Magnums, stayed and got sponsorship,” he told me.

‍

While Ash may not have planned on pursuing music as a career, music was always a part of his life. Growing up, he was in choirs, performing solos at school. He stepped away from music for a few years, before picking it back up again around the age of 18, initially just for fun.  

‍

After recording a few songs and receiving good feedback, Ash realised he might be able to make a career out it and decided to take a leap. His gigging career took him to New Zealand and the United States.

‍

In the US, he travelled with two other singer-songwriters in an RV, making their way through Atlanta, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, playing gigs and backing each other on their original songs. They didn’t generate much money from the trip, but as Ash put it: you might not make a lot of cash, but you make a lot of experiences.

‍

One of the highlights was playing on Beale Street in Memphis, which had been a big bucket-list moment for Ash. To make the whole thing even more fitting, one of the guys performed Walking In Memphis after the trio arrived ‘in the pouring rain’.You really couldn’t have planned it better if you tried.

Now, after around eight years in the Whitsundays, Ash has settled into the local music scene and has developed a broad style that allows him to adapt to any crowd; whether it be a chilled restaurant or a jam-packed late-night gig.

‍

A big part of Ash’s performances these days is his use of a loop pedal, which lets him build up his sound as he plays. He will layer drums, percussion, bass, backing vocals and guitar live, creating what essentially sounds like a whole band but from one person.

‍

What he loves most is being able to change things up every time, keeping things interesting for himself as well as adapting to wherever he’s playing.

For Ash, though, it’s not just about what he can create on stage, but the crowd he’s creating it for. He says an engaging and appreciative crowd makes all the difference, with the connection between musician and audience often encouraging him to give even more.

‍

Despite years of performing, Ash is still learning, currently teaching himself saxophone alongside the guitar, vocals, drums and flute he already plays. His advice for anyone starting out is simple: play as much as you can, practise, and take every opportunity to perform.  

“Any chance you have to play with any other musician, especially ones that are better than you, you’re always learning.”

‍

Song Recommendation Of The Week: I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bon Iver Cover

‍

Where to catch Ash this coming week:

Grandview Hotel, Bowen Sunday 6th September 2PM – 5PM

Every Sunday night at Boaty’s 6:30PM – 9PM

Every Monday night at Boaty’s 5:30PM – 9PM

‍