Retrospective: Gossip

So most of you know Ashleigh Ashley 'does Music'...and more of you still know that making music is an expensive business unless you're spending someone elses money lol! Anyway to pay the bills and fund my crazy music making schemes I work in video production and a recent job saw me working for Black Dog (a music video divsion of Tony/Ridley Scotts production company RSA Films) on a production for the Gossip.

We shot in an old disused boarding school OFF of endz lol, an enchanting/labyrinth-like building that looked liked it belonged in the Hogwarts. I would have explored the entire place if hadn't of been for the "Beware Asbestos" barriers lol. My main job for the day was making sure the band and the dancers got to and from set when they needed to (a 2nd AD of sorts) so of course I adopted my best American accent and 'chilled' with team Ditto and the Glam Sqaud lol!

Working with a band that have essentially done all the things that I'd like to achieve in my music career was enlightening...and for a second it was easy to visualize what my life could be like if I keep on my grind! Seeing shoots come together has always amazed me and I felt the dancers/costumes and location completely nailed the spirit of the song.  Well done to Director Price James for getting it just right hehe, I only just got round to seeing the results...

   

 There's more to the day of course...but if you want to know about that you're gona have to check out the Gossip's behind the scenes video *slow smile* HERE

@sh.x

Retrospective: STREET DANCE 2

Between Roofhopping, one/two commercials and the ants in my pants I've not had time to fill ya'll in on my recent adventures :o   So starting with the Street Dance 2 premiere at the O2, I thought I'd fill ya'll in on the madness over the next couple of posts!   Having been invited by my mate Hedgehog I was WELL excited to be attending my first premiere! Walking up the red carpet to camera's flashing left, right and centre was exhilarating!...and a figment of my imagination lol!  It was actually a short uneventful walk, so much so that we thought we'd missed something?! 

 Having not seen the first installment of Street Dance I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this movie (IN 3D of course)..and after waiting 30mins for it to start I was already beginning to hate it! 20mins in and I still wasn't convinced...was this going to be yet another cheesy teen flick??  Well...yes...in short lol!  But something magical happened when the latino TWIST kicked in, I suddenly found myself laughing and crying with the lead protaganists (albeit inside), and even looked forward to the inevitable happy ending!!

At the after-party we smoozed amongst the cast and crew, busted some new moves (you know what I'm talking bout Hedgehog hehe), I got a snap with lil dancer boi Akai, and stuffed my face with mini-burgers...in fact theres some lurking in the background!

My FaVE bit of the evening though was when, true to form, the dancers from the film put on their very own dance battle! Flawless tore up the dancefloor and even Delphine Nguyen who was clad in a dashing evening gown was body popping all over the shop lol! Nuff respect to Maykel Fonts, the don choreographer who did an amazing job crafting the Lantino dance scenes, and in real life set the dance floor on FIRE!!  It was a pleasure to witness such passion and energy!  I still feel warm and fuzzy from the experience lol.

So...back to the film!  The script was average, the lead chica Sofia Boutella is  smoking HOT (I'll admit to memorising a few of her moves for the next time I writh around half naked :D) the soundtrack was fantastic and the bad-ass dance moves from Flawless and co. had me thoroughly entertained!  In short...Street Dance 2 is a must see if you're into music/dance...I'd give it a generous 7/10!

@sh.x

RoofHop 1.3 - Sometimes...

I have to start off this post by telling you guys that I met Beatfox for the first time 30mins before we recorded this performance lool! I was unsure as to if he was even going to show, but when he did it was a pleasure to meet him and you can see he fit right in with me and Gibbs and delivered a flawless freestyle performance!!  Secondly...what a way to end the Roofhop day!! We were blessed with the perfect sky, that looks something like a studio backdrop...only REAL and dynamic! - notice the sun going down throughout?

   

 The song SOMETIMES has significant meaning to me and a collective of young producers/writers/directors called Braver Darker! It was written for the as short film project we worked on back in 2010! "Flow and Affect" is a story about Jordan Knight, a young man from a broken home who is struggling not to fall onto the wrong path in a society that is seeming forcing him into a life of violence and crime! SOMETIMES is written from the perspective of his girlfriend...the two are a very much in love...and as is a woman's nature she continuously tries to love him in the right direction! But the star-crossed lovers know not what lies ahead...and SOMETIMES life just can't be controlled! Check out the studio recording here:
 

I feel a bit sad to say goodbye to the RoofHop Series!  Big Up all the artists that took part...and of course massive thanx to the crew and the producers that helped make it happen!  BUT...if you enjoyed it I may have a little treat in store for you guys mwahahhaaaaaa!!

 @sh.x

RoofHop 1.2 - Cheating...

ROOFHOP No.2 is Officially LIVE people hehe! Shot on the roof of The Macbeth in Shoreditch this video sees me and my screen lover - (singer/songwriter Jay Auburn) - argue it out Jeremy Kyle musical stylee hehe! Who's been Cheating on who I wonder...will love prevail??   Dramatics over it was actually a really fun job...as you'll probably tell by us kooking out at the end of the video lol!

     

 The original track was produced by amazing duo 43 and The Wizard! Check out the EXTENDED studio version here...

   

It was mad hot that day, so I couldn't even rock my Choolips Storm Jacket :( But look out for it in following posts!  Gaga eat your heart out lool!  For info on the crew, the "Roofhop Series" and to see the very first Roofhop - BROWSE HERE!   If you've liked what you've seen so far you'll piss your pants for the next installment. Even nature is on our side.... hahahaaaa

 @sh.x

RoofHop Series: The Crew...

Ok, so you guys have heard about Choolips contribution to the Roofhop Series ahead of the release of the 2nd Roofhop video - I want to tell you a little bit about the team behind it :D

Gibbi Bettini on guitar: I've worked with Gibbs for a little while now...you'll see him in all of my live videos and despite his age this boi's got SwaG lol. He's also wracking up a bit of a rep amongst his piers, strumming for upcomers like Amy Love and J-Sol! Now I don't know much about playing guitar, but as an artist I think Gibbi's musical style/sensibility is second to none, and it's been a pleasure watching his talent grow! Check out his website HERE!!

Arash Khoshnazar / Pat @ GEEproductionLondon on camera:
One big AA ethos is to bring people together and this duo are no exception! Having met both guys in different media circles I wasn't sure how they'd get along having met on the day, but like true professionals these boys pulled it out the bag lol - kit and ALL! Throughout the RoofHop Series you'll see this temporary duo have an amazing eye for space/composition...despite the little time we had on each roof they really captured the spirit of the project!! Jay @ Gray Cars was also a blessing! Massive thanx to him for driving the 6 of us around for the day! We felt like proper little rockstars for the day lol!

Thanx to the 6 rooftops:
Helana @ The White Lion - Streatham
Mikey @ The Bussey Building - Peckham
Mark @ The Macbeth, Shoreditch
Ms Karen Fox for her roof - Notting Hill
Miss Manal Shaker for her roof - Notting Hill
Ahmed for his roof and - Shepherd Bush
And special mention to documentary director Mark Goldie for capturing the day from behind the scenes! Looking forward to seeing a crazy cut of that lol - hopefully without the expletives lol! @sh.x

RoofHop 1.1 - Getaway...

So "Getaway" has gone live - 1 of 3 Roofhop video's I'll be sharing with you guys over the next couple of weeks! Welcome to The Bussey Building, a HUGE building in Peckham let out for various commercial and community uses (ie. CLF Art Cafe). From workshop to ware-space BB is topped by one of the best panoramic views in South East London...

 "Getaway" was penned to the instrumental playing us in on the intro - a format you'll see over all the Roofhop videos. It was produced by mad talent Manikz from Auckland (NZ) who saw me on that Must Be the Music madness when it was broadcast over there :o RANDOM. We all know that music brings people together...even those on opposite sides of the world in this case lol! If you like the stripped version and you want to check out the studio recording - you can download it here:
 

BB was the second roof of that beautiful day! I'd like to say a massive thanx to the team of course (more about them in the next post), Choolips for another amazing outfit and Mickey Smith my location contact who took the time out that random Tuesday to let us have some fun!
Enjoy this one...Roofhop No.2 will be along soon enough where I'll be joined by a very special guest :D

 @sh.x

Smell the CHOOLIPS...

You guys KNOW I LovE my 'crazy-sexy-cool' clobber...especially when I'm performing (flashback to face covered in glitter lol)! But when it came to choosing costumes for the Roofhop Series I needed a simple look. Something to compliment the raw nature of the acoustic performances...yet retain the kooky character that defines AA!! Thank god I smelt the roses...or should I say Choolips lol?! Of all the clothes/designers I've ever worn I found in Choolips the ultimate solution to looking 'different' with minimal effort!! Just PUT IT ON lol!

Annegret Affoldabach (designer and founder of Choolips) has weathered many a storm as she strives to bring stylish and ETHICAL clothing to the fashion/retail world! All of Annegret's garments are lovingly designed in her London Studio, before being hand made/printed using traditional Batik techniques, on the Gold Coast of Ghana. And did I mention that it's all ethical? Thats right...Choolips works on a genius Fairtrade system which sees entrepreneurial Ghanaian trailblazers, local batikers, tailors and seamstresses earn more than fair wages for their work. *Two fingers Primark!*

By working closely with African communities (and with a network of other collectives on side) CHOOLIPS has introduced new technology and print design to sustain this ancient Batik technique. And looking at the results it's easy to see why retailers such TOPSHOP and online fashion giants ASOS have jumped at the chance to stock Choolips' hand-perfected designs!! Annegret really has 'put the sunshine back into the high street' and as a budding fashionista myself it's impossible not to love her work!

Thanks soo much to Annegret for letting me wear the SS11 collection for my Roofhop Series. There still maybe some bits left in stock?! so if you want a whiff of Choolips check out the website or click HERE - for SS12/AW12 collections...you'll be sitting pretty all summer :D - Scarves and all!!

@sh.x

Roofhop Taster - Coldplay Yellow...

So, what's a 'Roofhop' right?!  Well it's simple really...take a girl (that's me), a guitarist, 2 camera-men and a driver to cart them all around.  Chuck in 6 rooftop locations and a hand full of amazing guest artist - then cram them all into ONE day!  Et voila!!

When me and this trusty team hit the road roof-hopping in August 2011 we weren't sure what this day of musical madness would bring...and let me tell ya we weren't disappointed!  I've chosen my favorite 3 videos to share with ya'll over the next 6 weeks :D  and because I know you guys LOVE a bit of suspense I just uploaded this little taster to give you an idea of what to expect...

Funny Fact:  just before we shot this we (or should I say gravity) fractured the neck of Gibbi's guitar :o!  He was VEX as you can imagine lol...but after patching it up with a bit of electrical tape (we're rock'n'roll like that you see :P) we rocked on!

Massive thanx to my crew and to Choolips for my amazing costumes (more about them later).  Thanx to Rhian Fox (from Payroll) on guest guitar/ backing vocals...and of course BIG UP Gibbi Bettini for playing his fingers to the bone for 8hrs straight!

The next installment SOON COME .....

@sh.x

We Enter 2012...

Soo..2011 is just a memory!

Don't you find that we all turn philosopher at the turn of a year lol! Weighing up the worst of what's past with, what we hope, is the best to come - willing ourselves to reset all our bad habits and proceed into the new with a new you! Feel like I hit the ground running into 2012 with Shades of Blue going out and exceeding even my own expectations! It's surreal to think that thousands of people I don't know - in places as obscure as Panama! - have watched it! And I just want to say a massive THANX for the support/feedback me and my team have recieved...keep sharing people hehe!!

 So, if I'm running what's next on the route? World tour?...Million Dollar record deal? - haha if only it was that easy :P This year IS however about taking things to the next level and hopefully setting AA up for life! I've still got a lot to prove to my peers and most of all to myself, so over the next six months you're gona see/hear me stirring up all sorts of mischief! MwahahAAA

 There are collaborations with dope dubbers like SPLEXT and Pr0ximas to look forward to :) And the "Roofhop Series" will be hitting the net-waves very soon - costumes c/o Choolips (who I'm dying to introduce you guys to!!) Not to mention the secret Metal Man project that's a-brewing as I type! In short you guys are gona have plenty to keep you occupied whilst I finish off my 1st EP (out later this year). Long term - this year I'm aiming to really BLOW YOUR FRICKING MINDS!! :D ROCK ON 2012!! We'll make memories of you yet !
@sh.x

Shades of Blue - Official Video...

 

If you want to download the song hit this link!  Will you have one of the first 100?:  http://soundcloud.com/ashleighashley/shades-of-b

And thats a wrap! :D
@sh.x

The Blue Rose...

Wiki says that historically the Blue Rose has the following significance:
"In some cultures, blue roses traditionally signify a mystery, or attaining the impossible, or never-ending quest for the impossible... Blue roses also convey inner feelings of love at first sight, being enchanted by something or someone... In Chinese folklore, the blue rose signifies hope against unattainable love.[8]"

How fitting lool!
#shadesacoming

 @sh.x

The Shades of Blue Crew...

(2 DAYS to go)!!  Producing Shades in Dam was an epic personal achievement for me...but this post is dedicated to my uber-talented CREW...and all of the people/companies that helped make Shades of Blue happen!  When you finally watch the video...I want you to keep every single one of these guys in mind because it couldn't of happened without them!!
The Crew:

NEIL RAJA - Camerman/Photographer (timelapse) - Neil Raja Studios

CHARLIE MILLER - Cameraman/DOP - formerly of Drum'n'Bass Areana

JACK MCGLOUGHLIN - Cameraman/Editor - Neil Raja Studios (and formerly Drum'n'Bass Arena)

PRISCA HOFER - Hair/Make Up/Continuity

NIRJA RAAM - Photographer/ PAP PAP

MARLON ZENDON - Location Scout/Guide/'Bad Guy'

JONATHON HOCKLEY - Navigation/Kit Monger/Producer of Shades of Blue

Locations:

SECOND LIFE MUSIC Record Store

Shades HQ - STAY OKAY (Zeeburg)

Costume:

MILLICENT ASHELY - Fashion Designer /Co-designer & Maker of Shoe Dress

ANNA DEVI NAGTALON - Designer/Maker of Button Chest-Piece and top

And there we have it !  Thanx soooooo much ya'll!  I can't wait to show the world what we achieved on no money and BARE heart!  Also want to say a massive thanx to Editor Leigh Brookes @ Fire Belly Films, Chris @ Second Life Music, Stefany Rietkerk @ Artcore, Rob @ Budgetcam and Marlon Zendon for putting Prisca and I up!!

GO TEAM SHADES!

#shadesacoming

@sh.x

Shades-a-Coming 251211...

So as the countdown to 251211 continues in the next few posts I figured I'd let you guys in on a few behind the scene secrets from the Shades of Blue journey...including a few taster stills we took while we were on it!

When asked why I chose to take a team to Amsterdam for my 1st video instead of shooting in London (which would have been much easier/cheaper lol), the short answer would be that I couldn't help myself! But the truth lies much deeper than that...and it has nothing to do with my ganja-holic tendancies lol.

First off Amsterdam is such a photogenic city...beautiful canals, interesting architecture, amazing street art...it's a location scouts dream! Secondly, it was the first place I landed when I ventured into Europe solo for the 1st time! This trip turned out to be almost like my passage into adulthood, a time of learning and healing wounds that I'd been ignoring for the longest time!

Shades of Blue was inevitably written on this trip...a song about betrayl, and love-loss...conflict, making peace and moving on! Everyone we love will leave a trace of themselves on our emotions, everyone we love will leave a shade of blue on our heart...some darker than others, but all help to define the way we relate to people around us.

All Photographs by Neil Raja

 Shades of Blue is a song about embracing those shades as part of who you are. It's tough, but only by accepting them can we 'free' ourselves from the people who put them there in the first place!
How many Shades of Blue are you?

#shadesacoming

@sh.x

S.o.B with 1Take.TV...

Shades of Blue music video is approaching the finish line *phew* Now that the edit's done, I've managed to rope in a couple of pros to give it those all important finishing touches! A release date has been set in stone (#ifitkillsme) and lets just say it's gona get very Shadey before the year's out!!

Over the next few blogposts I'll take you through the nitty gritty...but in the meantime massive thanx to Elliot Bradley, Jonah James and Beatrice Black at 1Take.TV.  Because of them I'm able to bring you a beautifully shot acoustic version of SoB to tide you over!

 
Had a great time shooting this taster with 1Take in their uber-cool basement studio, though I think my guitarist Gibbi Bettini would agree that next time we work with these guys there's a certain record we're going to break!! :P

Shades a-coming.....
@sh.x

Lyrix Oraganix @ UprisE...

After working with Uprise earlier this year at Proud Galleries gig I was really excited to be asked to get involved with a festival they were organising in Dalston!

This one day event saw over 3,000 visitors and they enjoyed a multitude of music, arts and educational activities completely free!. And, as is the UpRise ethos, there was no need to parade who is perceived to be what, just a day of celebrating the human and the community as Home.

One of my fave performances of the day came from Miss Baby Sol and of course the beautifully spoken Femi Martin.  And this is the footage from my performance with Lyrix Organix on the Dalston Rooftop Garden stage - rather windy but the sun had time to shine!!  My boy Gibbi Bettini  on guitar (check out his new website!) AND a special guest hehe...bring on the Beatfox (@2.09).

Massive thanx to Choolips for my amazing jacket...and to Uprise til next time!
Peace and Progress ;)

@sh.x

A Taste of BLUE...

WhOA!! Shades of Blue people...where do I start?? This track was produced by Riffioso last year! My brief to him: 'can I please have a track that...soouuunds like me' lol! Most producers would be like WTF! but Jon embraced it and shortly afterwards I received an instrumental called 'Purple Fruit'! Some time later... It was Xmas 2009 and after a rocky year I decided that I'd had enough of London and the people in it, so I booked a train ticket to Europe and didn't look back! Amsterdam for Xmas (WilD), Berlin for 1night (Reflective), finishing up in Prague/Czech Republic for New Yrs (Messy lol)! Travelling alone, by train gave me ample time to write! And with 'Purple Fruit' pumping in my headphones, and picturesque landscapes gliding past my window seat it was inevitable for Shades of Blue to be born. Later still... I re-visited Amsterdam in March 2011 - but this time it wasn't to party :P! I took a team of 6 with me - to shoot a music video for...you guessed it...Shades of Blue lol! Jon 'Riffioso' Hockley, Prisca Hofer, Jack McLoughlin, Charlie Miller, Neil Raja and Nirja Raam jumped on a coach over there...with all our kit (the funniest thing if u see the size of Charlie and Jack :o). And with a budget as big as my back pocket :/ we did something spectacular!! 

  

Here's a little taster of what we achieved...the full video SOON COME :D
@sh.x

Back into the MiX...

As I've been plotting to take over the world it seems I've kinda neglected keeping you guys in the loop, and it's been 5 weeks since my last confession lol! I always go through phases of non-communication, but sitting here getting a trim, I felt the urge to update ya'll!
--
I've been running round like a mad woman generating new content for the AA project. Gibbi (my guitarist) and I did a Roofhop at the beginning of August and met all sorts of interesting people along the way lol! Here's a sneaky pic, and details from the day to come VERY VERY soon!

Rooftop in Notting Hill- Gibbi: AA: Artcha
--
It was an honour to play a gig at Hawley Arms (home to songstress Amy Winehouse - and she sure left her mark on the place!) It was the 1st time Social Deficit was performed to an audience and I'm pleased to say it got a BanginG reception :D

Next level eulogies. (I can imagine this door needing to be repainted in a year or so...only for the tributes to start building up again - think Abbey Rd)
--
I've been writing endlessly, and you guys have got a couple of collabs (with the likes of Pr0ximas,Obscene Locals and Lincoln Savage) to look forward to towards the end of the year!
--
The EP is also taking shape people! Thanx to old comrade Jon 'Riffioso' Hockely I've been able to translate the sounds/voices in my head to tangible shniz that the band will hopefully thrive on playing! It's sooo surreal hearing it all come to life!
--
AA has teamed up with Sistova to hold a monster event in Nov...more about that later!
--
The long awaited Shades of Blue music video is getting it's finishing touches :D YAY!! The trailer will be hitting the netwaves in the next week or so...followed promptly by the vid itself - I'm so excited to get it out there and...well see what happens! It's a somewhat docile taste of what to expect from the EP!
--
Oh and on the circuit!... Well well...it's be a really exciting couple of month out there. There have been amazing nights thanx to Unsigned Hype at Lockside Lounge! Rizzle Kicks performance at WIRED was soooo much fun lool! And it was kinda exciting bumping into them again at Ed Sheeran's Album Launch! Will treasure the spontenaity of freedom I felt singing - drunkenly I might add - a rendition of Yellow with Ed, on the corner of The Worlds End! The energy in the air was infectious :) I really felt the power of ye ole "la-la-la"!

That's all we got time for folks! I don't want to bore ya'll with the nitty gritty! Couple of dates to remember:
Sunday 25th Sept - Dalston Roof Gardens - acoustic for Lyrix Organix as part of the Uprise Festival
Friday 30th Sept - East Village - full set at the epic Rock The Belles :D
Look forward to seeing some of ya'll there!!

@sh.x O.U.T

London's Burning...

W/C 8th August 2011 will go down in London history as one of madness! We all watched our TV screens in shock as the actions of few, devastated the lives of many! Every city is tentatively united when disaster strikes and though it's rather crude to admit, we all jumped at the chance to watch the violence unfold - and gossip/pass opinion about it at work, at home and over a drinks with friends!

I could never condone the destruction or theft of anything thats loved and cared for by it's owner or indeed by a community, but like with every cause...there is an effect, and as a society we've ignored MANY issues that have slowly led to this unrest! Anyway...I'm no politician, but while some spent 72 hours mashing up da place last week, I spent 21 hours in the studio with Jonathon "Riffioso" Hockley forming a rebuttal the only way I know how:

These riots have forced many people to evaluate their 'place' in society...and more than ever highlighted the fact that social divides are on their way to becoming social canyons. With so many things to weigh up I've tried to remain unbiased but under-cover London has been burning for a long time and we ALL have to take some responsibility .. or live life in the smoke and ashes :/

I'm aiming to put this track up for sale to raise money for some of the families that lost everything, and maybe even for the culprits who need guidance to the peaceful side of life?! For those of you who need a bit more step in your DUB, Proximas a good friend of mine has created a banging remix!!

Ashleigh Ashley - Social Deficit (Proximas Remix) by Proximas

Please share, comment, like or hate accordingly! Lets get the whole of London singing this...we may not be able to change the past, but maybe this song could help change things for the future??!

@sh.x

Interview-ness...

Just thought I'd share this with ya'll...apparently the things that make me cringe are more likely to entertain you lot lol...so check this interview out - ourtesy of Notsigned.tv It was one of 3 interviews that night *phew*, after an acoustic performance at Zoo Bar, Leicester Square :D

Sorry again to Gibbi Guitar and Lucid Tiger for keeping you guys waiting - I only popped down to say bye to a few friends and ended up 'missing' for like 20mins lool! Massive thanx to Trevor Indie....and keep an eye out for Notsigned.tv! They've got their ear to the underground and I hope to get a chance to work with them again sometime soon!

@sh.x

EP_ic:...

There have been quite a few new developments in the Ashleigh Ash camp! I've been making some real positive steps with management duo Lucid Tiger and documentary director Mark Goldie is happily observing as the plot continues to thicken!

I've worked with a lot of producers over the last two years, most notably Proximas, Jonathon Hockley, JK Jr, Composure, Red Skull, Romariyah Records and 43 and Wizard! These guys are all amazing talents and I've learned a lot from working with their energy. It has come to light though, that my eclectic production sound translates to one streamlined sound live - Rock'n'Soul! And Ashleigh Ashley is all about that Rock'n'Soul! So when it came to making a decision about how I go about recording my EP it was difficult, but it seemed only natural to take it to the band!

A great reference to the kind of 'sound' I'm wanting to create!

I took the band: Joel Keys, Kieran Bass, Tobias Drums and Gibbi Guitar out for lunch at TGI's last Friday to see if they were up for making this happen with me! I was well nervous...and nearly late lol, but once we were seated and munching on our first round of Jack Daniels wings my heart-rate had returned to normal! Seeing them all with out their instruments in tow was kind of like seeing the Ninja Mutant Turtles without their shells lol!

I've never done this before but I've got big dreams for this EP and I hoped my enthusiasm was infectious as we discussed plans for rehearsing, recording and shooting vids for it! Part of me was/is always conscious of the fact that these boys all have lives and dreams of their own and asking them to commit their time on my minuscule budget is quite a big deal! A second portion of Jack Daniels wings was DEF in order *gulp* lol!

Now for the crunch, which felt strangely like proposing to a long-term love: Joel, Keir, Gibbs, Tobias....will you partake-th of this adventure with me....?

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!! :D