Music spotlight: Q&A with Erika Ascenzo

Introducing Erika Ascenzo, the Melbourne-based singer and songwriter who you are bound to be hearing a lot more of in the coming months.

She credits jazz as one of her main musical influences and how she found her personal tone. Her first single, Continuum is available for you to listen to on Spotify, and her second single is due to be released this month.

We managed to catch up with Erika to hear more about her musical career so far and what the future holds.

What made you first get into music? 

Singing was the one constant in my life, the thing I loved to do most, it just took a little courage and a bit of time to try my hand at it. I sung on and off throughout primary and high school and right before finishing year 12, I went and recorded a demo and that became my ticket into working within the industry. 

You made it onto the infamous Aussie Tripe J Unearthed website. How does that feel? 

It was incredible! My mum has been a devoted Triple J listener throughout my entire childhood, so having my music up on that platform and then hearing an original of mine play on their digital radio was a dream come true. So many of the artists I look up to and love listening to, I have found through unearthed, so it was a little surreal to see my name and hear my song be played years later. 

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

At the moment I’d have to say Snoh Aalegra - her tone and production behind her tracks and truly all that she embodies, as an artist, I admire and am in awe of.

What women inspire you?

My mum and both my aunties… They each represent all the things I could ever dream of becoming.

What’s your favourite song ever?

I can never seem to answer this question as too many come to mind, from so many different genres, BUT I always insitinctively think of and go to the incredible Billie Holiday’s ‘God Bless The Child.’

You’ve played at some Australian festivals in the past, which was the best, and what festival would be your dream to play at?

Byron Bay’s Bluesfest would have to be at the top of the list! Not only is Byron one of my favourite places on planet earth, but growing up in a household that predominately played Jazz, Soul & Blues, Bluesfest is just a melting pot of all the music and sound I love. To have been able to be an artist at the festival was a truly surreal experience. 

And as for my dream festival to play at, that would HAVE to be the amazing Glastonbury Festival! 

What advice would you give young girls trying to make it in music? 

Listen to your gut instincts and have belief in the process - every step counts when you’re working at the thing you love to do most, and if music is just that, you are already achieving so much for yourself. 

What has your experience been like as a woman in the music industry? 

It’s been incredibly eye opening in so many ways. I think the greatest thing I learnt was that, no matter what level of experience you are at, nobody will ever know you better than you know yourself, nor will they truly understand the vision and all that you foresee for yourself - so my lesson, as a woman within the music industry so far, has been to have conviction and strength in believing in the human being that I am and working with people who are like-minded and see me for me and nothing else! 

Time for a silly one. If you could be any animal, what would you be? 

I love this! At first I was going to say a dog, but I think a horse - I think they are one of the most beautiful creatures and their nature represents so much good!

What’s next? Have you got anything upcoming? 

I have my new single, ‘Bound’ being released at the end of this month and I am beyond excited! My team and I have worked for a few solid months on this one and we’re excited to release it into this world…