Pop/R&B artist Asha Maclean recently unveiled her latest single/music video, “Yoga,” a song exploring the ups and downs of contemporary relationships. The song was produced by Charles Farrar (Boyz II Men, Tyrese).
Hailing from Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan, Maclean grew up in a home that encouraged her creativity.
Maclean explains, “My mom is incredibly creative, and growing up, art was just a way of life in our house. She always encouraged me to take classes, try new things, and explore my interests freely. And my dad is a visual artist who also worked in the music industry as a sound engineer.”
Since being discovered by Grammy-winning producer Charles Farrar, Maclean has collaborated with Darius Rucker on the upcoming “Fairytale” and teamed up with WanMore.
Guitar Girl Magazine caught up with Asha Maclean to find out more about “Yoga,” her creative process, and her definition of tone.
What three things can’t you live without?
Burt’s Bees pomegranate lip balm, Sing King Karaoke on YouTube, and a Blank Street iced latte.
What inspired your new single/music video “Yoga?”
The inspiration for ‘Yoga’ was originally just making a fun, conceptual song. Later on, it started to resonate with challenges I face in my relationships. It’s about the back and forth of love and everything that comes with being in it. The video features some of those emotions, as well as some fun dancing, and a lot of mirrors that hint at how important it is to reflect.
Who directed the video and where was it shot?
The video was directed and edited by the brilliant @crickvisuals on YouTube and Instagram, and the video was shot in a warehouse in New Jersey.
How did you get started in music?
I’ve always been a deep music lover, but I’d say I really started to focus on it in middle school. I would spend hours singing karaoke in my room and recording videos of myself to post. When I started my freshman year of high school, one of my videos covering a Billie Eilish song caught the attention of the producer I work with to this day, Charles Farrar. That’s how it all began.
Which singers/musicians influenced your sound?
Some singers that influence my music are Ariana Grande, Kehlani, Tori Kelly and The Internet. There are many different sounds and styles that I love to incorporate into my own, but those four pretty much sum up the vibe of my music.
What kind of guitar do you play? Which amps and pedals are you using?
I actually play the ukulele (as best as I can). I’m still learning how to play the guitar, but I own a vintage white Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster. She’s beautiful.
What is your definition of tone? And is your tone evolving?
To me, tone is what you hear first. It plays a huge role in delivering a message, and an even bigger role in whether or not people will want to listen. My tone is constantly changing in and outside of music. Different approaches work in different scenarios (and songs, too).
What can you share about your creative process?
My creative process is a routine. I come into the studio with a track I wanna work on, and my engineer and I record melodies to it. I usually like to get all melodies recorded and arranged for every section of the song before I start writing lyrics. Once it’s all arranged and written, I record the song from beginning to end and add all of my excessive adlibs and harmonies. I usually finish the song I started that session, which takes anywhere between six to ten hours.
Which do you enjoy the most: writing, recording, practicing, or playing live?
I think I’d have to say recording is my favorite part. Writing would be a close second. Creating is what I’m most passionate about.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment?
I think one of my greatest accomplishments so far is the success of ‘Yoga.’ All the love I’ve received from it is amazing, and I had the best time filming the music video. I’m very proud of myself and very grateful for my team.
What’s the most random fact you know?
I feel like this may be common knowledge, but I just found out that dogs can only see shades of yellow and blue. Until yesterday, I thought they could see everything but red.
What is your definition of success?
To me, success comes in the form of happiness. When you make something so special that you can’t be anything but proud of yourself. I struggle sometimes to be proud of myself, but lately I’ve been a lot more open to the feeling, and it feels good.
What’s next for Asha Maclean?
I will definitely be releasing some more music in the near future, as well as starting to do some small shows. I really just look forward to writing more songs.
Follow Asha Maclean Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
