We had a chance to chat to Ashton, an exciting new DJ and producer emerging from Chicago who recently shared his debut EP, For The People, after breaking into the scene in 2021. The 4-tracker doubles as an acute display of his production sensibilities, offering a sampler of four different strains of house music. We asked Ashton about his new release, future plans, and much more:
Hey, Ashton! Welcome to CelebMix! For those from our audience who are not familiar with you, could you introduce yourself?
I’m a producer and Dj based out of Chicago. My style of production ranges from tech, bass, and experimental house. I also bring up a saxophone player or vocalist to perform with me during my sets. I strive to give my audience a unique experience that they will never forget.
How long have you been making music for?
For about three years now. My first show was in February 2020.
If you could sum up your style in 3 words, what would you choose?
Unique, upbeat, and groovy.
Congrats on releasing your debut EP For The People – could you tell us more about this record? What inspired you to create it?
This EP is a very special project to me and I wanted to give something like this back to my following. This is a 4 track EP and every song has a different style to it for every house music listener to enjoy.
The opening track ‘Lose Control’ features Saxogene and Qualowkey; what did your collaboration look like?
Saxogene and Qualowkey are talented artists and are also good friends of mine. I’ve played many shows with Saxogene and we also have a song called “Love” together so I wanted to release another song with his style and mine combined again. Qualowkey is a vocalist and producer but he’s never been on a house track before so I really wanted his vocals on this song. I’ve talked to both of them for a while to have us all on a track and we finally did it, I’m very happy with the end result.
Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
I would love to collaborate with any artists that have been on the Night Bass label, especially Taiki Nulight. From my perspective, he is a master at production, and I’ve loved every song he has ever released. He is someone I look up to on a daily basis.
You made your production debut in mid-2021 with “Dark Matter,” how is For The People EP different from your first release?
Dark Matter is a dark and gritty song, this EP has more of a tech house feeling. Each song has a different style that any listener can vibe to.
Are there any artists in the scene right now that are standing out for you and why?
Right now I’d have to say Sagz (Justin Sangmin Lee). He is a producer and DJ based out of Chicago. His sound and the songs he creates are so creative and he is someone I look up to. He is creating his own path in the music industry and I couldn’t be happier for him.
You have performed at a wide range of local venues and festivals, including Electric Forest, North Coast Music Festival, Firelights Music Festival, and more. What is your favorite place to perform? Where would you like to have a gig in the future?
So far my favorite place that I’ve ever performed has to be Electric Forest. There’s something magical about that festival. The people, the experience, and the overall atmosphere of the entire festival are so unique. My goal for the coming year is to play their honeycomb stage within the forest.
Please tell us about any exciting news or plans you have for 2023?
2023 is going to be a big year for me. I have many shows to announce as well as new music coming out every month.