Southern California based Ash Gordon is one of the most prolific songwriters of our time so much so that she has been called "The Song Queen". The artist, creative, singer-songwriter and musician has spent over a decade writing pop music for some of the most fabulous artists including Alaska Thunderfuck, Trixie Mattel, and KATYA landing over 12 #1 albums on iTunes. The artist also helmed her own band The Blah Blah Blahs, which is a mod band with big personality. She further has written songs under her own name including the acclaimed "Everyone Is A Little Bit Gay". Becoming a playwright, Ash Gordon is the co-creator to Drag: The Musical which has received both critical and commercial acclaim.
Earmilk spoke to the creative on her love of drag, unique songwriting process and how she started in the industry.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. What a prolific career you have had. Can you tell us how and why you first decided to become a songwriter and musician?
Omg thank you!! It’s been a wild ride for sure. Back in 2001, the massive blockbuster flop Josie and the Pussycats changed the chemistry in my brain. The soundtrack was incredible, and seeing a fictional all-girl band kick ass during a time when sausage party pop punk bands ruled the world was massively inspiring.
My grandparents raised me, and they LOVED music. So when I told them I would love to learn guitar, they started me on lessons the next week. No matter how much obnoxious punk music I played, they were my biggest fans.
By high school, songs were pouring out of me. So I started a band and recorded all of my ideas on an OG MacBook. My Grandpa took notice, and he told me that his best friend’s son produced music professionally. His name was Tomas Costanza, and at 16 I interned for him at Killingsworth Recording Company. I shadowed him during creative sessions and became addicted to the song development process. The energy in the room. The collaborative wins. Catching the lightning. That’s how I got hooked.
How did you begin to write and produce for the likes of Alaska Thunderfuck, Trixie Mattel, and KATYA? How do these artists inspire you?
In 2012 I got the opportunity to write for a number of RuPaul's Drag Race girls with Tomas at the production helm. It was so surreal for me because I’ve been a fan since season 1. I understood the world and had a ton of respect for the queens, so I happily spent as much time as it took to fine-tune their music with them. Word got around that I was a multi-genre pop writer that drag queens could trust, and I accepted my fate with all the love in my lil fruit fly heart. I can get weird with Katya, bask in the bubblegum of it all with Trixie, and get funny-fierce with Alaska because I am inspired by the worlds they build for us meer mortals.
Take us through your creative songwriting process?
My favorite way of writing a song starts with a solid instrumental track made by me or a producer/beat maker. Then the artist and I decide what the track is about, land on a strong title, and from there the song pretty much writes itself.
How would you describe your musical style?
My musical style is fluidly formulaic.
“Fluidly” because there has to be a feeling of emotional freedom in my writing sessions. Creating a safe space for whatever energy enters the room is a must. Comfort snacks are mandatory. Of course there will be some deep moments of thought and problem solving musically, but a great song lives and breathes when feelings are fluid.
I’m also “Formulaic” in that I tend to guide an artist's emotional processing in a way that honors key pop writing principles. A successful song is memorable while staying true to the artist’s emotions because, well, they will perform the f*ck out of it when they feel it. It’s my job to really listen to the vision and be like “okay, we can attack that idea y x, y, or z way. Which option is your fav?”
You also became a playwright and co-created "Drag: The Musical". What an amazing, transformative and important musical it is. Can you tell us more about why you began the production?
I didn’t know creating a musical was going to be on my bingo card, but it all started 7 years ago. Tomas, Alaska, and I had such a great track record writing music together that we decided to climb a different kind of mountain none of us had experience with – on a whim – unprompted by any agent or manager. We got together every week and wrote songs. Those songs revealed a story, and that story evolved into something beyond anything we ever dreamed of.
What is drag to you?
Drag is the most ridiculous, gorgeous, hilarious, bold, sweaty, celebratory, rebellious, and diverse art form that exists on planet earth.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would that be and why?
Ok this is question is actual torture so I’ll pick one dead and one living.
Dead: I believe George Michael could be my dead gay bestie. I can’t explain why, but I always felt like we’d write well together.
Living: Jack White, my garage rock king. He is constantly re-inventing and doing whatever the f*ck tickles him and I really dig that. I’d love to develop an artist with him.
What is currently on your playlist at the moment?
CHAPPELL ROAN DUH! Also Ginger Root, Shannon & The Clams, and lots of Supertramp.
Connect with Ash Gordon: INSTAGRAM
*photo credit by Byron Gamble
