BY JESSE ZAPATERO

We know her as the indomitable "Dina" in "Superstore" and the charismatic "Lexi" in "Not Dead YET", but Lauren Ash's talents extend far beyond the screen. With a dynamic blend of acting, comedy, and now music, Ash captivates audiences with her multifaceted artistry and boundless creativity.

 Balancing the demands of acting and her newfound passion for music, Ash navigates the complexities of her artistic journey with grace and determination. As she embarks on this multifaceted path, fans can anticipate a year brimming with exciting projects and creative endeavors. From expanding her repertoire on screen to exploring new musical horizons, Ash's versatility promises an exhilarating year ahead, ripe with innovation and artistic exploration.

We know you as "Dina" from Superstore and "Lexi" on Not Dead Yet, but now you've ventured into creating music. Could you tell us more about your music & what that transition from acting to music is like?

Ever since I was a kid, it was my dream to be in a rock band. I’ve written songs since I was 13 and got my first guitar. This whole music venture has basically been me giving a gift to my child self. It’s been interesting experiencing the differences between acting and music for me. While both things involve performing, they are vastly different in how they make me feel. Acting is easy as I get to put on a character. But with music, it’s just me. It requires a level of vulnerability I hadn’t anticipated but that feels really exciting to get to do.

What inspired your transition from acting to music, and how has the journey been so far?

For my birthday last year, I hired a band and put on a concert as my birthday party. It was a set of cover songs and it was the best night of my life. It made me realize that I had to start doing it more. It would be wild to not pursue something that brings me so much joy.

 Were there any specific challenges you faced when venturing into the music?

I think the biggest challenge has been time. I want to be writing and recording music every day but the process is far slower than I would like it to be.

How does your creative process differ when creating music compared to preparing for a role in acting?

I find the two processes completely different. For me, acting is all about learning about the character I’m going to play. Songwriting is about communicating about my innermost thoughts and feelings. So while in some ways there can be crossover, I feel like for me, they tap into very different parts of my brain. And while both require vulnerability in their own way, I find that not having a character to play makes me feel way more exposed creatively.

Are there any similarities in the emotional preparation for both acting and music creation?

The emotional prep for music creation feels far more involved for me. This is literally you earnestly writing down your emotions to then sing them in front of strangers. I can’t think of anything more vulnerable, if I’m being honest! And with no character to hide behind! It’s literally like “hey, here I am, here are my insides, I hope you like them and aren’t too mean to me with your feedback if you don’t!” lol

Are there any specific themes or messages you aimed to convey through your music?

I tend to write about relationships. I like to think about different moments in time in past relationships in my life when emotions felt really big. It’s a great place to mine ideas from. I mean, Taylor Swift has made an empire based on this, right?

How do you balance your time between acting commitments and creating music?

I do my best. When you also throw in my podcast, True Crime and Cocktails, it doesn’t leave very much time for, well, anything else? I think for me, I need multiple creative outlets in order to feel like myself. So while my job as an actor provides this to me, I only actually get to act for a short amount of time out of a long day. For every minute on camera, there’s usually 90 minutes of waiting. So my creativity itch may not be as scratched as I’d like by the end of a week. It almost makes it as though I NEED to work on music in my spare time. To make sure my creativity cup is filled, so to speak.

Do you find that your experiences in acting influence your approach to music, and vice versa?

I definitely think that the drive and perseverance I garnered through a 25 year long acting career have helped my approach to music. I bring a work ethic that I think has surprised some of the people I’ve worked with. I said to myself “I want to release a song…I guess I need to figure out how I do that”. I spent hours teaching myself the ins and outs as Google explained to me and just…made it happen. In terms of the music influencing my acting, I think I have tapped into a new level of emotion through my songwriting and consequently have started connecting to those feelings in a more intimate way in my acting work. I’m very proud of the acting work I’ve been doing on season 2 of my TV show Not Dead Yet and can’t wait for people to see it.

Do you have any dream collaborations with any other artists or musicians? If so, who and what do you think that would sound like?

I mean, obviously Blink 182 would be the biggest dream. They’re one of my fave bands of all time and really the Kings of the genre I work in. I’d also kill to team up with Yungblud whose music I’m obsessed with. And I have to say Harry Styles because really, that would be incredible. I have also recently been guesting on some friend’s songs which I can’t wait for people to hear. I love that kind of collaboration.

What do you hope to express in your music that may differ from your acting roles?

Early 2000s pop punk has always been my favorite genre of music. And I think what I’m most excited to express is a real homage to that era of music. I’ve been told that my originals sound like they could have been featured in a movie like 10 Things I Hate About You which is the biggest compliment I can imagine. When I started this journey last year I thought “wouldn’t it be fun to write music that sounds like what I listened to as a teen but lyrically reflected my experiences as an adult woman?” That’s why a song like Now I Know, which sounds like Josie and the Pussycats is talking about a man I dated who secretly had a wife. And The One Who Got Away sounds like if Gwen Stefani fronted Blink 182 but is talking about decade long regret. I love the juxtaposition of the fun-ness of the music mixed with the reality of the lyrics.

Is there a preference between performing your music live in front of an audience and acting on camera? If so, why do you lean towards one over the other, considering the unique challenges each presents?

It’s hard to compare the two things, if I’m being honest. But truly, performing my music in front of an audience lights me up in a way few other things do. The exchange of energy that happens through live music is delicious. That kind of immediate feedback is incredible. My music inspiring people to dance or move or sing? How cool is that? I feel like I get to experience it together with the audience in real time which is something that doesn’t happen when acting for camera. Even a really amazing performance can be cut or edited significantly before an audience gets to experience it. With music, you get the full rawness of the performance in it’s entirety and I really love that.

Who are some of your musical influences, and did they play a role in shaping your sound?

Blink 182, Canadian band The Age of Electric, Hole, and No Doubt immediately come to mind. But so does Queen and Fleetwood Mac. I definitely feel like the Live Through This album by Hole was a defining moment for me in my musical upbringing. I wanted so badly to be confident enough to sound as messy and passionate and intense as Courtney Love does on that whole album. But I also feel like the poppiness of Gwen Stefani always spoke to more of my personality.

Are there any memorable reactions or responses in both your music and acting that stand out to you?

I played a live show at the Whisky A Go Go in 2023 and there were some people in the crowd I saw singing along to every word of my single Now I Know. It was so surreal and honestly incredibly emotional for me. This was my literal biggest dream since I was about 13 years old. And having it come true in a venue as legendary and historic as the Whisky was a true life moment for me.

Can we expect more music from you in the future, can share a little bit of what that’s going to sound like?

There is definitely more music on the way! I’m exploring different sounds and ideas. My sound thus far has been very reminiscent of the late 90s/early 2000s but I experimented with a more modern pop punk sound on my Christmas single Sad This Christmas and want to continue exploring in that space. I’m also thinking of releasing an acoustic song that is so emo it hurts. Feels like anything that emotional needs to stay acoustic instead of having a full band arrangement.

Do you have any upcoming acting projects, music releases, or roles that you’re excited about?

Season 2 of Not Dead Yet premieres February 7th on ABC and Hulu. Brad Garrett has joined the cast as my character’s dad and I’m so excited for everyone to see what we’ve been working on. My most recent single The One Who Got Away dropped January 17th and is streamable everywhere. And of course, my podcast True Crime and Cocktails has new episodes dropping every Tuesday.

With the first month of the year coming to an end, what messages or wishes would you like to share with your fans and listeners?

I want to thank everyone for their support. I wasn’t sure how my music would be received and it’s been so humbling that so many people are into it. Having my first single Now I Know chart on Billboard was a surreal and amazing moment for me. I would also add that if you take nothing else away from me, it’s that life is too short not to pursue things that bring you joy. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, you have to do it. It’s never too late and it’s the best gift you can give yourself.

Any plans or aspirations for this year that you’d like to let your audience know about?

I hope to play some live music shows this summer so stay tuned! Hopefully I can come to a city near you!

The last time we talked, we threw the book question at you, asking which book you’d be and why. Now that you’re into music, did your answer switch up? If it did, what book would you be and why?

In 2019, I told you that if I was a book it would be a romance. And that 2019 was the year of me in a romance novel with myself. While I still think that’s true, I think my answer now could also be that if I was a book, I would be something in the manifestation space. If I’ve learned anything about myself over the last year it’s that I have the power to make my own dreams come true. How amazing is that?