Ashnikko is the true definition of a multi-disciplinary artist if not a visionary. One pay attention by way of their discography and the imaginative and prescient turns into clear: Ashnikko is a disruptor, decided to be a voice for the web technology by way of her artwork, however by no means with out compromising the enjoyable.
So, who higher for Ashnikko to help on an Australian tour than Billie Eilish — the poster baby for Gen Z pop disruptors. Taking to the stage forward of the megastar on the Aussie leg of her ‘Hit Me Onerous & Gentle’ world tour, Ashnikko commanded that viewers. With a stage within the centre of the sector, all eyes had been on them. With hook-heavy bangers you’d recognise from TikTok, to conceptual, horror-inspired deep cuts, it was an perception into the world of Ashnikko. Fantastical, otherworldly, dominant, sincere.
As she and their dancers morphed their our bodies across the stage and each other to rework their set into one thing like efficiency artwork, it grew to become clear that, whether or not she’s centre-stage or within the nosebleeds, all eyes are destined to be on Ashnikko. And, with the discharge of her releasing new single “Itty Bitty”, these eyes aren’t transferring anytime quickly.
In between exhibits, POPSUGAR Australia caught up with Ashnikko to debate a variety of matters, together with Tumblr, costly manicures, “Itty Bitty” and guaranteeing you might have a voice.
Ashnikko on “Itty Bitty”
“I wrote that music with Tom Slinger, my longtime collaborator, and Skyler Stonestreet, an unimaginable pal of mine, and we had been simply having a great time.”
“I used to be recent out of a break-up, and carrying a whole lot of little skirts on the time — nonetheless am! — and I felt like there was nice energy in carrying a little bit tiny, itty bitty skirt while you’re feeling heartbroken. The transformative energy of a cute outfit is absolutely particular, and I wished that in music.”
“The tinier the skirt, the nearer to God, identical to they are saying within the Bible.”
Ashnikko on Choreography
“I really like choreography. I’m dancing, I’m dancing up a storm…I work with unimaginable choreographers. They actually took my imaginative and prescient and made her actual. I mentioned I wished to be theatrical, I wished to create very unusual shapes, I wished us to really feel like one machine working collectively… I need it to be extra than simply our bodies transferring on stage. I need us to develop into creatures.”
“I’ve been dancing with my dancers for 3 years now, so we’ve got actually good chemistry onstage. There’s a whole lot of connection that occurs on stage that’s necessary to actually promoting it.”
Ashnikko on Costly Manicures
“My manicures are so costly. However, I’m actually investing in my nails. It’s essential to showcasing the look and introducing your self. They’re the very first thing somebody sees. Put money into the manicure, and all the things else will comply with swimsuit.”
“I really feel like I can put on completely something, and if my nails are good, I’m set. I may stroll outdoors in my pyjamas, and so long as I’ve a great nail and a great shoe, that is trend.”
Ashnikko on Tumblr
“Tumblr was the place I found trend, it’s the place I made buddies, it’s the place I actually discovered myself. I obtained to write down fanfic about “Twilight”. It’s a extremely particular place for me, it felt like a breeding floor for lots of the seeds that make up my character.”
“I used to be actually, actually on e-book Tumblr. It was so pure, and there was actual subculture. Now, I really feel like subcultures are coming again and there’s area for them to actually thrive. Everybody got here collectively and have become one heaving mass of web, and now I believe issues are spreading out a bit extra and there’s more room for individuality. I do yearn for the nice previous days.”
Ashnikko on Whether or not She’ll Ever Change Her Hair Color
“I fantasise in regards to the day I can simply hit the farm, simply let all of it go and have my pure brown hair. I believe I would begin introducing my pure hair, no less than beneath, in order that I can have wholesome hair on half of my head for as soon as.”
Ashnikko on Making a Assertion
“Music is such an unimaginable automobile to inform tales in methods you’ll be able to’t essentially say out loud, or in written kind. I believe that my expertise, and my function, is to make music and it’s the type of activism I do know greatest.”
Ashnikko on Touring with Billie Eilish
“It’s been nice. It is a dream tour to be on. I believe, of all of the help slots on this planet, that is the one I might’ve chosen. I really like Billie, they’ve been so unimaginable and so type. Her followers are superb, the group is absolutely receptive. I like it, they’re actually wild.”
Ashnikko on the Strain Round Her New Album
“I really feel like there’s a sense that you simply want to outdo your self, which makes it more durable to faucet into the very pure place you had been writing music from earlier than. With a debut album, you’re working with nothing. You’re engaged on pure vibes, and in a move state. On the identical time, you might have all the things. You’re taking all of that, and shaping it into one thing model new.”
“With a second album, there’s all these preconceived notions on what individuals take into consideration you and your music, however you continue to should make one thing new out of it.”
“Now, I’m in a a lot more healthy place on the subject of making music. I simply wish to have enjoyable, and be within the human realm once more. I used to be a little bit fairy for a yr or two, and now I’m just a bit, messy lady, traipsing round a little bit skirt, having enjoyable with my ladies.”
Ashnikko on Balancing Humour with Vulnerability
“I really feel prefer it’s one and the identical. There’s positively a aspect of me that likes to ‘hee hee ha ha’ as a substitute of being weak. Or, once I’m weak, I’ve to ‘hee hee ha ha’ to offset it.
“However I believe it comes very naturally to me.”
Ashnikko on Style
“I believe some individuals wish to suppose that the bodily manifestation of magnificence is frivolous, however I believe that couldn’t be farther from the reality.”
“Style is such a vessel, and such an necessary medium, to showcase your autonomy, your spirit and the place you’re in your life. You’re actually a strolling artwork piece. I like to make use of an outfit as a scrapbook collage, like a diary entry of the place I’m in my life.”
“Itty Bitty” is accessible now to stream on all main platforms.
