Arthur Ashin — aka the experimental R&B project Autre Ne Veut — will inspire you to be a better vocalist. Not much of a singer? He’ll at least get you waxing philosophical about the outer limits of soul and R&B’s life-altering wonder. Out promoting this year’s dazzling album Age of Transparence, Ashin stopped by Billboard’s New York office for a chat on the Alt In Our Stars podcast.
“The most exciting part about being a vocalist is really singing, as opposed to nailing the part,” Ashin says, explaining why Usher sometimes gets him down, while Patti LaBelle never ceases to amaze. “The thing that’s cathartic and exciting is pushing my vocal cords to their edge… and then drinking a lot of tea to make up for it.”
Ashin proposes the term “failure pop,” both in reference to his own music and to the stars of the ‘70s, who tried — often clumsily — to fit into synthesizer trends later on. He’s been dubbed “PBR&B,” too, but isn’t feeling that one: “I’ve probably had two cans of PBR in my life.”
Past Episodes: Ashley Monroe | Beach Slang | Butch Vig | Majical Cloudz | Bully | The Wonder Years
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Note: There will be no new episode next Friday (Nov. 27), as it is the day after Thanksgiving. We’ll be back the following Friday with an interview with HEALTH.