Review: "Up Next Ash" - Landan Ash
- Alexa LaMalfa
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Finding yourself may come with a price, and “Up Next Ash” by Landan Ash dives into a deeply personal narrative through which Landan found a way to be seen. This story is from the perspective of someone who is searching to fill a void in their life and ends up finding a place on stage. The lyrics point out that he’s grappling with confidence and self-esteem issues, especially because one of the lyrics points out that back at home, he felt like he was nothing, so he let himself be bought. If he suddenly came with a price tag, maybe he thought that it would increase his worth. He felt like he wasn’t valued at all by the people in his life, and by giving up parts of himself, he could finally be seen. “It's not an auction, an item tossed out when it's used”, is a lyric that says that although these people are giving him the validation he’s looking for, he still knows his worth. There’s a contradicting lyric to this though which is “nothing can buy him what he really lacks”, which is saying that no amount of money or attention could give him what he really needs. “Up Next Ash, that’s your cue” is his sign to take the stage. When he’s on stage he’s putting on a show. Ash is his stage name and can be an alter-ego that takes over which could be a form of reinvention. On that stage, he could be anyone he wants, and he knows people in the audience are willing to pay whatever price for it.
“Up Next Ash” is a song with great storytelling. As listeners, we’re following Landan’s journey to reclaiming his own identity. This song explores finding power in a performance landscape. The lyrics are raw and vulnerable, and really explores his choices and what they mean for him. Before I listened to the track, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Based on the fun cover art, I thought this song had to do with a performance, which technically is the case. I wasn’t expecting this song to have so many emotional layers tied to a performer's backstory on why he turned to the stage. The production of this song is very crisp, and you can tell while listening. Produced by Wesley Henry, “Up Next Ash” has a strong upbeat instrumentation that’s contrasted by deeper lyrics. Landan is a great storyteller, and you can hear the emotion in his voice when he sings which adds to the song.
Landan Ash is a singer-songwriter from Texas but is now based in Los Angeles. His first release was “Quicksand” in 2020, and he’s gone on to release many more songs that resonate with his listeners. His music reflects how he’s feeling, if you’re listening to his songs, it’s like you ripped a page out of his diary. It’s Landan’s mission to make sure queer voices are heard in music, and one way he does that is shedding light on his own experiences as a queer man navigating love and heartbreak. He’s inspired by artists like Gracie Abrams, Troye Sivan, Beach House, and Cigarettes After Sex. It’s clear Landan Ash is one to keep on your radar. With a voice like his, there’s no doubt he’s going to achieve great success. Check out “Up Next Ash” and give it a listen!
Written By Alexa LaMalfa
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