ASHLEY D.
dialogue with treehouse artists
(photo credit: Chris Visser)
Who are you and what made you that?
I am Ashley Nguyen DeWitt aka Ashley D. and I’ve been singing since before I could talk. I’m a half Black, half Vietnamese musician and an animation casting/voice director. I had a lot to do with it but I think it’s my parents’ fault.
What have you been working on recently?
I am currently working on a single and video that I’m super excited about. It’s an exercise in my ability to be creative during this whole quarantine business. It’ll be out at some point, eventually.
Also, I am working on an animated series that I can’t talk about. I’m very proud of it.
Why do you make art?
It’s a selfish reason. I make it to make myself happy. It’s my escape from reality.
What role do you think art has in society?
I think art is vital for society to function. I think people use art to break free from the trials of daily life by either creating or ingesting it. Art is like light and the absence of light is darkness. So, we need to keep the light on as much as we can.
I think art is vital for society to function.
I think people use art to break free from the trials of daily life by either creating or ingesting it. Art is like light and the absence of light is darkness. So, we need to keep the light on as much as we can.
How has the pandemic affected your life as an artist (good/bad)?
I’m so lucky to have a job that I can do from home that is also creative. So, I am able to channel that energy towards something, but sometimes you need separation, you know? I feel like I haven’t been able to be as personally artistic as I thought I would be. I play bass in a band called “Los Blancos” and we were supposed to play a festival in Vegas on Easter weekend. I’m sad we weren’t able to do that, and that we haven’t really been able to play together. I miss playing with people.
I did write and record a single called “Lonely Girl” that I’ll be making a video for and releasing.
Where do you want attention focused? What would prove change in this world?
Currently, we’re all living confined to our own spaces, in a vacuum of repetition. When stuck in this place, we crave anything outside of that bubble. When we start to look outside of ourselves and see what others are going through, we either feel empathy or apathy. I think that we should lean into empathy.
What advice would you give others during this time?
Please take care of yourself. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Trauma requires healing, and we’re currently going through massive collective trauma.
When we start to look outside of ourselves and see what others are going through, we either feel empathy or apathy.
I think that we should lean into empathy.
(photo credit: Chris Visser)