Following the success of Race The Night, Ash found themselves at a creative crossroads.
Initially set on exploring an entirely new direction, the band quickly realised the need for a smoother transition between eras. The result was Ad Astra: a record that serves as both a bridge and an evolution, connecting the energy of Race The Night with what’s to come next. From space-inspired themes to fearless collaborations, the album captures a band still driven by curiosity, reinvention, and a deep love for making music nearly three decades in.
How did Ad Astra take shape after Race The Night?
It's been a pretty unusual route; we started off planning a very different record before Race The Night was released. It was going to take us into a very different place altogether, but with the success of RTN we kinda went back to the drawing board. Instead of taking an abrupt left turn, we decided we needed something to bring everyone along on our journey. Ad Astra is the bridge between the two Ash universes.
Did you approach writing or recording differently this time?
To begin with, no. Tim had tons of ideas coming from different directions all at once, as he always has. I think the thing that changed it was coming up with the album title before writing was complete. That enabled us to shape more of a theme to the record than we've ever had.
What does the title Ad Astra mean to you?
It's Latin for 'to the stars', which is a nod back to a lyric in Girl From Mars. We already had the opening track Zarathustra, lined up to start the record. Having the space-themed title let us lean into that as the narrative of the whole album.
How did Graham Coxon get involved, and what was it like working with him?
Tim knew he was a big fan of the band, and we all love his guitar playing. He thinks about music in entirely different ways, and that comes through in everything he does. It's such a contrast to how Tim plays, but it just works having their light and shades mixed together. Tim had met him a few times over the last couple of years and finally plucked up the courage to ask him, and he was well up for it. It's amazing to see him work; he's just so expressive and fearless.
Were there any key influences or sounds that shaped this record?
Not consciously; I think, at this point, we've kinda synthesised all our influences into one. Mind you, there are a couple of tracks where we've leaned into certain things we haven't before, but I don't think we were trying to make an album that sounds like anything else.
How have the new songs been going down live?
It's been an absolute blast playing the new stuff live. Even the shows pre-release felt like they'd settled in. I particularly enjoyed debuting Give Me Back My World at a festival without rehearsing it.
You’ve played with everyone from the Manics to Coldplay lately - how have those experiences fed into the band?
The mad thing about Audley End was that none of the bands on the line-up had ever split up in the 30+ years since they'd started. No reunion money spinners involved.
After nearly three decades, what still drives Ash forward?
Just the love of music; every album is a different process, and you're constantly learning as you go. We keep pushing ourselves and growing.
What’s next for Ash after Ad Astra?
We've got a bunch of touring for the record, then we have to figure out how to wrap this trilogy up. The final part is about two-thirds written. It's always hard to tell how long these things take, but fingers crossed this decade will be our most productive. So far!
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How did Ad Astra take shape after Race The Night?
It's been a pretty unusual route; we started off planning a very different record before Race The Night was released. It was going to take us into a very different place altogether, but with the success of RTN we kinda went back to the drawing board. Instead of taking an abrupt left turn, we decided we needed something to bring everyone along on our journey. Ad Astra is the bridge between the two Ash universes.
Did you approach writing or recording differently this time?
To begin with, no. Tim had tons of ideas coming from different directions all at once, as he always has. I think the thing that changed it was coming up with the album title before writing was complete. That enabled us to shape more of a theme to the record than we've ever had.
What does the title Ad Astra mean to you?
It's Latin for 'to the stars', which is a nod back to a lyric in Girl From Mars. We already had the opening track Zarathustra, lined up to start the record. Having the space-themed title let us lean into that as the narrative of the whole album.
How did Graham Coxon get involved, and what was it like working with him?
Tim knew he was a big fan of the band, and we all love his guitar playing. He thinks about music in entirely different ways, and that comes through in everything he does. It's such a contrast to how Tim plays, but it just works having their light and shades mixed together. Tim had met him a few times over the last couple of years and finally plucked up the courage to ask him, and he was well up for it. It's amazing to see him work; he's just so expressive and fearless.
Were there any key influences or sounds that shaped this record?
Not consciously; I think, at this point, we've kinda synthesised all our influences into one. Mind you, there are a couple of tracks where we've leaned into certain things we haven't before, but I don't think we were trying to make an album that sounds like anything else.
How have the new songs been going down live?
It's been an absolute blast playing the new stuff live. Even the shows pre-release felt like they'd settled in. I particularly enjoyed debuting Give Me Back My World at a festival without rehearsing it.
You’ve played with everyone from the Manics to Coldplay lately - how have those experiences fed into the band?
The mad thing about Audley End was that none of the bands on the line-up had ever split up in the 30+ years since they'd started. No reunion money spinners involved.
After nearly three decades, what still drives Ash forward?
Just the love of music; every album is a different process, and you're constantly learning as you go. We keep pushing ourselves and growing.
What’s next for Ash after Ad Astra?
We've got a bunch of touring for the record, then we have to figure out how to wrap this trilogy up. The final part is about two-thirds written. It's always hard to tell how long these things take, but fingers crossed this decade will be our most productive. So far!
SHOP NOW
