ARTIST OF THE MONTH: ASH ANGEL
August 1, 2026
Written by Olivia Elizabeth
Photos by Audrey Alexandrescu
VANCOUVER BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER, PRODUCER, AND LIVE SOUND TECH ASH ANGEL’S LATEST SINGLE IS HOT OFF THE PRESS— Ash's music is a dreamy blend of R&B and vulnerable lyricism. Although writing her first song when she was 17, she did not release her own music until she was 21. Ash is no stranger to the music industry, she also works as a live sound technician, ensuring other artists have a smooth live performance. Ash strives to connect with her audience, trying to heal those who listen. She describes her music as, “alternative R&B meets ethereal vocals”, and we can’t get enough. For August’s artist of the month feature, we talked vulnerability, creating meaningful music, and her latest single “not ready”, which just released on July 31st.
PETTY: How did you come up with your stage name, ash angel? (One note about her artist name - it’s all lower case! That’s part of her brand!)
ANGEL: I was in Seattle with my friends a few years ago just ruminating about what I wanted as my artist name because I wanted to put out music but not having a name was the only thing holding me back. I was a little tipsy and started thinking about what words people use to describe my singing voice, and angelic was one of them. So I was like hm… what about “ash angel”? It’s kind of a play on the term “archangel” too. It was my favorite name I came up with out of all the other ones so I stuck with it ever since.
PETTY: Where did you get your start? How long have you been singing/songwriting?
ANGEL: I started singing when I was in highschool, I was in the concert choir and jazz choir for a little bit as well. We had a course in grade 11 & 12 that taught us how to use Ableton and basic production/recording which got me super interested in creating my own music and vocal production. I wrote my first song when I was around 17 but didn’t release my own music until I was 21. I also went to college for Music Technology back in 2019 for a couple years where I learned more about recording, producing and engineering, essentially showing me the foundations on building a song from scratch.
PETTY: What is your songwriting process?
ANGEL: It’s different for every song I’d say, I don’t think I have one particular way of songwriting. Sometimes a lyric or melody comes to me first before a beat, and other times I’ll start by freestyling melodies over a beat before building the lyrics around them. Lately, I’ve also been challenging myself to write from scenarios I haven’t personally experienced but that still capture emotions people can relate to. I’m open to letting each song flow in its own way instead of having the same approach every time.
PETTY: When do you feel the most inspired? Who, or what, helps you get there?
ANGEL: I don’t think inspiration comes to me at a certain time but rather after I’ve lived through something that leaves me feeling a certain type of way whether it be heartbreak, love, uncertainty, etc. Most of my music starts with real moments and conversations that linger in my mind. I’m naturally someone who reflects a lot, so writing becomes a way for me to process those experiences and turn them into something meaningful. Music from artists I love that feel honest and emotionally resonate definitely inspire me as well. It makes me feel more comfortable being vulnerable knowing there are so many other artists who share their life in the same way.
PETTY: Do you feel like being both a songwriter and producer helps your vision come to life? Or have there been moments where they clash?
ANGEL: Being both a songwriter and producer definitely helps because I understand how the different pieces of a song fit together. I wouldn’t say there’s moments where they clash but rather ideas that I want to capture, mostly when it comes to the beat, that are a bit harder for me to create on my own. So nowadays, I’m mostly collaborating with other producers who help bring my sonic vision to life while I can focus more on songwriting.
PETTY: Is it easy being vulnerable through your music?
ANGEL: I treat songwriting the same way people treat their diaries and journals. It’s an outlet of escapism for my real life emotions and a way for me to alchemize my feelings into art. It is easy for me to be vulnerable in a way because what I write about is so true to me that it’s actually more difficult to write from a place of fiction.
PETTY: How have you and/or your music changed or evolved over the years?
ANGEL: I’d say my music has always been a reflection of me as I’ve evolved over the years. I started off creating more soft, ethereal, and dreamlike R&B/Indie music that felt like me during that point in time. However, as I’ve grown, my music has naturally become more confident, playful, and groove-driven, leaning more into alternative R&B while still holding onto the emotional honesty that’s always been at the core of my songwriting. As I continue to grow as an artist, I hope my music sonically reflects my personality and who I am in each chapter or my life.
PETTY: Describe the feeling of releasing music, does it feel the same every time?
ANGEL: The deeper I get into releasing music as my artistry progresses, the more vulnerable I feel as most of the songs I put out are rooted in experiences I’ve lived through. At first it was a bit scary, but with each song, it’s become more of a personal release than anything. Because my visuals are so intertwined with the music, it feels like I’ve alchemized whatever I felt when writing into something beautiful for other people to listen, see and hopefully relate to. Almost like closure for the emotional season I was in mixed with excitement for listeners to hear what I’ve written.
PETTY: Your latest single, "not ready", was just released! What, or who, was the inspiration for the song?
ANGEL: “not ready” was inspired by a time in my life when I was talking to someone new shortly after the end of a long-term relationship. There was a natural connection that I felt was there, but I wasn’t emotionally ready to open myself up in that way again since I was still healing. This song captures the internal conflict of wanting to move forward and embrace something new, while still feeling hesitant, detached, and unsure if your heart is truly ready to take that next step.
PETTY: Where do you hope to see yourself and your career in a few years time?
ANGEL: I see myself continuing to evolve as an artist, reaching new listeners around the world, and creating opportunities that allow me to share my music on a bigger scale. I hope to build a more established career rooted in authenticity, collaboration, and meaningful connection with my audience. I’m excited to see where the music takes me and to keep growing into the artist I’m becoming.