You can now grab a copy of my new mini-album 'Chirrup'! It features 6 of my original tracks, including my new single 'Anchor', all recorded and produced by Apocalypse Studios. This time it's just me, Nolan (my guitar and best friend), and a lot of reverb! You can help me fund my next music adventures by ordering this CD.

The tracklist includes my 2018 song Freedom, originally off of the epic moment that was 'Sweet Decadence', re-recorded to represent my style 2 years on. Then come my songs Ocean Lament and Birdie, the 'title track' in a way, written about plastic pollution, and with the beauty of nature and its life cycle in mind. I've taken the lyric "Chirrup" from Birdie for a couple of reasons. Birdie was the second song I wrote after 'Sweet Decadence' and I felt like I'd finally succeeded with the way those chords and melodies fit together, offering a meditative state like most of my music does, but with a decent drive and some tasteful tension.

When writing and receiving feedback from tutors and friends alike, "chirrup" was sometimes mistaken for "cheer up" which fit in a dark and possibly ironic way. Aside from the song's context, this idea of chirruping, making noise to get someone's attention when you're in need really resonates. This whole collection of songs have been me making noise to express my thoughts and feelings, to myself and an audience. Sometimes making that noise is the only way we can "cheer up" or cheer others up.

The story of the song itself follows a blackbird hatchling who has fallen from the nest, with mum and dad no where to be seen. This little birdie is looking around in awe of how big the trees look from below, with all these new smells and sounds to absorb. However, whilst this magical scene plays out, a magpie waits, watches and plots upon this tasty snack.

This little guy should cheer up, don't worry about where you're parents are and just enjoy this incredible world you've stumbled upon... But yeah, you may or may not have been abandoned, and you may or may not become lunch shortly.

Then, Jacket! Written about someone from my early teenage years, who reappeared into my life in 2019, and was soon removed once again.

The fifth track is Lexi, one of my most recent pieces. It talks about a difficult relationship and a certain stage within it, back and forth, feeling like a part of my life was missing and that this 'Lexi' was that part. It was admitting to myself, and to whoever heard this song, that I felt love there, and how much I was willing to try to keep hold of that.

To follow that and finish 'Chirrup' off comes Anchor, my recently released single in demo form, available to listen to and download in the Digital Releases section above. Anchor is the continuation of Lexi in many ways, the same relationship, similar themes. But, whilst I see Lexi as more of an honest, and a little bit of a sad love song, Anchor was admitting that I could move on now, rather than how desperately I missed it. Even the very last line "I don't want to lose this" to me reflects how, if I could've kept it and been happy, I would've. Present day has a different ending, one accepting that in order for both parties to be happy, I had to lose it. You can read more details for Anchor above!

Well, thankyou for reading all of that! 'Chirrup' is available to purchase in physical and digital format. This particular order option is for physical copies only, not digital download. You can now opt to pay more than the minimum £8.50 if you so wish, an option included upon a fan's request!

I'd like to say thankyou for reading all the way through and hopefully enjoying some of the backstory to my songs, for the interest and the support. X

Kiya's debut EP from 2018! Featuring three of her early songs, two of which are built up with synths, drums, strings and big guitars making for some epic listening. This EP was kindly sponsored by local charity/event organisers Sound Guernsey, and recorded with Apocalypse Studios. This listing is for a CD copy of Sweet Decadence. For a digital download, please see the above listings.

Track list: Sweet Decadence A Lie Freedom

The Official Motion Picture Soundtrack of Guernsey made film 'Occupied' that explores the tragic White Rock Bombing of 1940, alongside the contrasting beauty of our island.

Joseph Collier (composer) and Kiya Ashton (vocalist) bring forth these feelings and give them life through the soundtrack, along with a special rendition of Guernsey's anthem, Sarnia Cherie. Please take 15 minutes out of your day to experience our interpretation of our local history.

I'm so stoked to put this out for everyone to listen to!! I started work on this soundtrack all the way back in January when the film was just a script. I spent lots of time reading through, gathering ideas and finding melodies to start developing. 2023 has been quite a busy one already, so I really had to pick my moments to work on this, but with a final 2 week push at the start of August I completed the soundtrack!

I mostly wrote this soundtrack on piano, something I haven't written on since I was about 14. It was really cool to revisit this method, it made everything feel fresh and new. I very quickly landed on the chords C#m Am, a progression that felt so gorgeously melancholy I just fell in love with it. I ended up writing most of the scenes with this as a starting point, it felt like a nice way to tie everything in. Some scenes were softer, so my playing mimicked that and I placed some prettier notes here and there to accent that. Other scenes were harsher, so much less gentle and more confrontational. So, I tried to play with that aggression in mind, adding notes that clashed a little more and brought out the tension in the music itself, as well as the characters. Some scenes were left with just piano to bring out the rawness of the story, but some moments got built up with layers of synths and strings to bring more texture and fullness to the plot. Overall, I'm really happy with how this has turned out! Huge challenge to write music to someone else's story, and with a completely DIY approach to recording.

Special thanks to Dan for bringing me on board, and to Flexagon (Stretchy) for the advice offered during that last 2 week push.

Tracklist:

1. Christmas Clean Up

2. Friend

3. Emily's Song (demo)

4. Emily's Grave

5. The Wall

6. Emily's Song

The film is available to watch on Prime Video, so go do that!! Support local artists.

TW: Suicide, Alcoholism

The plot: "After his beloved girlfriend Emily commits suicide, Tom spirals into a deep depression. Blaming himself for her death he isolates himself, letting himself and the their home go. Until one day, after much persuasion, his friend Toby comes to visit. He convinces Tom to get his act together and pay Emily's grave a visit. Tom agrees but the timing couldn't be worse as both of Emily's parents are also there. A fight breaks out between Tom and Emily's father which ends in both men beaten. Drowning his sorrows, Tom takes to a nightclub. He meets a beautiful girl there, and, for a moment, lets go of his pain and grief until Emily takes over his mind yet again..."

Film directed by Dave Hyett, written by Daniel Hollingworth Soundtrack by Kiya Ashton