Ash Lauryn, a Detroit native and modern house music DJ, blends old-world soul with contemporary grooves. She discusses her deep appreciation for house music's history, emphasizing the influence of Detroit's greats. Lauryn passionately champions Black dance music, showcasing artists like Larry Heard and Moodymann in her sets. The conversation also explores the profound emotional connections music fosters and the evolving representation of femininity in the electronic scene. With insights on songwriting and personal authenticity, Lauryn inspires the next generation of DJs.
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Ash Lauryn's Early Songwriting
Ash Lauryn began writing songs seriously at the age of nine, starting with a short musical containing three songs.
She viewed songwriting as having conversations and continued writing until she was twenty.
insights INSIGHT
House as a Unifying Space
House music was one of the only places where Black and white people could meet naturally in the past.
This made house a unique and inclusive cultural space unlike churches or other venues.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Influence of Jazz Legends
The speaker was influenced as a kid by records of Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong.
They inspired a big, soulful sound and emotional singing style she still admires.
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Part two of RA.996 comes from a modern-day house luminary.
As part of our countdown to RA.1000, a milestone in the 24-year history of RA's weekly mix series, we're switching up the usual format. The next few editions will pair two acts who compliment each other's strengths, offering a fresh take on a particular community, scene or style.
This week, we're zeroing in on two names who fly the flag high for old-school, US house—a foundational pillar of the electronic underground. The first half comes from Ron Trent, which you can read more about here.
On the B-side is Ash Lauryn. Hailing from Detroit, she's a modern-day house savant. Her comprehensive understanding of the genre's history—knowledge gained from the Detroit greats who that inspired her—and her own inimitable blend of old-world soul meets new-school grooves make her a force to be reckoned with.
A former RA contributor, Lauryn keeps it real, whether in the booth or beyond. A role model to a new generation of DJs, she can just as easily be found teaching workshops at Underground Music Academy in Detroit or sharing tricks of the trade in the green room at some of the best clubs in the world.
An unwavering champion of Black dance music, the Atlanta resident makes it a point to play as much Black American music as possible, as she told us in her 2019 podcast. Not much has changed since then. Her contribution to RA.996 spans favourites like Larry Heard, Mood II Swing, Byron The Aquarius, Moodymann, Ron Trent and plenty of Detroit heavy-hitters.
Listened to together, both mixes are a powerful snapshot of house's timeless elegance and, most importantly, understated yet innately euphoric joy.
Find the tracklist and interview at ra.co/podcast/998
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