Ash Hamman has shared the stage with some of today’s biggest names — Akon, Usher, 50 Cent, Kanye West, Montell Jordan and 2Face, to name a few.
“I just did a show in Tanzania with T.I. — about 40,000 people showed up,” he told tabloid! this week from Nigeria. There, the UAE-based singer-songwriter is promoting his latest single, It’s Over (ft. rapper Bidz), from of his upcoming album.
It’s Over is a break-up song that calls upon the soul of ’90s R’n’B with its wistful sound. It’s sultry but sorrowful, simple and direct. The music video, produced by Hamman’s own company, IMQ Immaqul’8 Entertainment, is equally stripped bare, a monochrome clip of Hamman walking around a JBR neighbourhood and singing about missed opportunities. “You could’ve had a man to love you. Now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone,” he croons.
“Music now isn’t the same anymore. Even the feel and message isn’t the same anymore. I’m sure you understand. It’s just what works now, I guess,” Hamman said.
As his music video racks up hits on YouTube — it’s now just over 2,550 hits — the UK and US-raised musician filled us in on the things that have inspired him, and what will set his new album apart from previous efforts.
You said the video for It’s Over was inspired by the “original, grungy vibe of hip-hop” —in what way?
For those true R’n’B and hip-hop lovers, especially the old school ones, they know the original hip-hop grungy but soulful R’n’B vibe that I’m referring to. That’s what I grew up listening to — it’s easy to understand, pleasing to the ears, soothes the mind, body and soul, and the video shows that simplicity.
Can you tell us a bit about what you’re doing in Nigeria at the moment?
You can call this a music, entertainment and business tour, from Dubai to Nigeria, LA, Dubai, Poland, Tanzania, Dubai, Nigeria again. On the entertainment and music side of things, I set up a production house in Nigeria, and we have been working on a lot of music and video productions, hopefully looking into the film world.
Tell us a bit about your upcoming album.
It is very different from my last album. The production, sound, style, quality content and even distribution; this is more me, no rush. And also quite a bit of experimenting, you see and make that out from the It’s Over music video. Also. my last album was only for the Middle East, this will be everywhere... We haven’t put a date to it yet, but as soon as we’re ready, everyone will know.
How long have you been working on it?
Its been an ongoing process, as I work on projects other than my own project, back-and-forth, for about a year and we’re still going. There will be more singles and videos dropping along the way, though.
What has been the inspiration behind the songs so far?
I feed off of my environment, daily encounters, experiences and relationships with people. I’m receptive and open and take it all in and then put it in my music.
Lastly, tell us your earliest music-related memory.
I’ve been into music even before I was able to realise and fully understand music. I grew up in a family of music lovers, started performing every weekend for the family at home, singing Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, James brown and so many other artists — those are a few of my earliest music related memories.
— Check out the video for It’s Over at Hamman’s YouTube page, AshHammanVEVO.
