Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitarist Sean Ashby came through the Taos Inn this summer, and we here at Live Taos really enjoyed his show. After a long career playing guitar for Sarah McLachlan, Delerium, Ginger, and more, he’s been touring solo for some time now, and let us tell you, the dude can play.
He’s coming back to the Taos Inn this weekend for his final show in our area for the year, and we caught up with him to ask a few obvious questions.
LiveTaos: What was it like working with Sarah MacLachlan? How many rescue animals did she bring on tour? Are you tired of the song “Angel”?
SEAN ASHBY: It was a great experience to work with Sarah – What a talent! I happened along just as she was breaking big … I was touring and recording with her during her commercial peak for 12 years! So I was on the Grammys 2 times, and tons of big TV shows, and the 3 big Lillith Fair shows, and just so many exciting things. I do a song I recorded with just her and myself in my own solo show, to pay tribute to that part of my career.
Her fans sure want to hear her do “Angel”! (laughter) I most enjoyed tracks like “Wait,” “Fumbling,” and “Witness,” … the songs where I did big solos !
How did you make your transition to a solo career, and what have been the greatest rewards/biggest challenges?
I was doing my own music while I was in Sarah’s band — I had a group called Jack Tripper. Songs from that were used in lots of TV shows and one big movie, and we won awards and so on … so doing my own music is not new to me … but doing only my own music is new! That’s been the case for the last 5 years.
I did a tour with Delerium in 2008, all the way to Moscow. I also did the Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center (for a live audience of 2 million people in the streets of NYC), and a few other shows in 2008 with Sarah M. But for the last 5 or 6 years, it’s been me doing about 100 shows a year across North America. I’ve put out 3 solo CDs so far — with more in the works now.
Biggest Rewards? = getting to do my own music full time … wow !
Biggest Challenges? = the first two years were pretty rough financially, plus the grinding road trips — I’ve sorted it out a lot better now. It’s still not easy — but I love it any way.
I see you have 9 shows in NM — what is it about our great state that you like?
I like NM because it has lots of shows I can get! (laughter) I book myself, and its all very hoge-podge how I go about it. It seems like NM is a big supporter of live music and the arts — I love you, NM!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Did you know I’m a comic collector??? When I’m on the road, I’m always buying old collectible comics when I can find deals on them. My super power would be … the power to stop hate.
Biggest guilty pleasure and/or favorite terrible movie?
Biggest guilty pleasure = chips and dip. Favorite terrible movie = Breaking Away, a 70s movie about a bicycle racer … Honorable mention should go to Big Lebowski. Not sure what category that would be in.
Name one way in which Canada is superior to America, and one way America is superior to Canada.
-Canada might be overall a little more green — is that true? We have the most tree-huggers (which I am one of).
-America blasts out the best pop culture, and always has.
Tom Cruise or Richard Gere, and why?
… I prefer actors like Paul Giamatti … if I had to choose one, I’d say Tom Cruise pops off the screen more, and that’s his best talent.