Hey Lauren Ash, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. Could you tell us a little known fact about yourself?

Yes! Something that usually surprises people is that I’m actually pretty introverted in many ways. Yes, I absolutely am the life of the party when I want or need to be but I don’t need big social events or interactions to feel content. I’m much happier at home with my animals on the couch than out at a party or club or something.

Let’s talk about your latest single ‘Dumpster Fire’. What inspired the title, and how does it reflect the energy of the song?

The title really came up organically as we collaborated on the song. I love the fact that everyone knows exactly the kind of person you mean when you describe them as a “dumpster fire”. 10 years ago we likely would have called them a trainwreck but now if you say “dumpster fire” people immediately know the kind of person you mean. The energy of the song also really reflects that vibe to me. The pulsing intensity of the bass throughout almost feels like a metaphor for your increased heartrate around that person. When it’s so bad it’s good and you can’t fight that physiological excitement. I feel like this song embodies that musically as well as lyrically.

You co-wrote the track with Aaron Verdonk and Jesse Colburn in Toronto. Can you tell us how that collaboration came together?

“Dumpster Fire” is actually the first song the three of us wrote together! We were introduced through mutual friends in the summer of 2024 and thought we’d get together for a writing session to see if we vibed. The guys sent me a piece of music they had ahead of time so I recorded a voice note with an idea for lyrics and melodies for the first verse and pre-chorus and sent it back to them the same night. The next day when we came in, Aaron had an idea for the chorus so we started piecing it all together and long story short, we literally cranked out the whole song that afternoon. Immediately I was like “we have something special here”. Over the course of the next year we wrote the entire album together.

You mentioned Charli XCX and Olivia Rodrigo as key influences on this release. What aspects of their artistry did you try to channel or reinterpret through ‘Dumpster Fire’?

I love and admire both of those women very deeply. I was inspired by the rawness of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts” and the attitude of Charli XCX’s “Brat”. If I was ever compared to either of them musically in any way, I would be beyond flattered.

This feels like the kind of track you scream with the windows down. How do you hope listeners connect with it?

We’ve all had that one relationship with a person who was an absolute toxic nightmare…but was SO HOT we just couldn’t quit them. You know it’s a bad idea, you know it can’t be longterm but then you suddenly find yourself CATCHING FEELINGS? It’s a recipe for disaster. “Dumpster Fire” is basically an anthem for anyone who fell in love with a situationship, celebrating the bad decisions we know we will regret after a few months.

You’ve described the song as one for the girls and gays, but also one the straight boys sneak onto their gym playlists. How important is that cross-energy appeal to you when you’re writing or performing?

I actually don’t think about it that much. As an independent artist, I have the luxury of answering to no one but myself in terms of what songs I want to write and release. Consequently, I’ve been writing songs where the main audience I want to impress is…well…me. So I kind of only pay attention to things like “cross-energy appeal” when the songs are completely finished. When I first listened to the final version of “Dumpster Fire”, I thought “oh wow, I think so many different people will like this one!” Which was really cool! But never something I actively set out to accomplish.

What’s next for Lauren Ash?

The full album is coming this September followed by some touring to support it! I can’t wait. I love playing live shows so much and I am excited to share all the music with people in person. I’m Canadian so I am focusing on touring there to start with a possible UK leg later in the year!

Follow Lauren Ash on Instagram.