It’s quite rare for a band or artist to refer to themselves as a “unicorn in the music industry” but such is the claim that Ajeet, Sukhmani, and Aisling Urwin make with the release of their new single ‘Ash + Bone.‘ It’s an all female release – from artists through recording and production teams – and they note this as an increasing rarity, citing the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative finding that from 2019 to 2020, female singers decreased from 22.5% to 20.2%, female songwriters decreased from 14.4% to 12.9%, and female producers declined from 5% to just 2%.
‘Ash + Bone‘ is an acoustic collaboration between songstresses Ajeet, Sukhmani, and Aisling Urwin. Rich with 3-part harmonies throughout, all instruments are also played by these three with Ajeet on guitar; Sukhmani on Calabash, an African percussion instrument made from a large gourd; and Aisling on harp. ‘Ash + Bone‘ carries a message in response to the disparity of female representation the three artists say, and it is that it “encourages females to embrace their inner wildness, and in doing so, to feel free, alive, and powerful.” Well, that doesn’t seem too unreasonable a thought.
