The most unexpected thing to come out of the idyllic small town Somerset located in South West England is the 19-year-old rising talent Finn Askew. After releasing multiple singles he has finally dropped his genre bending debut EP “Peach” today, which combines smooth piano jazz with lo-fi hip-hop beats and indie rock elements. To get to know the young artist better we asked him a few questions about his hometown, his upbringing and his inspirations.
First of all, of course, we want to know from you what True Identity means to you ?
That’s a bit of a deep question you know but I guess it’s pretty self-explanatory just being true to yourself, we all are unique you just gotta show it off.
What is your first memory or experience of music?
I don’t think I remember the first time I was introduced to music I was so young. Just being brought up with it, and it’s always been a part of me, so I don’t have a specific memory.
Why did you start making music ?
I just did music because it felt right, it gave me a sense of purpose in a way.
What inspires you most about the place you live in? And what do you think it adds to your individual sound?
I mean I don’t live in a city I live out in the countryside and I think what inspires me the most is the quiet around and a sense of freedom you can’t get from the big city.
How do you think your journey has shaped you so far?
There’s been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of yes’s and no’s, but all of that has helped shaped me as an artist; I found my sound.
When do you feel most creative and most inspired to make music ?
I feel most creative when I’m up in London or LA (away from my home town lol) surrounded by likeminded people who live and breathe music like I do.
We have all been isolated since the middle of March 2020. How has the quarantine treated you?
Quarantine hasn’t been too bad for me at all, especially as I’ve been living out in the countryside! Doesn’t feel like much has changed its pretty chill down here. I’ve still also been busy with music, been going studio bare, still creating mazzas.
And how does the current situation in the world influence your creative process? What are your musical or creative goals for the next few years ?
It’s just slowed things down for me but it hasn’t stopped me from creating at all, just been more of a struggle.
Was there a musical experience, a concert or a performance that touched your soul?
Think like 3 or 4 years ago I went to a 1975 concert in Plymouth and seeing my idol Matt Healy on stage for the first time was fuckin crazy. It just hit, how much I wanna be rocking out on a stage like that, was lit.
If you could speak to yourself in the past, what would you say to you?
“You so steezy, keep doing what you’re doing!”
