By Margaret Adams
Bay Area-native Austin Dean Ashford has released his second single of 2022, opening the year with a groovy and high-spirited new rap song, “Soulja Healin.” The single is included in the rapper’s upcoming sophomore album, following his critically-acclaimed debut album, Sophisti-Ratchet.
Ashford first entered the music community by way of theater, receiving a dual-MFA in Acting and Play-writing at the University of Arkansas. In 2019, Ashford was selected as a OneBeat Colombia Fellow, joining musicians internationally to write, produce, and perform original music, as well as develop strategies for arts-based social engagement. He has received top honors from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in DC, and has recently earned a Latin Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Diana Burco on “Rio Abajo.”
“Soulja Healin” combines the best of island-trap and rap to create an undeniably energetic, fun, and unmissable single. The song’s production is clearly informed with pop and trap influences, all underneath the light ukulele. The repetitive lyrics and fun beat make “Soulja Healin” the perfect track to dance to.
“I wrote this song on the ukulele while I was touring in Colombia for the first time,” said Ashford. “I learned about the war that was going on for over 60 years and how the soldiers were dancing even at a time of war. At the same time of making this song, I collaborated on a song that made me Latin Grammy nominated.”
Fans of Lizzo, Childish Gambino, and Anderson Paak should check out Austin Dean Ashford’s new single, “Soulja Healin.”
“Soulja Healin” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, and YouTube. Follow our Alchemical Multigenre Mixdown playlist for more great music featured on the site.
Margaret Adams is a Psychology major and Rhetoric and Writing minor at The Catholic University of America from New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition to her work with Alchemical, she writes for CUA’s student newspaper, The Tower, and has recently been named Quill Editor. She enjoys reading, writing, and looking at pictures of her dog, Bella.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
