Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Asher Monroe

Asher Monroe is a triple threat whose career speaks for itself. He’s starred in national productions of The Sound of Music, Oliver!, and The Prince and the Pauper, brought characters to life on the screen in projects like Parenthood, Fame, and The Mentalist, and created hit songs in the studio that have connected with an international audience.

This year, he’s gearing up for not one, but two brand new albums!

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Asher about his career, his upcoming releases, and his new single, “Try Me“.

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Asher: Fortunately, I discovered my passion early on in my life. I was always whistling around the house and taking piano lessons. My big break came at six years old when I auditioned for the national Broadway tour of Beauty and the Beast.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Asher: I can’t say any one particular figure influenced me to sing, write, act, or dance; it was more or less hard work and dedication to my craft, constant persistence, growth, and never giving up that has kept me going all these years.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout the years. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Asher: There have been so many memorable moments that it’s hard to narrow down my favorites. Traveling almost all over the United States at an early age on multiple Broadway tours was super thrilling. Being signed to a major label with a band performing in front of 50,000 people in the Philippines was pretty cool, as was working with some heavy-hitter writers and producers like Ryan Tedder and Walter Afanasieff. They helped me learn so much about the behind-the-scenes. The list goes on, but there have been numerous magical moments along the way.

PC: In addition to being a singer-songwriter, you’re also an actor and dancer. How have those creative forms of expression made you a stronger musician and vice versa?
Asher: I think having multiple opportunities to explore those avenues has helped give me the courage and strength to take on the unfamiliar and learn as much as possible in the process and the moment. Having to act in a movie or do dance rehearsal for five hours a day teaches you a new craft and discipline; it’s like exercising a new muscle that you didn’t realize you had.

PC: You’ve got a new single out now. Tell us about “Try Me” and the inspiration behind the song.
Asher: The inspiration for “Try Me” actually came from someone who was very near and dear to me, someone who had fulfilled a tremendous amount of success to the public eye, but deep down was crippled in heartache, pain, cynicism, and misery. I felt like this person, who I will leave unnamed, was always a victim of happenstance. The mentality was always “me against the world”. With so much turmoil this person was going through when it didn’t have to be that way inspired me to write this song. I wanted to encourage anyone who was going through similar issues to not always point the finger and blame everyone else for their problems, but to look introspectively and take a more proactive approach to solving the chaos seen around them. “Try Me” is about taking the power back and leaving the victim mentality behind.

PC: You’re getting ready to drop not one, but two albums in 2021. What can you tease about those releases?
Asher: Talk with God was the first album I released earlier this year. It was a collection of some of my favorite singles that I’d released plus a few unreleased songs. Sonically, I explored hip-hop infused with alternative rock while the lyrics had a positive and more self-reflective undertone.

Windows of Time will hopefully be released around September, and it couldn’t be sonically more worlds apart. This album has a more orchestral pop sound filled with lush melodies and deep story-driven lyrics, even cinematic at times.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that you did a lot of self-reflection when putting together these two albums. What’s the biggest thing you learned about your artistry/craft working on these two projects?
Asher: That’s a good question. I’ve learned there’s no magic way to write a song. If I’m feeling a certain emotion, I don’t shy away—instead, I infuse what I’m feeling into the music. I lean into the emotions, and I’ve learned more about myself by writing things down on paper, and of course, technically, I get more savvy with every session. I’m always fine tuning my craft.

PC: If you had to pick one song off either album that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Asher: “Talk with God”, the single, because during the duration of making that album, I was fighting the forces of good and evil. I ended up leaning more on God’s help to get me through finishing the album.

“Try Me” was me channeling a close friend of mine dealing with hardships of life and constantly pointing blame at everyone else but himself. I, in fact, have dealt with the same issues in my past and have overcome the victim mentality.

PC: As the music industry has shifted to a singles market, you’re one of the few artists who’s still releasing larger bodies of work. Why has that been so important to you and your artistry?
Asher: Business strategies will always change. The industry will always say, “This is how you have to do it to succeed.” I usually go against the grain. I consider myself a rule bender, and I’d rather live my life like Frank Sinatra best said it, “I did it my way.” To me, singles or albums…it’s all the same. It’s what my fans take from the experience—that’s what I care most about.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Asher: Twenty One Pilots.

PC: First album you bought?
Asher: Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

PC: First concert you attended?
Asher: The Rolling Stones.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Asher: Songs in the Key of Life–Stevie Wonder. There’s so much raw talent and soul in that body of work that sometimes an artist can only achieve once in their lifetime. His raw talent was on full display in my opinion.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Asher: Royal Albert Hall.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Asher: Neuro Sleep. Look it up, it works like a charm.

To keep up with Asher, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Pick up or stream “Try Me” today.