Ash

The trio’s frontman looks ahead to their tour in support of Islands. “We’re still enjoying it so much, so why stop?”

Still basking in the praise for their latest album, Islands, the Northern Irish alternative pop-punk trio are about to play on eight UK dates. Guitarist/vocalist Tim Wheeler sets the scene.

As a band that began as freshfaced schoolboys, how is it possible that 2018 marks twenty-six years of Ash? [Laughs] It’s surreal. When you put it like that, it’s hard to wrap my head around. We’re still enjoying it so much, so why stop?

Why have there been just seven albums during that time? Is it all down to quality control?

I really don’t know. It’s probably because we’ve toured so much

– I find it very hard to write on the road. But yeah, we always take the time to make sure we have songs that are strong enough.

A press release calls the current album Islands “an open-hearted set of songs dealing with love and loss, friendship and betrayal, identity, salvation, redemption and rebirth”. That sounds like plenty to get off your chest. I was going through a heartbreaking situation, and it was cathartic, for sure. Before that I’d made a solo album about losing my dad to Alzheimer’s. So music can be a release.

Classic Rock’s review said the album “rediscovered and built upon” existing strengths, yet took Ash to “new places entirely”.

That’s lovely. I’m so proud of that album. It felt like every song was strong – right up there with our very best stuff. You’ve dared to call it a “classic”. [Laughs] Did I?! I guess there are two of our albums that the fans call classics: our first and our third ones. So hopefully this is another.

Having resided in the States for more than a decade, is it hard not to write about politics now? New York is such a liberal city, I feel sheltered from it. I’ve yet to meet a real Trump supporter. Maybe I’ll write one for the next album, though possibly I’ve missed my window [laughs].

Back in 2009, Ash dreamed up the A-Z Series, which saw twenty-six singles appear on a fortnightly basis, each represented by a letter of the alphabet. Did you very quickly regret that idea?

Not really, because despite the stress it generated it was a very enjoyable year. It felt exciting to be doing something new and unique.

That same year’s UK tour consisted of twenty-six dates in alphabetical order, from Aldershot to Zennor.

Every single night felt bizarre. Zennor is a tiny village hall in Cornwall. Our tour bus couldn’t even get through the streets; we had to park outside of town. The place held seventy people – completely crazy! It was among the best tours we ever did. DL