ASHERAH

ASHERAH Explores Certainty of Change with Stunning Debut EP, ‘Ephemeral’
By Cynthia Gross

On March 11, Miami, Florida-based electronic pop artist ASHERAH released her debut 4-track EP, Ephemeral, which “tells a highly personal tale of the grief process through shimmering sound design and haunting vocals.” The stunning collection of songs is otherworldly and transformative, guiding listeners through the abyss to higher ground.

ASHERAH, aka Ariel Morer, centers Ephemeral around themes of nature and spirituality as a means to heal. “River,” the opening track – and one of my favorites – is delicate and mesmerizing. The personified river serves as an awe-inspiring energy source that beckons individuals to engage. “I’ll keep you safe now / Just count to three,” the river says, leading ASHERAH to step in “wanting to feel something.” The piano outro to “River” is a hidden gem and arguably one the loveliest parts of the song.

“Holy,” another standout track on the album, features an upbeat, tribal vibe and world influences. With lyrics like “Who will be the one to bring the light back to the sun / Make us holy,” the song feels like a spiritual chant. There is a sacred element to ASHERAH’s aura, beginning with her artist name and flowing through the compositions. “Holy” asks more questions than it offers answers, revealing the uncertainty that challenges even those of us with the strongest faith.

“Can I survive this valley I don’t have the will to climb?” ASHERAH asks. It’s refreshing to encounter this honest perspective that bridges the divide between the sacred and secular, reminding listeners that regardless of our identity, we’re all beautifully imperfect human beings.

ASHERAH notes that “Chasm” set the tone for Ephemeral, produced by electronic composer Medulasa, with cover art by Mea Adoryan. “I wrote it about a close friend who passed away of an overdose, so this record is dedicated to him.” The song features breathtaking vocalizations and immersive soundscapes, expressing emotions that are too deep for words. “I tried to help you / I tried to heal you / Because I need you / But you don’t need me, too,” ASHERAH sings in the few lyrical lines of “Chasm.”

The EP’s closing track, “More Than Miles,” finds ASHERAH committing to move forward. While she cannot reverse the tragedy that claimed the life of her friend, she can cherish his memories. Looking to nature as an example, the lullaby acknowledges that ends are beginnings, and each season provides an opportunity to embark on the difficult journey of starting anew.

ASHERAH’s new EP is an impressive debut that is well worth a listen from start to finish. Follow our Alchemical Multigenre Mixdown playlist for more great music featured on the site. - Alchemical Records

Ly Hagan
Mar 21, 2022
2 min read

BAND-AID: ASHERAH's Floating and Fleeting Grief
Oftentimes, grief is physically debilitating. It festers as a wound within you, completely shutting down your senses. ASHERAH’s ethereal pop EP, Ephemeral, explores this bodily experience of grief through the theme of transcendence. The rich, layered production and ASHERAH’s diaphanous vocals contrasts with the gut-wrenching lyrics, as ASHERAH composes an elegy to her lost friend. The EP is dedicated to her friend Dennis Thompson, with all net proceeds going to Rebel Recovery, a community outreach service for those impacted by drug use and living with or at risk of HIV/AIDs.


The EP’s lead single “Holy” is a rhythmic yet perturbed piece, as the dance beat creates a sense of unease; capturing the feeling of restlessness. Two voices sing in unison, yet one remains stifled. ASHERAH sings of desperation in the face of loss, calling for a saviour to return her to blissful normalcy: “Could you be the one who brings the light back to the sun? / And makes us warm again.” But the “you” which ASHERAH addresses is fleeting, as she finds herself in denial, longing for divine mercy.


Throughout the album, ASHERAH undergoes an emotional shift towards acceptance. In “Chasm,” she finally digresses and admits to her exhaustion. “You want to rest / I’ll let you sleep,” she sings. The song swells, as synths grow in intensity overpowering her voice. Toward the end, a clear and gentle melody begins to take over, reflecting a “grounding” separate from the other-worldly electronic heaven which ASHERAH had previously indulged in.


The final song, “More Than Miles,” sees ASHERAH moving on. ”Sleep most peacefully / There are no bad dreams / More than miles away.” The bright chords reflect a shift towards positivity, yet there is a lingering feeling of loss. The song feels like a final goodbye to her friend, expressing happiness at her newfound peace, yet never truly forgetting the loss. The last few moments of Ephemeral see the song dissolve into cacophonous noise. The resolution, it seems, comes at the cost of destruction. - Tonitruale

Hailing from Miami, singer-songwriter, producer, and electronic pop recording artist ASHERAH makes her ethereal debut with a shimmering new single, "Holy."


Before rebranding as ASHERAH, Ariel Morer worked closely with Grammy-nominated producer David Ruttenberg while gaining international success. She's also had the opportunity to perform alongside acts like M83, Flying Lotus, the late SOPHIE, Denzel Curry, and Oneohtrix Point Nev.,


Through her debut single, "Holy," ASHERAH helps us get to know her mystical, otherwordly ways and haunting vocals that nod to names like Purity Ring, Lights, and Grimes. Co-produced by electronic music composer Medulasa, this track is the lead single from ASHERAH's forthcoming EP, 'Ephemeral,' "a coalescence of unexpected creative forces telling a highly personal tale of the grief process," notes the singer-songwriter.


Expanding on the debut single, "Holy," ASHERAH opens the song with a haunting sonic foreground through mystical chimes, celestial synths, and rhythmic, choppy drum breaks. As ASHERAH makes her captivating and ethereal vocal appearance, she soothes our souls immediately while singing a sacred message of living for the higher powers above.


We adore the dynamic range within this track; ASHERAH's production offers the perfect amount of nostalgic and dark pop while incorporating the mystical and individualistic ways of modern electronics. We totally hear ASHERAH's Grimes influences shine through on this transcendent piece, especially as we make our way to the hook and bask in her serene and soothing harmonies alongside the vibrant and sparkling sonics.


Get to know the lovely ASHERAH through her chilling debut single, "Holy," now available on all digital streaming platforms. - Buzz Music LA

ASHERAH is the electronic pop alias of Miami-based singer, songwriter, producer, and composer, Ariel Morer. Her work with local Miami electronic acts paved the way for her invitation to perform with them at festivals like III Points alongside preeminent artists such as M83, Flying Lotus, the late SOPHIE, Denzel Curry, and Oneohtrix Point Never. In addition, it led to her opening for acts like The Radio Dept.



Now here with her debut E.P, we get the opportunity to take in the hype that surrounds this up-and-coming starlet for ourselves. Produced in collaboration with left-field electronic music composer, Medulasa, ASHERAH's latest collection of songs on "Ephemeral" is a coalescence of unexpected creative forces telling a highly personal tale of the grief process through a collaborative effort detailing the grief process of losing a close friend.



Delving into the introductory track heard on "Ephemeral," the tantalizing essence of "River" graces our speakers. With airy synths that form an atmosphere of elusive notions, the intensity of this record begins to progress through the production elements introduced. As the tempo rises, so does our anticipation. ASHERAH emits an angelic vocalization that's smothered in reverb ricocheting in our minds as we absorb each mystical word crooned. It's safe to say that "River" opens our sonic appetite for the rest of "Ephemeral," unraveling the intricate soundscape one note at a time.



Reaching the second song title "Holy," we find ourselves in an atmosphere that radiates in effervescent hues. There's a buoyant synergy running through your speakers as the intoxicating bliss that is ASHERAH's profound storytelling is reiterated in a truly captivating way. Her inimitable timbres charge our energy through the harmonies before our eyes. There's something so magical to how ASHERAH becomes one with the instrumentation. Upon every impactful percussion pattern, you feel her words punch as they unite with pure passion, and as the song comes to its final note, you immediately begin to miss the warmth ASHERAH conveys.



"Chasm" comes in at third on the tracklist and slows the tempo down to pull us into a more profound depth heard in the message ASHERAH transmits. As our minds fill with the beauty of her wide vocal range, we get transported to the atmospheric realm of curiosity blended with emotional tenors. We love how ASHERAH's emphasis in this song is that of a more melancholy feel. Grasping onto the minimal yet impactful lyrics she professes, along with the vocal layers of a true goddess, we hear just how robust the musical foundation that Medulasa brings to life is.



As we reach the final track, "More Than Miles," our hearts open even more to take in the emotion-evoking lyrical motifs heard in this particular song. ASHERAH takes a more intimate approach to her vocals as they tiptoe into this piece and flutter around in a charismatic fashion. Within each word carefully crafted, a vulnerable artist is telling her story in a meaningful manner. ASHERAH has conveyed numerous sides of her artistry as we go through each song placed on "Ephemeral." Having us leave with what we deem one of her most heartrending tracks has us ready to put this E.P on repeat and study every sonic inch of this poignant and thought-provoking electro-pop masterpiece.




Congratulations on the release of your debut E.P. "Ephemeral." We would love it if you could pull us into your mind for a moment and go into detail about the concept of this body of work. What does "Ephemeral" mean to you?


I was stuck between naming the record Ephemeral or Eternal for a while. Two opposites but both concepts that I felt made sense in the context of the E.P. "Ephemeral" because we are here in this body, in this life, for only a moment. Even if you believe in reincarnation or that the soul persists, we hold these earthly identities so briefly. You'll never have the same experience twice. I considered "Eternal" because I believe I will find my friend (and album muse) again across lifetimes but ultimately went with Ephemeral because his time here was so short.


In terms of the messages and emotions conveyed, what are you hoping your audience takes away from this E.P.?


I think one of the best things about music is that it'll never mean the same thing to everyone. For me, Ephemeral was my grief therapy for the loss of my friend. I wanted these four songs to each detail different aspects of his passing. River was written as a metaphor for addiction. Holy was my anger and confusion. Chasm was the most difficult to finish because I kept crying during the vocal takes. It was the farthest depths of my grief and drowning in my new reality. More Than Miles is a goodbye lullaby giving both him and me the okay to move on. A lot of the imagery in it is very literal because I traveled a lot after his passing just to get away from all the places that reminded me of him, to try to get out of my head. I physically went to "mountains, valleys, and seas" to be held by nature and escape the profound loss, but I think I looked for him there too. It was also important to me that something positive came out of this, so I decided to donate all of Ephemeral's Bandcamp proceeds to a local harm reduction organization (https://www.rebelrecoveryfl.com/).


Do you happen to have a favorite song on the tracklist? What's your reasoning behind this?


Chasm is hands down my favorite piece I've written, both on the E.P. and since I started writing music. Lyrically it's incredibly simple, but my feelings were expressed more through the note choices and repetitiveness of the choral sections. I wanted it to feel a little too long in parts because that's how my grief felt. The way it builds, crescendos, and dies down to a whisper is how it felt to lose this person who meant so much to me. I feel Medulasa, and I really captured the exasperation and exhaustion that comes with mourning the loss of a loved one. My boyfriend also suggested that I sample my friend's voice in the song, so the muffled talking you hear around 1:50 is him playing with his cats, whom he loved. I love that I have a piece of him in the song that feels almost tangible.


What has been the best advice you've been given through your music career thus far?


Honestly? It was to learn to produce. Learn to use a DAW functionally. I'm still a beginner when it comes to the production and engineering side of things, but it's already opened so many doors not having to rely on a producer to record at their studio. In this day and age, you have to be able to hold your own on that front. Especially being a woman.


What's next for you?


There's so much pressure to keep up a consistent stream of "content," and I think right now, I just want to take things a day at a time. I have some prospective singles I'd love to put out before the end of the year and a couple of collaborations in the vault, but the latter are beyond my control. But I actually recently befriended a producer whose music I'm obsessed with, so there might be something fun out in the not-too-distant future. - Buzz Music LA

On a écouté Ephemeral le nouvel EP de ASHERAH et on a aimé
By
La Rédaction
3 mai 2022

Commencer la semaine avec la bonne attitude, le bon ton est toujours important. En effet alors que les médias de masse sont en boucle sur les informations anxiogènes, se laisser une pause musicale de qualité surtout pour lancer sa semaine est toujours une bonne idée. C’est l’occasion de couper quelques instants, c’est l’occasion d’un moment de respiration qui ne pourra que vous faire du bien et que nous vous recommandons. Avec « Ephemeral » le nouvel EP de ASHERAH dont nous découvrons le catalogue, vous avez ce dont vous avez besoin pour habiller votre journée.

Des mélodies contagieuses d’une qualité supérieure, la musique de ASHERAH fait partie des raretés, des gens créatifs de ceux qui voient les choses différentes, de ceux qui cassent toutes les barrières sonores pour un effet immédiat. On ne sait pas où on est mais on se sent bien, dans quelque chose de spécial, une rareté, qui vaut le détour. La réalisation est de qualité, la production également, tout est fait pour laisser à la créativité et à la musique une place prédominante, nous avons été bluffé, vous le serez aussi.

Le son est aérien, il est singulier, la voix de la chanteuse couvre avec délicatesse, efficacité, une instrumentation cristalline, on se sent dans les nuages, dans l’espace, quelque part entre deux galaxie, rêvant de choses positives, belles, ASHERAH est plus qu’une belle surprise. L’artiste est le genre qui couvre votre visage d’un grand sourire tant sa musique est rare, belle.

Vous ne pourrez pas résister à « River » par exemple qui est notre petite préférée mais les autres ne sont pas en reste car le projet est homogène dans la qualité, dans la très grande qualité d’ailleurs. Sans plus attendre, plongez dans l’univers musical de ASHERAH ci-dessous: - IGGY Magazine