Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Sergio Garcia
Award-winning actress and comedian, Lauren Ash recently released her debut album, Call Me When You Get This. Produced by multi-platinum songwriters and producers Aaron Verdonk (Stereos) and Jesse Colburn (Avril Lavigne) of AXXNPACT, the album is structured around five stages of grief; from the dazed haze of “Diet Coke and Lexapro” to the biting humour of the single “Cool Story Bro” and the triumphant finale, “The Day I Got Over You.” Unfolding the emotional wreckage from the unexpected collapse of a relationship, the record traces the chaos and clarity that followed by using real audio moments Ash recorded of herself throughout her breakup. These authentic, uncensored moments are woven between songs, blurring the line between life and art.
Ash has long been in the spotlight – known to many for her standout performances as the no-nonsense Dina on NBC’s Superstore and Lexi on ABC’s Not Dead Yet, and set to host Flavour Network’s upcoming Canadian original series Halloween Bakeshop, premiering September 14th. But her music career is no side gig: in 2023, she kicked the stage doors open with her breakout single “Now I Know,” topping rock charts in Canada, Australia, and the US. Since then, she’s performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, headlined Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre, and rocked iconic LA venues like The Viper Room and Whisky a Go Go. Her single “Whiplash” was nominated for a 2025 Hollywood Independent Music Award.
With over 1.5 million followers and a growing legion of fans connecting with her no-holds-barred songwriting, Lauren Ash has officially stepped into her rock era and is not looking back.
I had the opportunity to chat with Lauren about her debut album, her journey so far, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your debut album?
Lauren: I wrote this album as I was going through an especially difficult breakup. Truthfully, I don’t know how I would have survived the last year without this outlet to help me process the grief I went through. I know it may sound dramatic but I had never experienced this kind of profound heartbreak before. It wasn’t that I set out to write a break up album, it’s just kind of what happened. In terms of the actual structure of the record, I had documented myself throughout the breakup almost like I was keeping a sort of video diary. I wanted to implement the audio from some of those clips on the album in an effort to give more insight into the state of mind I was in during the course of recording. I felt like I wanted to provide more emotional context for what I was going through at the time. With the last clip “Outro (ACCEPTANCE?)”, I wanted the listener to realize that this whole album had just been one long voicemail I left for my ex. I would never do that in real life so I figured, hey, why not just say everything I would want to say on this record and then pretend like I left it as a 23 minute long voicemail for him?
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the album?
Lauren: As someone who is well known as a beloved character on TV, I really hope people are able to see the real me through this record. A song like “Diet Coke and Lexapro” is so vulnerable and real to who I am. It usually surprises people to learn that I’m actually an introvert. I’m self described as “more sensitive than most” and a real lover girl. I have always felt like I feel things more deeply than others which is both a gift and a curse. On one hand, it makes me a great actor and artist. On the other, it can make emotional situations really difficult for me to navigate. Music is such a vulnerable artform. You are literally saying “hey world, here are my true feelings that I feel deeply! Enjoy! Oh and please don’t crush my soul if you don’t like it!” I don’t have the armor of a character to hide behind with my music. Which is both exciting and terrifying.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Lauren: I think at first it was not having the knowledge of proper musical language. I’ve always written music and know what I like, what I want things to sound like, etc but I have no technical training or experience so it was definitely a learning curve at first. Over time, I feel like I gained more confidence as I became better at communicating to my producers how I wanted songs to sound/feel.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Lauren: My single Whiplash was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award and that was a really cool moment for me. I’ve been working so hard and I love my music so much but this just felt like a sign to keep going. Like, maybe I AM doing something right! I feel like it was a benchmark on my music journey that maybe I’m not completely delusional with what I’m doing. Not that I’m writing music to try and please anyone else but I think knowing that an awards jury thought my song was good enough for a nomination was validating! Definitely is a great motivator to keep pushing ahead! I think if I’ve learned anything it’s to trust your gut. Don’t back down during the creative process if you really believe in what you’re doing. It will only pay off down the line.
Kat: What’s next?
Lauren: I am SO EXCITED to hit the road on my first tour in support of this record! 10 cities in Ontario and Quebec in October and November. Check out my website laurenash.band for tickets! There’s nothing I love more than performing these songs live and we’ve put together a REALLY fun live show that I can’t wait to share with everyone!
Connect With Lauren:
For more information and tickets to upcoming shows visit: www.laurenash.band.