Ashley Paul’s dance-pop empire is built from movement, emotion, discipline and a refusal to let the genre be flattened into easy escapism. In this A&R Factory interview, the New York-born artist opens up about working between the UK and the US, the different flavours of club culture across both sides of the Atlantic, and the “special sauce” that lets her load sensuality, soul and glamour into music made for the dancefloor. She also reflects on the international reach of her catalogue, the continuing life of her Billboard hit When Boys Cry, the thrill of preparing for 54 Below, and why collaboration can feel like creating a new life before having to let it go. With new music, media appearances and live shows ahead, Ashley Paul sounds fully charged for 2026.
You’re originally from New York and now work heavily between the UK and the United States. How has moving between those two music cultures shaped the way you approach dance-pop?
Music is the true Universal language; there are a myriad of subgenres in almost every subculture!! I will say the flavors are different everywhere you go. New York dance pop is very rooted in Freestyle, whereas in the UK dance music is almost always like 90s nostalgia. If you fly to the West Coast of the USA my style of faster BPMs is somewhat soulful. These varying immersive experiences keep the sound fresh. For me, I constantly need to be different in order to maintain growth.
Your sound loads glamour and emotion into proper club-ready energy. When you’re writing a song, how do you balance the desire to make people move with the need to make them actually feel something?
That’s an amazing question. It’s sort of my special sauce. The dichotomies and connectivity between soul and sensuality is where I’m at. I only write a song to start from a deep perspective, something at my core. That’s my story. The message I want to share…Melodies and color come from infectious beats I hear and energy that is surrounding me. Whether it’s a sunset I recall or a Disney character who moved me spiritually. It all goes into a delicious potpourri of sounds. That’s the magic. Let’s not forget that after that we add the vocals… where I try to sync it all together with a beautiful satin bow.
You’ve built a growing international audience through releases, media appearances and live shows. What has surprised you most about connecting with listeners across different countries?
I find it awe-inspiring when a group of people or a radio station community in another country is listening to my music. It’s never a song I expect; it’s a choice from my catalogue that I may not even be promoting momentarily. For an independent artist, that is such an incredible compliment. I also am always so moved by many areas that play my older Billboard Hit when boys cry, as well. To have so many different types of cultures all around the world listen to your music is the highest form of Artistic fulfillment. I have much gratitude.
Your New York City debut at 54 Below feels like a huge milestone, especially with its cabaret legacy. What does that stage represent for you at this point in your career?
It’s an incredible honor and opportunity for me to grow as an artist. That stage has seen some of the great singers, songwriters and actors of our time. Writing my own show and performing original music with classics is a creative journey I’ve always wanted to be on. I’m very very excited for this !!
You’ve worked with producers and creatives across the industry. What do you typically look for in collaborators?
There has to be a vibe in the highest sense of community within the creative space. It’s like any introduction, you feel it, or you don’t. I always know right away when I meet a new co-writer if it’s going to fly . Collaborations are intense, passionate and creatively inspiring. You end up finishing each other’s sentences by the end of the project. When it’s over, it can be very sad bc you’ve created a new life… that song is breathing love and light out into the world, and then you must walk away. There’s a bond between all of you though. No substitute for that , it’s beautiful.I have been so fortunate to have written with some of the greatest and most talented co-writers and producers of our time. I am always thanking the heavens for this privilege.
Dance-pop can sometimes be dismissed as purely escapist, but your music carries emotional weight too. Why do you think people underestimate the genre’s evocative capacity?
Well, that answer carries a double entendre in my opinion.
Part of it is because of how the industry leaders had set this up. I know this response is not going to make me popular. Dance music was seen as competition for Pop music, and the higher-ups did not like that. They couldn’t control it as it took on a life force of its own. Meanwhile, moving your body is always an emotional response; then you add brilliant melodies, vocals n profound storytelling, and there is serious magic. It’s multilayered, not one-dimensional.
One might compare a dance track and its remixes to an orchestra or an operetta. It’s powerful, and that always frightens some people. Rather than elevating its magnificent contribution to society, some people choose to belittle it.
You’re moving through 2026 with new music, podcast interviews, media appearances and live performances. How do you keep your identity centered when so many different opportunities are happening at once, and how do you prevent burnout?
I actually thrive under pressure with many projects needing attention at once. I approach all my work with authenticity, discipline and the highest level of giving my best work. My identity is just that, an artist who wants to create and share her work with the world, that’s my contribution: to bring love, laughter, and inclusion through my music, my voice .. to me that is life . . I am blessed to have some doors open, and there is no way I am going to stop for a vacation now !! In other words, I don’t clock out on Friday at 5 pm. I just stop for a delicious dessert sometimes 😉 #sweettooth
When people leave an Ashley Paul show, whether it’s a nightlife venue, a media event or 54 Below, what feeling do you want still ringing in their chest afterwards?
Wow I feel so good. I loved how her story, her music, made me feel like I can do anything !!
I want them to feel that the sky’s the limit !! If everyone knew what their passion was and tried to pursue it, the world would operate on more joy.
–
Discover Ashley Paul on
Spotify.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
