Meet Asha Iwanowicz

We had the good fortune of connecting with Asha Iwanowicz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Asha, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Taking risks is sometimes necessary to find success. I took a risk when I decided that making music was going to be my life. A lot of my former classmates and colleagues have given up on that dream to pursue more stable jobs and income, and there are times I certainly wish I could do the same. but my drive to succeed in a creative field always outweighs the stress of the unpredictable nature of what I do for a living. I took a risk moving to New York City after college, and I took another leap of faith moving to Los Angeles, but both were risks that were worth taking, in my opinion. They made me work harder and smarter, it forced me to put myself out there and even though I have some regrets. I stand by the risks I’ve taken.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I call myself a one-stop shop. I compose music, write songs, play many instruments and sing, as well as record and produce music. Not everyone is capable of starting at nothing and getting a piece of music to completion alone. I think this is something that sets me apart. I’m also exceptionally productive, and can write a lot very quickly. However, what I’m most excited about is a new album I have been working on for quite some time now. In my daily work I have very fast turnarounds which is why I like to take my time and really craft something special for my albums. I believe this album is what I’ve been working towards for a long time creatively and I’m extremely proud of it. I got to where I am today through a lot of hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of luck. The biggest lesson I’ve learned and the secret of my success is that I am punctual, respectful to my clients and willing to learn from my mistakes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love nature, so all my recommendations are more nature-based. I live by Griffith Observatory, I can see it out of my studio window, and that’s the first place I take most people. I love hiking and walking around the park so it’s a great place to start. Then maybe lunch at Little Dom’s on Hillhurst. If they are beach people, I take them out to Malibu because there’s something so majestic about seeing the beach and mountains at the same time. If they are into seafood I take them to my favorite seafood spot on the PCH called Neptune’s Net. I personally love the drive up to Lake Arrowhead so if they are here for a whole week, I see no problem driving up there to spend a night because the views from up there are absolutely gorgeous. If they’re here during the poppy bloom season, I think that’s worth a visit as well. And then last but not least, driving out to Joshua Tree is a must. I can’t recommend it enough.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Two people that stand out to me as inspirations and supports are firstly, a female, Japanese composer named Yoko Kanno, who was one of the only woman composers I knew of growing up. She composed so many of my favorite pieces of music and without her I don’t think I would have had the gumption to go down this path. Even today, I still don’t believe there are enough woman or non-male composers in the industry. I’m still fighting to have more women in this space, but I will keep working towards this goal in any way I can. The second person is my mom, who never discouraged me from doing music, who took me to many classical concerts and ballets and museums as a kid, who fostered this love for art despite not having artistic abilities herself but believing that I had something special. If there isn’t someone in your life who lets you thrive and supports that, it can be all the more challenging. I’ve had many phone calls with her where she reassures me that I have talent and that I can’t give up on that.

Website: https://www.ashamakesmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashamakesmusic/?hl=en

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/asha-iwanowicz-04920431

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ashamakesmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshaMakesMusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ashamakesmusic

Image Credits
Sarah Baker David Broder Oliver Williams