By Simona Mihalca 
Ashleigh Semkiw is the captivating force behind Tulip Band, a musical project that masterfully blends powerful vocals with a unique blend of genres. Known for their evocative storytelling and striking sound, Tulip continues to push creative boundaries, exploring new themes and delivering compelling performances. We first did an interview quite a few years ago and thought it was time for a catch-up.
Teen Art Out: Hi, Ashleigh, nice to be talking to you again. We thought it would be nice to do a catch-up since our last interview back in 2019.
Ashleigh Semkiw: It’s great to be back! Life is pretty exciting right now. We’re about to embark on a tour in October with Ad Infinitum and Seven Spires, which I’m incredibly excited about. Both Melissa and Adrienne are phenomenal frontwomen, and I’m really looking forward to calling them friends.
Teen Art Out: What new themes or ideas are you exploring in your music today, and how do they differ from the inspiration behind the “TULIP” EP?
Ashleigh Semkiw: In the past, a lot of our music revolved around religion and our experiences growing up within it, and then ultimately leaving it behind. With our newest EP, we’re delving into various principles of psychology. We’re examining ideas surrounding the Dark Tetrad and Light Triad, which are four distinct personality traits that I believe we’ve all encountered in some form.
Adapting to the Evolving Music Landscape
Teen Art Out: Since our last interview, the music industry has changed drastically with the rise of new platforms and technologies. How have you adapted to these changes in terms of marketing, fan engagement, and distributing your music?
Ashleigh Semkiw: Honestly, we haven’t changed our core approach. We do have social media accounts, but we’ll continue to release and promote our music based on its merit, rather than focusing on how “viral” it can become.
Teen Art Out: Let’s look back at Big Shiny Metal Tunes. Which song was the most surprising or rewarding to transform, and why?
Ashleigh Semkiw: Absolutely the Amon Amarth song, “Runes to My Memory.” It’s always been a special song for us because of how beautifully it’s written. Not many metal songs can be stripped down and made into acoustic versions unless they’re truly well-crafted, and this one is undoubtedly one of the best.
Live Performances and Collaborations
Teen Art Out: Last year you toured with Serenity and Temperance, joining a kick-ass tour of symphonic metal. How was that experience for you?
Ashleigh Semkiw: It was wonderful. Both of those groups are comprised of some of the most talented musicians we’ve ever met. They are kind, hardworking, and true artists.
Teen Art Out: How has the energy of your live shows changed since before the pandemic?
Ashleigh Semkiw: We all genuinely love being on stage, so I don’t think much has changed other than being mask-free at our meet-and-greets now.
Teen Art Out: You’ve recently released a music video for “Devourer.” First of all, congrats on that! Such a strong release. How did this song and collaboration come to be?
Ashleigh Semkiw: Kristin Starkey is such a gifted singer, and I feel incredibly lucky that I had the opportunity to work with her. We became fast friends because of our shared background in opera and classical music, but she truly impresses me so much. We worked together on “Devourer,” and I love her so much as a friend. The story of “Devourer” speaks about someone who displays intense affection and attention before ultimately ending their own story. I wrote the song about abusive and narcissistic relationships, which we were both able to relate to and knew others would connect with as well.
Teen Art Out: Even before that, we got to see and hear “Arabella.” It looks like Tulip is going strong with big cinematic productions. How do you come up with your video concepts?
Ashleigh Semkiw: That’s a great question for Colin! He comes up with all of the video plans alongside our buddy Michael Levine, who handles all of the shooting and filming.
Teen Art Out: You’ve collaborated with Kristin Starkey on OPERA goes METAL. Is that a concept you’d like to see more of?
Ashleigh Semkiw: For sure! I actually think the two genres blend perfectly.
The Future of Tulip and the Music Industry
Teen Art Out: What’s next after these new releases? Can we expect a full-length album and a tour?
Ashleigh Semkiw: We are currently in the middle of this album cycle and have our October tour planned, with potentially something else in the new year.
Teen Art Out: What’s a positive aspect of the modern music industry that makes it easier for a band like Tulip to succeed?
Ashleigh Semkiw: Probably the direct access to fans without a traditional gatekeeper, and the ability to build an audience organically. We also have full creative control over everything we do, which is pretty great.
Teen Art Out: What about a negative one that makes it hard to succeed?
Ashleigh Semkiw: Probably algorithm dependence and the constant pressure to create content.
Teen Art Out: Is the music business still one where people can succeed and make a full-time living out of it?
Ashleigh Semkiw: It is, but it’s crucial to be savvy.
Teen Art Out: What’s the best album you’ve listened to this year?
Ashleigh Semkiw: Anything Chappell Roan does.
It was great catching up with Ashleigh and learning about the exciting things happening with Tulip Band!