Rising Stars: Meet Ashton Farrar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashton Farrar.

Ashton, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Junior year of college was the year I realized that I wanted to be an artist more than I wanted to be a scientist or doctor. I understood it was different ways to heal people so I switched lanes. I still finished school out of respect for my mom though. Since this realization, I’ve continued to discover more about myself and my artistic view. The art forms that I regularly practice are rapping (OSOHNO), photography (“Drive-By”), and percussion. I have been granted several opportunities to be immersed in Atlanta’s creative community by way of these modalities. These opportunities range from working as a G&E in Atlanta’s film scene to stage hopping in Atlanta’s nightlife hotspots. All of which is nothing short of a blessing and I thank God for permitting me to practice the passions of my heart. I have experienced a lot since moving to this great place. Atlanta has inspired me in ways that can be difficult to expound upon in moments of recall or inquisition. My scrapbook-like recollection of my time here has led me to the discovery and conceptualization of Arrivederci. This entity was designed to be a supportive artistic collective aiding in the connection of like-minded individuals.

Whom of which hold dear the love of communal knowledge and collaborative strides toward redefinition and innovation of creative practices as we know it. Arrividerci encourages its members to branch out and explore their artistry with the intent of returning and sharing the knowledge obtained with other members. Establishing a wealth of knowledge is pivotal to the survival of any community. This is why the name Arrivederci was chosen. It is a nod to the moment of departure for members and the foreshadowing of meeting the community again post-excursion. The embodiment and practice of these principles are what Arrivederci’s members consider to be “True Derci”. Most recently, Arrivederci has been exploring the collaborative playing field with other collectives such as Slytherin Housse. With the endless possibility of creative output, I am excited to see what both Arrivederci and Slytherin House will bring to the creative scenes in 2024 and beyond.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road due to lax communicative skills we lack as a society in these current times. It’s challenging these days to convey clearly the intent of your work and attract communal interest. Due to the glorification of particular lifestyles by way of the industry and the masses receptiveness of said lifestyles it places a number of obstacles in any upcoming artists way. Those that align themselves with the lifestyles and practices being promoted will have a better chance of gaining traction in the industry. For artists, such as myself, that don’t quite fit into the industry’s descriptive box of what “good creation” is has to work what seems to be twice as hard just to get the same results. With that, my toughest obstacle has been creating pieces of work that fall outside the “norm” in terms of intent and creative packaging but fall within the “norm” of explosive industry traction. But then again, I might be trying to have my cake and eat it, too. I am still working out the kinks to further determine if those two characteristics can coexist. At the moment, the results are inconclusive. Bear With Me as I continue to explore the possibility of this desired balance.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist turned creative businessman aiming to work closely with individuals looking to invest in creative pieces, products, and positive lifestyles for both professional and personal purposes. As an independent artist, I specialize in the art of rap / spoken word. I am known for my love and dedication to the percussive arts since the age of five years old. I am most proud of my continual dedication to my artistic passions despite the setbacks that I have endured to get where I am today. The thing that sets me apart is my understanding that there will never be a moment you can say “you did it all on your own”. There has never and will never be a moment where you did something completely alone, and if you believe so, take a second to zoom out and see the community of other humans involved in your journey. The sooner we understand this fact, the sooner we will realize the divisions we have come to know were never real and were created to misdirect and strip the efficiency of our energy.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Allow your art to grow wildly and naturally, and keep in mind that trying to shape what was meant to be shapeless does more harm than good. As you embark on your journey give yourself grace past the point of understanding that you are doing everything you can do to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. Understand that your art is a direct reflection of you. This means that the more you work on and pour into yourself your art will align with the internal growth derived from your character development. Lastly, keep God first and trust that he will guide your hands and steps through this worldly industry.

Pricing:

• OSOHNO live set: $400
• OSOHNO live show: $800
• “Drive-By” photoshoot: $100/ hr
• Arrivederci artistic consulting: $50/ hr

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashtonfarrar.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osohno/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashton-farrar-544604163/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@osohno8080
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-373525576

Image Credits
Mr. Underrated (J. Woods)