As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine
Special Pop Edition June 2019
Hey everyone! I am Sasha Vallely, aka Sash The Bash. I am a British multi-instrumentalist and private music teacher of vocals, guitar, bass, piano, and harmonica. I am currently involved in three music projects, “Sash The Bash,” a psych-punk garage band, “The Outlaw Women Band,” a dark country classic rock band, and “Midnight Larks,” a surf-pop garage band. I write and compose my own music and have also worked on numerous film scores such as “El Gringo” starring Christian Slater, “The Treasure of The Black Jaguar,” and “Dust Up.” I have toured internationally playing some major festivals and have recorded three albums and guested with some amazing bands. I am currently working on releasing my debut with Sash The Bash which should be out later this year.
What is your definition of tone, and how has it changed over the years?
I have definitely strived to develop my tone and continue to do so. I wouldn’t say I’m a shredder, but people have always said they think I’m a good guitarist because I have a great tone. It’s very important to my style. It has evolved by learning more about how to control it to create the sound I want. Tone is everything to my music!
Which guitars, amps, and pedals are you currently using and why?
I have a few guitars, but the ones I am currently using are a Gretsch G5420T, a double neck Gretsch, and a Fender acoustic. I have many pedals I switch around a lot, but I’m currently using a Zvex Woolly Mammoth, Fender Reverb, MXR Analog Delay, and an Electro-Harmonix Melo-Sonic. I just love the tone I get from my Gretsch guitars, and my Fender acoustic is easy to play. The tone and psychedelic vibes I can create from my pedals is the reason I love them. As for amps, I have been using an Orange Tiny Terror and a Vox AC30, but I’m really wanting to get a Fender Reverb Deluxe or Twin Reverb as that’s my favorite style right now. My guitar is usually drenched in reverb!
Are there certain recording techniques you prefer in the studio?
I usually prefer to track live as often as I can as you can usually capture more of a feel for the song. That’s not always possible. If I could, I would record everything analog as no matter what plugins I have used, you can never beat the real deal.
How do you keep your sound consistent onstage?
I try to be well-rehearsed and make note of my settings on pedals, but it really depends on what venue you are playing, which is why soundchecks are so important but not always possible. I usually end up tweaking things as I go.
What does your practice consist of?
I never used to learn other people’s songs I would just write my own material, but when I became a teacher, I had to learn other songs that my students wanted to learn, and it really helped to improve my technique. So I usually work on my own material and try to learn some new songs. I also love to practice riffs and scales to a metronome to try and improve my speed.
What is your advice for young women who hope to work in the music industry?
Write from the heart, don’t worry about what other people think of you; you can never please everyone. Be yourself. Don’t try and compete with others. We are all in this together, and there is room for everybody. Practice and perfect your art as much as you can.