Queensland Conservatorium musical theatre alumnus Ash Waterman has cracked the US Billboard charts with her debut single – scoring a top 20 position with her dance anthem Too Late.
Ash recorded the track in Nashville, teaming up with Bryan Todd, a Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter who has worked with artists like Miley Cyrus and Snoop Dog.
Too Late peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Breakout chart and has also been remixed by Grammy Award-winning producer and DJ, Dave Aude (Bruno Mars, U2, Katy Perry).
“It was a total shock- no one expects a response like this to their debut single,” she said.
“I kind of did things backwards – a lot of Aussie artists wait five or ten years to crack the US market!”
Ash, 23, headed over to the US during her final year of the Bachelor of Musical Theatre, and returned several times a year to shop around her songs and make industry connections.
“I’m pretty driven, so I just kept harassing people,” she said with a laugh.
“I’ve always wanted this, and I knew I could do it – I just wasn’t sure how.”
The Gold-Coast native has been a triple-threat since she could toddle.
“I was always a show-off, every time my parents had friends over, I would be singing and dancing.”
Despite breaking into the industry with a dance track, Ash said musical theatre was still her passion and credits her time at the Queensland Conservatorium with providing her with a solid grounding in the industry.
“Musical theatre is still my first and true love,” she said.
“The course taught me the proper technique, and gave me all the tools to become a durable artist.
“The discipline I learnt while I was at the Con has helped me get where I am today.”
Ash is currently splitting her time between Australia and the US as she completes her debut EP.
“It’s strange because the track has been really successful in the US while I’ve been at home on the Coast,” she said.
“I’m ready and itching to get back into the studio – there’s work to be done!”
Queensland Conservatorium Director Professor Scott Harrison said Waterman’s success reflected the calibre of teaching and learning at the Con, which prepared students for a career in the music industry.
“Our students are given the skills to launch a portfolio career,” he said.
“They don’t pursue a single path, instead we encourage them to embrace everything from performance and composition to production skills.”