Losing a loved one is a pain that never truly fades, but for Salt Ashes, music became a way to navigate the grief. Her latest single, ‘10+2,’ is a deeply personal tribute to their late father, born from a vivid dream that offered an unexpected sense of peace.
With stripped-back instrumentation and raw, heartfelt lyrics, the song captures both the weight of loss and the moments of light that come with remembering. In this interview, she opens up about the inspiration behind 10+2, the emotional journey of writing and releasing it, and the hope that it brings comfort to others who have experienced loss.
10+2 is a heartfelt tribute to your late father. What initially inspired you to write this song?
It was a dream I had about him. It was so peaceful and vivid. Usually, my dreams about my dad are ones of him abandoning us, but this one was beautiful. I started writing the song the next morning, and it was basically a stream of consciousness. It just flowed out of me.
Did you set out to create this track, or did it come together more spontaneously?
It was spontaneous. To be honest, I had no intention of releasing it. It really was a song for me, and it was nice to write about Dad from a positive place.
10+2 is deeply emotional and personal, with you describing your loss as unimaginable. Did writing the song serve as a therapeutic outlet for you?
Absolutely. I feel like this is and was a lullaby for my grief, although I do struggle to listen back to it as it brings up too many emotions for me sometimes. Watching the video too—I actually can’t watch it again.
The song is accompanied by a touching home video featuring old clips of you and your father. Why was it important for you to create this visual, and how do you feel it enhances the song’s message?
This is a difficult one for me to answer because, even though I think it’s beautiful that I get to share clips of my dad and keep his memory alive, it also feels very intense. But I guess it shows the love between us and probably will remind people of their bond with their dads.
While the track is rooted in your personal experience, do you hope it resonates with listeners who have also lost a loved one?
Of course. If people get a little comfort from this song, then that’s enough for me. I hope people can see that even though the pain never leaves you, there are moments of peace and light.
10+2 marks a departure from your usual electro-pop sound, opting for a stripped-back arrangement with acoustic guitar and strings. Was this a deliberate choice?
It wasn’t deliberate, no. Since I never thought I’d release it, we created it as a stand-alone track.
What songs or artists are inspiring you at the moment?
I’m loving Lola Young right now. She’s such a cool, fresh artist with incredibly catchy songs—her album is insane. Love it.
If listeners could take away one message from 10+2, what would you want it to be?
That if you’ve lost someone close to you, just know that it does get easier. It never leaves you, and unfortunately, it never stops hurting, but you do learn to deal with it over time.