How did you approach it creatively?
Ashlee Bankz: I just did it. My producer Epikh Pro in Atlanta, who produced “Don’t” by Tiller, he and I just been perfecting my sound. The story behind “I Called You” is crazy, it was supposed to be a throw away song. We were in the studio trying to catch a vibe and we put it out and it did something completely different. We just did beats in the same frame of “I Called You.” At three, four in the morning I recorded it at home. I don’t write anymore so this tape really just showed me how much in control I am as an artist. Me and him damn near fifty-fifty with the project no big studios or nothing.

With that record, he made it in his home studio and I called my best friend and she didn’t answer. I called the dude I was talking to and he was on Snapchat, real life, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and I’m like none of you mother fuckers answering the phone so then I’m like “I just called your phone” and it came. The first version I didn’t have any words and [DJ] Jamal Smallz played it on WGCI. I reached out to [DJ] Moondawg because I thought he played it and met with him, played it for him and he suggested I go back and do a second verse. When it came to putting it out, Hustle [Simmons] said I shouldn’t drop it, he was telling me to be patient and I just dropped it and it did what it did.

Do you need specific things with you when recording?
Ashlee Bankz: I don’t record with lights. That’s it. I record at home and I stay with my grandparents so I don’t do no drugs, no alcohol when I’m at home so this project was 100% sober. With me music is an emotion so I just do it.

If you had to pick one song to sell me on the project what would it be?
Ashlee Bankz: “The Intro,” as soon as it comes on it starts with Beethoven type keys and it just drop. That’s probably my favorite song on the tape. It’s real simple but will make you want to see what’s next.

What key lessons have you learned so far?
Ashlee Bankz: Honestly to trust yourself. That’s probably the biggest thing I learned. If I’m not feeling something don’t do it. Do what’s best for you.

What else do you have planned for the year?
Ashlee Bankz: Project after project. I want to tour off this project because I think it’s that dope. Hopefully, you know how Drake and Nicki hear songs and jump on it? That’s a goal. Other than that put out more music and there is a revamp to this project so you get who Ashlee Bankz the artist is, then a songwriter perspective and producer.