With the release of his debut album Valor & Honor, rising artist Ace Love (born Asher Azeem) is stepping boldly into the spotlight. A vibrant blend of funk-pop, R&B, and disco, the album reflects Ace’s journey from a childhood shaped by hardship to becoming one of Calgary’s most exciting new musical voices. Known for his emotional storytelling and genre-spanning sound, Ace Love delivers an intimate and compelling portrait of love, resilience, and personal triumph in his music.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Ace Love to discuss the making of Valor & Honor, his influences, and what’s next on his creative horizon. From reflecting on challenging moments to sharing his vision for the future, Ace provides an honest and inspiring look into the world of an artist ready to make his mark.
You mentioned being influenced by YouTube cover artists early in your career. How did you transition from covers to creating your own original music?
Well, the transition took place as soon as I learned the art of production. I felt the need to express my own story over self-produced tracks rather than sing a better version of someone else’s record. The reason I was so adamant about listening to covers was to further explore various styles and tones of voices that were going viral at the time. That phase of exploration shaped how my own voice sounds today. It takes time until we realize we all have a powerful voice in us. The next step was writing and producing my own records, which took years, but a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, so here we are.
What were some of the most challenging moments during the creation of your debut album?
I had recently dealt with the grief of one of my high school friends passing away. That took a toll on a lot of people I knew, especially the person I wrote ‘Karma’ about since she was a mutual friend of ours. But I channeled those emotions and transposed them into my music. Every record on the album tells a story, and it only furthered my drive and motive to make something everlasting, as we all know, our time in this world is limited. I know that luck favours the prepared, and I like to always be a few steps ahead.
Can you tell us about any specific influences that shaped your sound on Valor & Honor?
For the most part, as any record is made, it all comes from a group of people bouncing ideas off each other’s minds. Some inspirations have an uncanny resemblance in production, such as the instrumental of my song ‘Remedies’ being inspired by the infamous ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor. I also relate the lyric cadence on my song ‘Honor’ closely to the ’78 album ‘For You’ by Prince.
Some vocal inspirations were also taken from the ’79 classic album ‘I Am’. Evidently, my record has its own personal and unique sound as it blends multiple genres, and I find that the vehement vocal delivery on each song is what brings the whole album together. No song sounds out of place since the delivery on each track is consistent, and that’s why I found it easy to include the genres of funk, disco, r&b, and pop in one record.
How did you feel when you first heard the completed version of Valor & Honor?
I first let out a grand sigh of relief, but ultimately, the leading emotion was joy. To be so satisfied that a piece of your life is represented in your work was utterly satisfying, and mentally, I felt a sense of completion. It’s just a gift that a phase of your life experiences can be encapsulated in one body of work, and I can continue to do so with the upcoming albums. I always say, Never do something you’re not proud of and verily, I’m proud of this record. I gave the world my best work, and I hope we all strive to do so.
You’ve described your album as an invitation into your world. How would you describe your world to someone who hasn’t heard your music yet?
Fast-paced, enlightening, thought-provoking, and welcoming.
How do you stay motivated and creative while working on new music?
By always staying inspired. It’s important to exercise your mind creatively and stay in love with your craft. The best way to do that is revisiting the reasons you fell in love with it in the first place. If you truly love your craft, you’ll never lose motivation. Become explorative to remain creative and sharpen your mind with knowledge of expression. Be curious about your inspirations. Curiosity is the root of creativity.
How did you decide on the tracklist for Valor & Honor?
There were a plethora of songs from other albums I’m working on that could’ve made it to Valor & Honor. I felt entitled to exclusively include only a select few that would savour other songs for upcoming albums. It’s a fine selection, but 10 songs is nowhere near the complete discography I’m working on. It’s a good trait to plan years ahead, and even though some of my best songs (releasing in the near future) could’ve made it on this record, I feel like this tracklist has longevity, and I’ve made it personal enough for it to matter to me. Verily, I’m saving the best for later.
You’ve worked hard to build your sound over the years. What’s next for you after Valor & Honor?
A few things really. I can’t wait to perform these records in my own city and introduce the world to my work. I’m also impatient when it comes to finalizing my love life, but fingers crossed, you’ll be hearing about more of my love interests in the upcoming bodies of work. For what’s to come, my fans can expect a vivid and explosive album to release next year. A rap debut.
Listen to Valor & Honor here:
