Them Are Us Too

Them Are Us Too

Company type	Musical duo
Industry	Music
Founded	2012
Headquarters	Santa Cruz, California , United States
Products	Music albums, EPs

Them Are Us Too was a dream pop and darkwave musical duo from the United States, composed of Kennedy Ashlyn and Cash Askew.<ref name=":0"> The pair came together in 2012 while attending the University of California, Santa Cruz. After securing a deal with Dais Records, they launched their first album, Remain. Following Askew's tragic death in the 2016 Ghost Ship warehouse fire, Ashlyn completed their sophomore release, Amends, retired the Them Are Us Too moniker, and embarked on a solo career under the name SRSQ.

Band evolution

Initially, Them Are Us Too (TAUT) started as Kennedy Ashlyn’s solo high school bedroom noise pop project. Ashlyn’s musical influences stemmed from 1980s bands such as The B-52's, Cocteau Twins, and Dead Can Dance. She began vocal training in choir at age five and later studied opera during her college years.<ref>

In 2012, Ashlyn met Askew at Askew’s 19th birthday celebration held at University of California, Santa Cruz. This goth-themed gathering featured artists like Cocteau Twins, The Sisters of Mercy, and Depeche Mode, reflecting their mutual appreciation for that style.

Askew, originally from San Francisco, California, identified as transgender and preferred feminine pronouns. She learned to play guitar under the guidance of her stepfather, Sunny Haire, who formerly managed the Lexington Club. Askew attributed her exploration of gender identity to the goth and new wave subcultures before fully understanding her transgender experience.<ref> During her time at UC Santa Cruz, she was enrolled at Kresge College.

The day following the birthday event, Ashlyn invited Askew to join her band.<ref> Ashlyn recounted:

"The day after the party, I was performing one of only three Them Are Us Too shows without Cash at a hippy commune. We shared moonshine, walked arm in arm, and I said, 'You should be in my band.' It was instantaneous—day one: friends; day two: bandmates. We celebrated her birthday as our 'friendaversary,' then marked the following day as our 'bandaversary.'"

During their initial rehearsal, Askew experimented with synthesizer but ultimately switched to guitar.

Artistic approach

The pair maintained a close creative connection. Ashlyn described it by saying, "I could tell Cash things like, 'The snare should sound like this,' or 'Can we make that bass tone a bit bluer?' and she would instantly understand."

Although their image had dark elements, they distanced themselves from the "gothic" label. Ashlyn explained, "We definitely weren’t part of the lifestyle goth scene. There was always a playful aspect to it... I see more alignment with this modern wave of darkwave artists. People like Drab Majesty, Boy Harsher, Tamaryn—basically all my friends."

Releases and performances

TAUT initially recorded an eight-track demo in Ashlyn’s bedroom. Shortly thereafter, they dropped out of college in 2014 to embark on a tour along the West Coast. While performing in Los Angeles, they connected with Sara Taylor from Youth Code, who facilitated introductions to representatives at Dais Records.

Their debut album Remain was released through Dais Records in 2015. At that time, both members were 21 years old. Dais characterized their music as evoking 1980s shoegaze influences, crafting tracks centered around themes of loss and tragedy that resonated deeply with fans. Kennedy Ashlyn’s vocal style drew comparisons to Kate Bush and Elizabeth Fraser, while Askew contributed layered guitar textures featuring reverb and ambient string sounds.

Following Remain, TAUT appeared at events such as Calgary's Terminus Festival and began working on their follow-up album. In mid-2015, they recorded sessions with Michael Stock at radio station KXLU 88.9 FM for Part Time Punks. The video for "Eudaemonia" debuted in August alongside interviews with outlets including Vice. Later that year in autumn, they toured with Wax Idols. Askew moved to Oakland, California while Ashlyn relocated to Denton, Texas. In Oakland, Askew explored solo ventures such as Prist (techno) and Heavenly ("emotional noise").

Ghost Ship Fire

On December 2, 2016, Askew tragically lost her life in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire at the age of 22. She had intended to attend the event alongside her girlfriend, Anya Taylor, who ultimately remained at home due to work commitments. Taylor and others hurried to the location but were unable to provide assistance. This devastating event had a profound impact on underground art communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and nationwide.

In tribute to Askew, the band Drab Majesty released the track "Oak Wood" in 2017. The following year, Ashlyn unveiled Amends, an album featuring songs the pair had planned to create together. Askew was honored during the "Oakland United" benefit concert held in December 2016, where Ashlyn and Taylor performed Jimmy Eat World's "Sweetness." Ashlyn continues her musical career under the moniker SRSQ.

Studio Albums

• Part-Time Punks (EP, 2015)

• Remain (2015)

• Amends (October 10, 2018)

External links

• Them Are Us Too (Dais Records)