Forget the neon glow of festival stages—Neon Pony is taking her one-of-a-kind performances to places where the stars provide the spotlight and the earth provides the bassline.
The hybrid DJ, drummer and vocalist today launched an ambitious new series, Beats in Hidden Retreats. The project takes her signature mix of live drumming, vocals and electronic music far beyond the typical stage, placing it in remote landscapes where technology and tradition collide.
Filmed in sacred, awe-inspiring locations worldwide, each hourlong episode showcases Neon Pony’s unique artistry while celebrating indigenous culture and natural beauty. Drawing on her Apache heritage, she blends ageless rhythms with modern beats to deliver performances as visually arresting as they are sonically powerful.
“I’ve been playing music my whole life, receiving my first drum kit at 10, so music creation has always been a vital part of my existence,” she explains. “My parents are incredibly huge music enthusiasts so I’ve grown up with everyone from Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Prince, Depeche Mode, Nirvana, Led Zepplin, Nine Inch Nails, DJ Shadow and so on. Risk-takers always inspired me and musicians that told stories through their music while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what can be created through it. My heart feels the most full when I’m traveling into the unknown.”
Her custom-built drum kit, equipped with integrated lights that pulse to the music, transforms each location into a living, breathing concert space.
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Having shared stages with EDM icons like Zedd and Kygo and performing at festivals like Ultra and Coachella, Neon Pony, whose real name is Chastity Ashley, plans on using her new series to go beyond entertainment. Beats in Hidden Retreats aims to connect audiences to the spiritual and cultural roots of music while highlighting the role of technology in pushing creative boundaries.
If she had to pick one dream location to film the series, past or present, Neon Pony says she would head to Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains in Peru, which she called “breathtaking.”
The first episode chronicles Neon Pony’s dazzling hybrid drum and DJ set at the intimate Cloud 9 club, also known as “Fiji’s Floating Paradise.” The intimate venue is surrounded by nothing but turquoise water and breathtaking panoramic views of the Fijian archipelago.
Moving forward, Neon Pony says she has multiple EPs and an album that she’s been working on for a number of years. “To finally be able to share it with the world is going to be extremely humbling and exciting,” she gushes.
But first, fans can follow her to Northern Alaska in the next episode of Beats in Hidden Retreats.
“It’s transporting us to a whole other dimension,” she says. “Pushing the limits and surpassing boundaries on each episode is the goal. This next one was an insanely grueling process to shoot, just like Fiji, where we were battling literal rain storms. I had three inches of water in my boots while performing and this one I was covered with ice and snow. I’m beyond elated to continue to share what my team and I are accomplishing and we’re honestly just getting started.”
Follow Neon Pony:
X: x.com/chastityashley
Instagram: instagram.com/chastityashley
YouTube: youtube.com/neonpony
Facebook: facebook.com/officialneonpony