After dropping out of film school in 1997, Ashworth began making music as Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, creating a minimal, lo-fi sound by using nothing save old Casio keyboards. "Music was cheaper than film, and I didn't need a crew to do it," says Ashworth. " I was very selfish, and I wanted total control."
CFTPA somehow managed to make catchy pop masterpieces -- a brilliant feat that created a decent buzz in the indie world. But three records and a slew of EPs later, Ashworth decided to branch out; 2006's Etiquette saw him adding more instrumentation while abandoning his trusty four-track recorder. Some fans made a stink, but the results were basically the same as before -- proving it's not about the tools, but how you use 'em.
