There is this old, family video stashed away somewhere in the recesses of my parents basement of a typical Sunday afternoon family dinner. My mother and sister are setting the table, my father is chatting with my grandfather from behind the video camera, my little brother is putting his impatient fingers in the cooling pasta dish, and I'm sitting at the table, completely zoned out and in my own little world, singing my own rendition of "Amazing Grace." I always laugh when I see this video, but in reality I am still very much the crazy little girl lost in my own musical world.
My parents told me that I started singing before I could talk. Of course, I don't share this memory with them, but I do remember that music was always a part of my life. As a child I had an ever changing list of things that I "wanted to be when I grew up" but the one constant was to be a "singer". At fourteen years old I wrote my first song. It was called "Chameleon" and while it wasn't very good, I felt great fulfillment from my new found creative outlet and was hooked on the idea that through songwriting I could say whatever I wanted to say. I continued to write, even when some of my songs didn't make sense to anyone except me. It became my way of journaling my own thoughts and feelings, and eventually my songwriting grew to become a primary mode of communication.
My parents convinced me to take private voice lessons at fifteen and I will forever thank them for this small "push" towards my passion. At the time I did not see how classical music training could improve my contemporary sound, but I quickly recognized the tremendous benefits of the education. To this day, classical music has served as a solid foundation for all that I do as an artist, and because of its value I am continually pursuing greater education and understanding in this area.
At eighteen I joined a Christian missionary group called Youth with a Mission and started to travel the world. What I saw and experienced during this time radically changed my view of the world and of myself. My first trip was to Colombia, to the Amazon River basin, and I watched the sun rise gloriously over the Amazon River, while starving and sickly children ran naked along the River’s edge. It was there I first realized just how big the world was, and I saw the stark contrasts of its beauty and its sorrow. I've since had the opportunity to travel, and live, in many more lovely and broken places; each time taking the enormity of injustice on my shoulders. I desperately want to make a difference, and for now, my difference is in my song. When I write about "broken hearts and lonely faces" and the need to "spread our love around", I really mean it! The majority of my songs are about love. It is my favorite topic because I really believe it's the only thing that can truly change the world.
I fell in love with a young Canadian/American named Judah Clark and when I was twenty-one we married. I always knew that I would get married young and I have never regretted my decision. Sometimes I tell people that my husband was "hand-picked by God for me" and I truly believe this with all my heart. I could not have chosen better.
Two years after we were married we moved to South Africa to work as missionaries with a local church. For some reason this move triggered a "writing frenzy" in me and I began writing music like I had never written before. The result was my first official CD- a gospel/worship album titled “Find Me”. Judah, who is also a musician and a worship leader at heart, had a lot of influence on this project. He helped write some of the music (writing and performing one song in its entirety himself). He was a central part of the performing and recording process.
I never wanted my music to be about me, and so I made a point to include other musicians in the production of “Find Me”- the two main contributors being my brother Luke Dougherty, who flew all the way to South Africa for a week of recording, an Gregory Peek, a talented local percussionist and friend. I am so glad that I incorporated the "flavor" that their talent brought to this project. Even though my style of music has evolved since the production of this first CD, I am proud of the message of hope that is the central idea of “Find Me”.
Our return home from Africa signaled the beginning of a long and rough road for me. It seemed that everything in my life was being shaken: my family, my faith, my marriage, my future, and my friendships. I felt like I took a wrong turn on a road and could not seem to find my way back to a familiar place. I was forced to work through a lot of bad stuff during this time. Again, this new season triggered a song writing marathon and I began to write like crazy. Only I was shocked to find that the songs I was writing were completely different than anything I had written before. At first I questioned if this new music was really a true expression of me as an artist, but eventually I conceded that I can't help what I'm writing. I write, what I write!
I knew that in order to "harness the momentum" of all my writing I needed to get into the studio as soon as possible. This time, a opportunity opened for me to work with a talented producer named Lukus Simari and his company LuZen Productions. We battled a lot during those long hours in the studio. Because I was so used to working with other musicians and meshing our ideas and styles together I hadn't really fully developed a "sound" for myself as an individual artist. Initially, Lukus and I had some differing ideas on what style I should be singing, but in the end we came up with six solid songs, and most importantly, a new "sound".
When people ask me what style of music I sing, I never know exactly what to tell them because I do not feel that I fit into any one category. I guess if I had to categorize myself right now I would say that I'm pop - soul, with some world music influences. However, the one thing I know is that the music in me is always evolving. So who knows? Maybe one day you'll find me singing Opera! Music is an outward expression of an inward creativity, and I believe that that creativity comes from God (the Master Artist!), so I try not to limit myself in what I do as a musician. I am compelled to go with the flow.
Currently, the second CD, entitled “Say Hello to Love”, is a work in progress, so it cannot be purchased yet, (although you can buy Find me on cdbaby.com and itunes). However, because it is so much more important for me to have the message of my music in peoples’ ears than to have cash in my wallet, I'm posting five of the six completed songs on Myspace for free downloading. Please go hog wild and download like crazy; please tell all your friends and family to get on the "Love" train, too!
Thanks for reading my ridiculous excuse for a bio. But then, it probably should be expected from a crazy little girl, lost in her own musical world.
hey asheley ! first off--- let me just say THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH !!!
you introducing me to hayleigh was the nicest thing anyone could have ever done =)
seriously. so i went to the jonas brothers soundcheck and concert and it was amazing except for the fact that about 2 songs into the concert, i couldnt breath and they had to call an ambulance so i missed 10 songs and nicks speech about diabetes
WICKED dissapointing. but im going to the kiss 108 concert and theyll be there
and im going to their summer shows
so hopefully hayleigh can get me to meet them or something =)
that would be absolutely INCREDIBLE.
oh, and by the way =) you can BARELY see it, but its you and me =)
its a little dark, but our church was dark. and my phone has WICKED bad graphic. haha SRY !
Hey Ashe, I love it, girl! It makes me dance and I can't help it! Professional stuff kid. Thanks for sharing it with us! Love ya friend and talk to you later!
Hey Ashe! The studio sessions look good! Thanks or sharing them! Be blessed woman of God! Keep your eyes on Jesus during the whooooooollllllleeee thing! Talk to you later! You are a blessing from God!
Hey Ashe! I LOVE all the new music! In fact, I just added "Say Hello To Love" on my profile! THANKS SO MUCH FOR USING YOUR GIFT to point people to God! =)
Hey, love the new sound!!! Very mature voice you got there. How fun!!! And, that is the most rockin blue dress I have ever scene. LOOOOOVE IT!! Hope you guys are well, can't wait to hear more. Bless you!
we are so much alike it's not even funny at this point.... Go to bed!!!!! You have to socialize with a bunch of giddy ladies tomorrow over baby stuff... You will need your rest.... I'm putting on a movie...hopefully i will pass out.. 'night
funny that you wrote because I was just looking at your new pics and music yesterday! You look beautiful Ashe, and your song "Baby" is so good, I really like it. We need to try to find a way to see each other and introduce our husbands!
Miss you guys! I hope all is well. Please drop by the Stable again soon and let me know if/when we can line up something outdoors with you guys. Praying for guidance at this point, but would love to include your ministry.
Ashe, I just heard time and time again and it is beautiful...Their's this awesome holy vibe I get...I can't really explain it, but i love the minor key to it. I love how scriptural your music is...it is so encouraging and spirit-filled. It's very rare for today...
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