When asked to describe her sound Ashley said “It’s classy-trashy…A clean-dirty kinda thing, and it probably lived in a covered wagon most of its life. “
Ashley released her self-titled debut album in January 2006. This heart-wrenching album displays simple and honest lyrics that run the gamut of emotions. Ashley describes her album as “something you would put in and listen to if you were driving in the rain.” Her CD features her playing the acoustic guitar and lyrics that paint a picture way beyond her years. Her music can make people tear up or light their eyes with joy. She’s had people dancing when there was no dance floor and captivated the audiences’ attention when conversation once filled the room.
In 2004, Ashley won the state competition of the Colgate Country Showdown where she won the chance to represent the state of Arkansas at the regional competition. Since the competition, she has opened for country artist Chris Cagle, Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artemis Pyle's self-titled band, blues singer Barbara Blue, and played at the world-famous honky-tonk, Tootsies. Ashley can frequently be found playing shows and songwriter nights in and around Nashville including the prestigious BlueBird Café. Ashley is a member of NSAI, BMI and Nashville Independent Music.
The youngest of six children, Ashley grew up with the high lonesome sound of bluegrass music in Mammoth Spring, AR. This free-spirited singer-songwriter pens honest, country lyrics and has a raw twang in her voice. She “blames” her college years for her love of writing and performing music. While she has been playing guitar since age 9 and writing songs since age 12, she didn’t start fine-tuning her abilities until she left for Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR in 2001.
“It all started in a friend’s basement in Jonesboro.” That was where she was given the nickname “Ashley Guitar” because of her love of the instrument. Her friends would name a song to try and “stump her”. She attributes her current long list of cover songs to these basement shows. “The covers bring people to the show, but it’s the originals that make them stay and bring them back.” Playing in basements led to playing in coffee houses, which eventually led to playing in live music venues. After gathering a fan base in Arkansas and Western TN, she made her lifelong dream come true when she moved to Nashville in 2006.
Some of Ashley’s musical influences include Trisha Yearwood, Patty Griffin, and Susan Marshall. Susan once called Ashley “a songwriting fool”. One of Ashley’s biggest influences, Carl Jackson, gave the young writer some advice regarding her songwriting that she carries with her. She said he explained it to her by saying, “You're not the one writing the songs, the songs are writing you. You have no idea that you are writing the soundtrack to your life.”
Like the new songs. I heard you sing one once at a coffehouse concert in Memphis, it was a love song, I think it was called Heaven. Do you have that one recorded? I loved it. I told my wife it would have been a perfect song at our wedding.
I think you get a amazing future in front of you with your music, because you have a amazing, beautiful and wonderful song voice and you have real good and amazing song:):)
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