- Hi Ashlie, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? Well I am from Thornton, CO and I LOVE it there. No matter where I am that will always be home. I’ve had quite the journey getting to where I am today. I was a waitress/bartender at TGIFridays for 8 years. I have a huge musical theatre background and have starred in shows like The Color Purple, Avenue Q, and Rent. And I’ve also traveled to over 70 different countries headlining my own show! I love my journey and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
- What made you want to have a career in country music? Country music is a genre of music I grew up listening to and adored. I loved everything about country music and I said one day that’s going to be me on the radio! Although my journey isn’t the normal nashville journey, everything I experience is what lead me to where I am today.
- Who are some of your musical icons? I have so many. I am an equal opportunity listener. Good music is good music in my book. But, my all time favorite is Whitney Houston. Anybody who knows me knows I LOVE that woman. Her voice is beyond words and what she did for the black community within the music industry is incredible. She showed the world that Black Women CAN be pop icons and we are an unstoppable force within the industry.. I also love everything Taylor Swift, Shania Twain and Dolly Parton. I guess you can say I’m all about that girl power!
- What is the background story behind your brand-new single “Those Nights?” “Those Nights” was inspired by an incredible relationship I had when I lived in Virginia. Although we are not still together that doesn’t change the amazing memories we made together. This song is about love and passion, but it’s also about hanging out with your best friend and just enjoying every side of them. Life can be really difficult so I think it’s important to celebrate the good memories, not just the bad ones.
- How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Fun, Positive, Catchy, Relatable, soulful and sexy! That was 6 sorry. LOL
- What is your recording process like when making and creating new music? After I write a song that I believe is a hit, I send it over to my manager and producer. Once we are all in agreement and have 3-4 songs that we really want to cut, it’s time to head to the studio. Day one in the studio we always lay all of the live instruments and the next day 2 days we record my vocals. I’ll record 2 songs in one vocal session including backing vocals. So within a couple hours everything is done and then my producer Jamie Tate puts it all together using his superhero producing powers.
- Where are some of your favorite venues to play at? My favorite venue so far was Onboard the Celebrity EDGE in their brand new beautiful, multi million dollar theatre. My show onboard that ship had 170 light cues, video projections, stage automation, costume changes, top notch sound, sweetener/click tracks AND an incredible 7 piece orchestra. It was absolutely incredible I legit felt like Carrie Underwood!
- What is one of your favorite quotes? Janelle Monae said “Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable. I didn’t have to become perfect because I’ve learned throughout my journey that perfection is the enemy of greatness.” This is a quote I definitely live by. My look is not the typical “country” look but it’s me and no matter what the “industry” says, I’m going to continue be unapologetically myself, which is far from perfect, but AWESOME.
- Is there anything else you would like to share? We’ve covered a lot, but one thing I never get to really do is shout out my incredible team. So I would like to give a huge thanks to my Manager Don Ellis Gatlin, Producer Jamie Tate, Production Team Jerry Ghionis and Jason Neistadt, Digital Content Creator Danny Hindmarsh, and of course the incredible ladies at KORE PR. This year has already been off to an amazing start and it wouldn’t be possible without them! They all believe in me so much and it feels so amazing to have a team full of BOSSES in the trenches with me everyday.
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