Ashley Jordan

Coming from the picturesque town of Harvard, MA nestled in New England this creative soul brings honesty back to music. This 17 year old musician knows who she is and writes her music from her heart; no regularities and clichés. Facing the realities of what it means to be a teenager inside of what sometimes can be a stereotypical “Mean Girls” world Ashley fights back with colorful sounds and the freedom to be creative. She started her music career at the age of 14 and in the past four years she has made strides to further her career more than most adults have. Clearly driven, Ashley works to finish school and also taking college classes somehow she finds time to focus on music. Her voice will shock you and don’t be afraid of the pinch of country twang she’s not Taylor Swift though she admires her art. Her depth, soul and style make her relatable to most everyone; paired with content gives an untouched sound to music.  This year has been filled with performances, writing and music…just as any musician would wish for Ashley’s ready to take the world by storm.

DC- Ok, how was life growing up in New England?

AJ- I guess it was pretty normal and picturesque.  Growing up in a little rural town called Harvard, MA – population around 5 thousand.  Our town high school is called “The Bromfield School” and I’m in a class of about 100 students in my junior class.  My family is great and supportive.  I live with my mom and dad, and I have an older brother and older sister (plus two crazy beagles).

DC-Did you come from a musical background?

AJ-Well, my grandfather was a musician and played guitar and sang.  He died when I was very young but I feel that he had a great influence on me because I was very connected to him and everyone in the family says I remind them of him.  So I think the music was passed to me from my grandfather.  Also, my mom plays the piano since she was very young.

DC-How did you get your start? Did your mom over hear you singing in the shower one day and suggest or was it all on your own?

AJ- Everyone says that I was pretty much singing before I could even talk.  I’ve always loved music.   I guess my real start was when I decided to try out for my 6^th grade talent show.  I sang an Avril Levigne song and I’d never performed for a large audience before.  I found myself belting out a song and using the whole stage – it was very freeing.  After the performance, people really encouraged me to keep going because they liked my singing and performance.  That was when I first felt that I would pursue a music career.  The stage felt very natural to me.

DC-I hear you officially started at your singing career as 14 I know this must be a crazy question but have you finished high school?

AJ- Not a crazy question at all!!!  I actually started my singing career at 13 when I auditioned for a talent show in Worcester, MA and then went on to perform in Orlando Florida. I’m now 17 years old and I’m a junior in high school.  Ug – – still another year to go!!

DC- If so, how was high school different after you started singing? Did life continue as normal?

AJ- Well – – I started getting some publicity and bigger performance venues just in the last couple of years.  Life really wasn’t normal because I was working on music, writing, singing and performing all the time.  It’s hard to balance with high school time-wise. I was active in sports and all sorts of high school stuff, but in the past year I’ve found that I needed to let go of some of the extra stuff in school and focus on my music and performing.  Music became my outlet because I can tell you high school is NOT one big “high school musical”.  There is lots of drama and it seems that in school, being different and not trying to fit in to the norm or mainstream can draw attention to you and certain “girls” don’t like that.  I have found myself being bullied this year by girls who wanted to bring me down and ostracize me from my friends.  I even received an anonymous letter in the mail from a “Secret Admirer” which was really just a bunch of mean girls wanting me to believe that some strange guy had a crush on me.  A lot of drama – – but I just keep my head on straight and use my music as an outlet.  The song “Haunt” is about a particular girl who has” haunted” my head since middle school.  The song “double cross” is about a best friend who turned on me this year.  It’s not always easy.. .

DC- Do you plan on going to college?

AJ- Well next year I am planning to do something called a “dual Enrollment”.  That means I’ll take community college courses that also count as my final credits needed for my senior year in high school.  The biggest benefit though is that I can take a bunch of courses online and free up my schedule so when I do night time gigs and all that I don’t have to get up early to go to school the next morning.  It’s a better schedule so I can pursue my music easier.   I want to pursue my music career first while I’m young and see where it takes me.

DC- Going through your songs I was blown away by the range of your voice. What are people’s first reactions to you when you sing and finding out your only 17?

AJ- People usually say that they’re shocked that I’m 17 – I hear the words “mature voice” and that my “depth” regarding my songs are not that of a 17 year old.

DC-You have a country sort of feel to your songs I’m sure it has to also do with the guitar is that the direction you feel your music going in?

AJ- I do have a “Yodel” type thing that seems to come out sometimes when I sing and that’s what I think makes me have a country sound sometimes.   But lots of people argue about what my genre of music is.  I hear singer-songwriter, country, pop, folk, acoustic and even contemporary.  So I’m kind of confused about what to say.  I just write my songs from the heart and however they come out – – that’s how it is!

DC- How do you think you ended up with a country feel you’re from the north correct?  Do you just have a southern heart?

AJ- I am from Massachusetts.  My mom’s side of the family are all from Missouri – so maybe I am a bit country at heart.  But again, I really don’t think about that when I write songs.

DC- Being so young and entering into the music industry do you feel you have a responsibility to uphold a certain image?

AJ- Definitely, I think it is important but I don’t go overboard trying to send a message.  I feel that young people should get the message that they can be whoever they want to be and don’t have to fit into a certain mold.  In terms of image, I don’t believe in drinking and drugs and all that – – so I guess I do present a good image just by being myself.

DC- The song “I Kept Thinking” is a song that is filled with emotion about a break up. Have you been through any tough break ups yourself that lent to the inspiration for that song?

AJ- Not really – this song was more of a story about a breakup.   I can feel all the emotion because of personal things I have gone through but the actual song is not about me.  John Gerard and I wrote this song together – and it just sort of poured out of both of us when we were writing it together.  It’s really the first time I’ve collaborated on writing a song – usually I write them all myself so it was kind of a different process.

DC- John Gerard, can you tell us a little about him? How did you come about working with him?

AJ- The John Gerard story is good one.  I had been out performing for about a year when I went to an open mic one night and heard this amazing guy sing and play guitar.  He played with such passion and emotion that I wanted to see him perform again.  So I went to a feature act that he had and after he performed I walked right up to him and said that I loved his performance, and would he teach me how to play the guitar like that.  He thought about it for a minute and then said “Sure, I’d love to”.  So we started working a couple of times a week on guitar and writing – – and then we started performing together sometimes.  John also introduced me to the guy that I eventually recorded my first CD with (Steve Rapson of the Solo Performer Studio) and John did some harmonies.

DC- Since we were just talking about relationships, I have to ask are you in one now?

AJ- LOL.  No I am not currently in what I would consider “A relationship”.

DC- Listening to “Starry Night” you can almost picture a summer night out just walking around with the one you love. You’re so young but most of your music speaks from such a mature place where do you think that comes from?

AJ- I don’t know.  It’s just who I am. I write about what I feel and I’m a very visual person so a lot of what you hear about is what I have seen or felt deeply.

DC- Do you think the depth of your songs or even some of the emotions even though they are universal they are written from a slightly more mature angle. Do you think that changes your target audience any?

AJ- No, but I’ve found that younger people like my music but older people can also appreciate it.  SO it’s sort of a win – win.  I want my music to be real.  I don’t think people can relate to music that is fake  so I just write what I feel.

DC- I must admit when I first saw your picture and started listening to one of your songs I immediately thought Taylor Swift. Do you feel like people pre judge you?

AJ- Well I don’t think pre-judging is a bad thing if they think of Taylor Swift because I clearly admire her.  When people ask me who my biggest influences are, I always say James Taylor, Ellis Paul, John Gerard, Ingrid Michaelson and Taylor Swift.

DC- How do you deal with that in an industry where it seems like to be an artist you have to be just like everyone else, or you have to do what everyone else is doing?

AJ- I don’t believe that’s the way it is I am finding that it’s just the opposite.  People aren’t looking at artists that are the same, generic type of artists.  They want something new and different and I think the industry is looking for those kinds of artists  not copycats . .

DC- What do you feel makes you different from other artist?

AJ- Well all of my songs have a different feel or tone to them.  I never want people to say that my songs all sound the same.  So I like to change it up and I think that makes me a little unique because you don’t know what you’re going to get.

DC- How has your social life with friends changed since you have been singing?

AJ- Now I know who my real friends are.  My real friends know that I am loyal and honest as a friend and they respect that I am pursuing my dream and support me.  The people who aren’t my friends seem to not like that I have a separate life outside of school and put me down for doing the things I love.  So I do know who my friends are now and my social life has changed a bit because I really don’t have a lot of time to do the regular high school stuff which I don’t really care about anyway.

DC- Do you feel as though you are missing out on any parts of your youth as you venture out and try to take this music world by storm?

AJ- Not missing out – – just having bigger and better experiences than I would if I was a regular high school student out partying and drinking and whatever else they do!  What’s there to miss out on?  I still go to school; I still know what’s happening.  I chose and I like the direction I’m going.

DC- If you could say anything to the people who have not heard of you yet. What would you say? Why should they listen to you and give you a chance?

AJ- I would say, they should give me a chance because I write and perform songs that are “real life” and from the heart and hope that others can connect with what I have to say.  My songs usually convey some sort of emotion and I hope my listener will connect and feel the same feelings that I have when I perform them.

DC- So your first CD was released a few months ago!!! How exciting is that? Tell us a little about it. As in EVERYTHING! Lol the title, how many songs, where we can get it?

AJ- SOOO Exciting.  My CD is called “Simple Love” and was released on Feb. 12, 2010.  It has ten original songs and two cover songs on it.  It is available to be purchased on itunes and CD Freedom as well as on my website www.AshleyJordanMusic.com which has a Nimbit store on it that sells the CD and downloads.  There’s a few other ways to purchase the CD such as on my facebook and myspace websites.

DC- I hear that you placed second in a teen idol competition for Central Massachusetts. Have you ever thought to try out for the actual American Idol? Or is that not your thing?

AJ- I’ve tossed around that idea for a while because many, many people have asked me if I plan to try out or if I already have.  I considered it but after being a frequent watcher of American Idol, I wouldn’t say that it’s the direction I want to follow.  I ‘m not really a fan of the process and it doesn’t really have a ton to do with talent more of a popularity contest.

DC- Lets talk a little bit about your journey in the industry. You call yourself a “young up and comer trying to get out there in the music world”. With such an experienced voice and song content do you really consider yourself young?

AJ- Definitely – – I am young in age and new in the business.  Maybe my soul is a bit older and that’s the maturity that people speak of, but still I am only 17 years old and it seems like when I ‘m out performing there’s no one else even close to my age unless it’s some high school contest or young people’s talent show.

DC- Do you feel like you can compete with the adults in this industry?

AJ- That’s what Im trying to do, so yes I can!!!  I think that sometimes people see me come in and don’t think that I’m there to perform as a singer-songwriter.  But then once I start performing, they change their mind.  So the more I’m getting out there, the more people are getting to know my name and accept me as a serious musician.

DC- How does it feel trying to make your way around in the industry without contacts or any real ties in the music world?

AJ- I think that as you get out there and perform, you meet more and more people.  And people know other people so it’s about connections.  First you have to have the talent and have people take you seriously, and then it’s about who you meet and who they can introduce you to.  So as I get out there and make contacts I seem to be making more connections.  It would be NICE to have ties but I don’t so I guess I have to do it the hard way.  I’m learning to have a thicker skin and to be very persistent.  Keep playing, keep showing up.  Keep doing this until people see that I really want it bad.

DC- What did you do in preparation to get ready for the music industry? Any Vocal training or was all of this natural?

AJ- I started taking vocal lessons when I was 13 and first decided that I wanted to be a singer.  I did the typical stuff voice recitals and such.  I really didn’t like the “traditional “approach to voice – – you know, Broadway music and opera like music.  But I stuck with it because I was learning technique and how to warm up my voice and all that.  When I was 14, I started performing in public with a local singer-songwriter and we recorded some of his original songs and performed them in public.  I loved it – – but I hated relying on someone else to play the music while I sang.  So I picked up the guitar and started learning how to play.  I watched others play and even learned chords on the internet.  I tried traditional guitar lessons and hated it.  So I just learned on my own.  Then I met John Gerard later after I had been performing for a while and learned even more.

DC- I have read a few reviews about you and the word that seems to come up a lot is Unique. What do you think makes you Unique?

AJ- I think it’s my performances and songs they come from the heart.  I’m not a copycat I do my own thing without really knowing the rules and it seems to work out ok because that makes me unique.  Even with songwriting I just write a song!  I don’t take songwriting classes or follow a format because I don’t want to lose the creative flow and be mechanical.  I just want it to be from me.  Maybe some people won’t like this, but I think it’s what makes me a bit more unique.

DC- I know this is a hard thing to even think about at a young age…but what do you want your legacy to be?

AJ- I want my legacy to be, real and honest- down to earth regular small town girl with compassion and emotions in her music that can resonate with people of all ages.

DC- Do you feel like you know who you are as a musician? Do you feel as though you have found your voice?

AJ- Well I know who I am as a musician at the age of 17.  But I don’t know if that will change as I continue on and my experiences in life are different – – – which might change me and my music.  Every song I write represents a different time or experience in my life and a different side of me.  But I know that this will change as I get older and I hope that I’ll just continue to write honestly from the heart.

DC- I see that you write your own songs. What comes first music or lyrics?

AJ- It happens both ways for me.  There’s no song format for me.  Sometimes the lyrics are there first and the melody comes later.  But sometimes I have a melody playing in my head that needs me to create the right lyrics.

DC- I hear your song “Simple Love” will be included in an independent film. How do you feel about that? Did they approach you or did you find them?

AJ- I am excited about that.  I submitted my song through sonic bids when I heard that this independent film company was making a romantic comedy feature film and were looking for songs about love.  On a whim, I just submitted the song “Simple Love” – – it was the first time I’ve ever done this and not long after that I got an email from the writer/director saying they had selected my song for the movie.  I was shocked and excited.

DC- Do you have any advice to young women trying to break into the industry?

AJ- I would say that you have to be confident and know who you are.  You need to have thick skin and realize that not everyone is going to like your music.   You can’t let it take you down because someone doesn’t like your stuff.

DC- With the new CD coming out…do you think there is any on going theme within it?

AJ- Well, the title of the new CD is called “Simple Love’ it kind of speaks about all different kinds of relationships.  It’s my first CD – showing who I am as an artist.  It’s pretty simple – – mostly just me and my guitar.  Showing what my music is all about.  So love is sort of the theme, and maybe my quest for love that’s less complicated (like my song Simple Love says:  “no more complicated, aggravated, obligated Love.  I want Simple Love”!

DC- Are there any messages or things you would like to say to girls your age just about life?

AJ- Definitely stay strong in who you are.  Make sure that you’re always talking or expressing what you’re feeling (either in music or to your family/friends about whatever is going on in school and life).  I just finished writing a song that is being recorded that is about teenage bullying. I just think that girls need an outlet – whether it’s friends, or sports or music or whatever.  You just have to have a way to let it out

DC- If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow where would that be?

AJ- Hmm…I think on a hammock on the beaches of Cape Cod (I love the ocean!!) It is one of the best places to write and think. SO relaxing.

DC- If it was your last day on earth what would you be eating?

AJ- Probably a whoopee pie!!! Or a chocolate fudge sundae

For more information on Ashley Jordon log on to:

www.ashleyjordonmusic.com

Interview and Written by Deanna Collins for NRG Theory 2010