We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashton Nyte. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashton below.
Hi Ashton , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When I was five years old, I saw a rerun of Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special on TV. From the moment I heard that angelic voice, framed in all his black leather-clad glory, I knew I had to be a performer. By the age of eight, I’d discovered David Bowie and knew then that I needed to write my own songs and sing them.
As the years passed, many artists, songs, movies and stories made their way into my world, and along with life’s trials and tribulations, they solidified my desire to try to create art that would hopefully comfort and inspire others whilst learning more about myself in the process.
Ashton , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born, raised and educated in South Africa during a time when the pursuit of art was largely discouraged. As is often the case, this only heightened my desire for that forbidden fruit (and, of course, art will find you). After high school, I completed a degree in Architecture, and while studying full-time and working part-time, I set about recording my first self-financed album back in the late 90s before the joys of home recording. And so began an extended period of very little sleep, too much caffeine and a debut album that somehow broke through on national radio. Much DIY touring ensued, and in four sleepless years, I released four albums with my band, The Awakening, started my own studio and record label, released my first solo album and started dabbling in theatre.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of writing, recording and producing 11 albums as The Awakening and 8 as Ashton Nyte. Clearly, the coffee is still working. I’ve also been fortunate to collaborate with various wonderful artists, including members of The Cure, The Mission, Cheap Trick, Peter Murphy, All About Eve, Beauty In Chaos and many more. In 2020, I wrote my first book of poetry, short stories and musings to accompany my Waiting For A Voice album. I enjoyed that so much that I wrote another one in tandem with my most recent album, Autumn’s Children (2023), which American Songwriter very kindly named one of the Top 17 albums of the year, along with artists like Hozier and Olivia Rodrigo. High praise indeed!
I’ve also had the opportunity to host a few worthwhile events, like my “Rock Against Rape” concert series and a lecture series focused on Tolerance and Acceptance. On the music side of things, I’ve been fortunate to work on film scores and have my songs featured in TV shows like Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (HBO Max), The Purge (USA Network) and others. And all that began with a little boy from Africa with an early Elvis obsession.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Relocating to the US was the most difficult adjustment and initially a massive setback for my career. I had been very fortunate with my creative and professional growth in South Africa, and within five intense years, I had headlined the biggest festivals and done most of what performing artists dream of doing – in one country at least. In my case, relocation was certainly not seamless, and it has been a humbling walk/crawl to go from a certain level of success and fulfilment to feeling like you are back at the starting point without the boundless energy of youth on your side.
However, I’ve always felt that one of the keys to happiness is appropriately defining success and being brutally honest about it. While I felt the loss of what I had helped build, starting fresh was liberating as long as I could keep that in focus. And so, the building process was not just a rebuilding process but a chance for some redefinition and reinvention, too.
The very rough years of the second chapter of my creative life have led me to do and try things far beyond my comfort zone. Ultimately, I’d like to think I’ve grown from it all. I’m not sure my “South African Rockstar” self envisioned books and lectures (among other things) in his foreseeable future and what amazing opportunities and blessings those have been. And there have been many more!
I’ve also learned to truly value each moment, personal or professional, successful or otherwise, as an essential part of our journey, and I am profoundly grateful.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I love how everything I experience influences my work and, in turn, how my work influences the way I live my life and, hopefully, the lives of others in some small positive way. That cycle and synergy appeal to me.
There is a tremendous sense of fulfilment in taking an idea from the proverbial seed to a tree. And while I may have a bit of an obsession with creating things, I enjoy the constant flow of learning and dreaming.
I think life is an endless source of inspiration – in all its beauty, ugliness, simplicity and complexity. Nature and art have healed me so often, and I feel the need to reciprocate and share appropriately.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.ashtonnyte.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ashtonnyte
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ashtonnyte
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ashtonnyte
- Other: Ashton Nyte on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7J66VKvTZxYiFeI2n0PWed?si=0rP_usoeT3y2YA2P6TfQfg The Awakening: http://www.theawakening.com The Awakening on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/14II2rDdYF0IcCqSXAicFc?si=pXIoyQl_S2eh7P3OmtfbmA
Image Credits
All images by Ashton Nyte, except “Portrait” by Todd Davis,