We recently connected with Aidan Ashland and have shared our conversation below.

Aidan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents have always maintained a complete belief in my future as an artist. At no point in my life have they suggested I get a “real job” or proposed any measure of doubt in my chances of success. This full-hearted belief is the bedrock on which I get my bearings when the realities of a career in music bear down a little too harshly.

Aidan, 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 am a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist through and through. There is so much to be explored in music and through one’s artistic voice alone. For me, the catalyst for learning to play music was to better serve my songwriting. This is not an idea unique to me, that we study our instruments in order to get what’s in our heads out into the world in the purist way possible. This is what I’ve been working towards for over a decade of music practice, and what I find most significant in my collaboration with others. The attention that I pay to getting an idea out just right in my own music is what I bring to the table as a collaborator, just applied to another person’s idea. This involves a lot of patience and trial and error, but in the end is very rewarding.

This mentality is a central tenant for my songwriting too. How can I express what I really mean as effectively as possible? I’m inspired by songwriters like Ani DiFranco who can spin a metaphor, sure, but who can tell you a story in her songwriting frankly and beautifully in equal measure. This is what I aspire to in my songwriting too, to use lyrics and music as a means to beam my imagination straight into the head of my listener.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I very nearly lost my voice all together. When I was a freshman in college, I fell very ill; couldn’t eat, drink, or swallow my own spit. Ultimately I was diagnosed with white blood cell tumors in the lymph of my throat, a precursor to Lymphoma. Surgery spared me from further illness, but stripped me of my voice. Quite literally. For a month I couldn’t speak, and it wasn’t for a measure of years that I regained my singing voice entirely. I will never forget the moment in my doctor’s office when in response to the burning question “will I ever sing again?” the answer came an earth-shaking “I don’t know.”

Traumatizing as this experience was, it completely changed my approach to singing and relationship with my voice. Through the patient tutelage of Mirabai Daniels and Kate Duncan, I crafted a new, healthier, stronger voice. My appreciation for the vocal instrument has grown in equal measure with my ability as a singer, along with the understanding of my part in caring for it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

There’s no way I should’ve been able to afford the music education I received. I did not grow up with financial privilege, it was only by the grace and belief of others that I got the chances I’ve received. A core tenant of my ambition is to give back that good faith to other young artists, especially those often disregarded by the social expectation of what a rock-star can be. I believe that democratizing information through increased access to education and resources for practicum is crucial to this end, a belief that drives me to strive for bigger stages to share this goal.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @aidanashland
• Other: tiktok: @aidanashland