We were lucky to catch up with Ally Ritch recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ally, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

This year, I’ve decided to take the biggest risk I can: betting on myself. I’m quitting my very small cleaning business and going all in on my music career. This was not a decision I anticipated making so soon, but after a lot of conversation and thought, I decided to take the risk and just go for it. I’ve done music for most of my life in some capacity, but I’ve never had the opportunity to make it my sole focus, and this year, I’m able to do just that. I’m laying all my cards out on the table with life and hoping that maybe by the end of this year, I’ll leave with double than I put in. This is a risk in progress, and I’m giving it until the end of the year, but I can say that I am truly excited to finally see this through in a way I never have.

Ally, 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’ve sung since I was able to talk, more or less, and I’ve played instruments since I was 7. I started writing music when I was 16 as an emotional outlet, and then it became something I wanted to do forever, and hopefully as a job some day. I’ve gone back and forth since being in college about whether or not I truly wanted to be part of the music industry. It’s a lot different these days, and very competitive. I feel like I see a lot of people who are willing to step on each other and fake their way to the top, and that’s not who I am, which is why I was on the fence for so long. I didn’t know if there would ever be a place for someone like me. But this year, I’m deciding to try despite all the conflicting feelings I’ve had for so long, because my love for what I do and drive to succeed in it is far greater than the fear that has threatened to hold me back and kept me playing it safe. I don’t have time for safe anymore.

I’m an artist, and I released a song back in July of 2023 that felt the most like me out of anything I’ve done. When I released “Stomach,” I didn’t expect anything to happen, because I’ve released music before with underwhelming results. However, my song ended up getting the most streams I’ve ever had and now sits at a little over 80,000, as of today. This year, I will be continuing to refine my sound as an artist while also building my individual and collaborative songwriting portfolio in hopes of acquiring a publishing deal.

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

This year I’m going for it all. I’m planning on releasing a few new songs to refine my project as an artist while also pursuing a publishing deal. That being said, as much as those goals drive my creative journey, the thing that drives me most is the joy I find from creating. Whether it’s for myself or others, the love of writing and making music is something that never leaves me, and that is what I am finally allowing to drive me through this next year, and hopefully years to come.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I feel like a common idea in society is that when someone else wins, you’re losing. I carried that feeling for a long time, and when I would see people get things I wanted or win in ways I was hoping to, I felt like I was always losing, or always behind.
Something that was pivotal for me in life was learning how to celebrate the wins and successes of others and realizing I’m not losing a single thing in that. The only time I’m losing is when I choose to believe that I am. It’s a limiting belief, and I’m so grateful I was able to learn that what is for me will be for me, and it is a privilege to celebrate the wins of others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allyritch.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcrewchappellroan/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-51531237?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Image Credits

Will Smitherman
Harrison Maxwell