We recently connected with Ashley Munoz and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. 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.
Music has always been influenced in my life. My dad sang everywhere, in the studio, in the car, even in the grocery store. It was our language. But somewhere along the way, I lost the courage to speak it. I was too shy to sing around the people I loved most. I would daydream about being on stage, completely free, yet I kept my voice hidden.
For years, I followed the path everyone said I should: go to school, get a degree, work a stable job. But none of it ever felt like me. Music never stopped calling, though. I would sneak moments alone to write songs, to sing, to remember what it felt like to be alive.
One day, after another long day at my desk job, I just broke. I told my sister, “I can’t stay in this box anymore. I need to make music.” And she looked at me and said, “Then let’s figure out how.” That night changed everything.
Since then, I’ve started sharing my voice publicly, collaborating with friends, and allowing myself to be seen for who I truly am. It was terrifying at first, taking the first steps away from the safe path and risking judgment and disappointment, but it’s also been the most freeing thing I’ve ever done. I’m so grateful to have my sister’s encouragement through this pathway.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Ashley, and I’m a 29-year-old woman learning to navigate the push and pull between societal standards and soul values.
For five years, I ran a wedding photography business. It was an incredible experience, but over time, I began to feel the weight of perfectionism that comes with that world. Every shot felt like a high-stakes moment, and the pressure to never disappoint anyone slowly dimmed my creative spark. Deep down, I knew my purpose was meant to come from a place of emotional depth and authentic connection, not performance.
So, I made the choice to pause and realign. I realized that what truly fulfills me is using my natural empathy to help others rediscover the strength, beauty, and confidence that life may have buried within them. Whether it’s through trauma, heartbreak, or self-doubt, we all carry stories that deserve to be seen and held through art.
Though my camera hasn’t captured weddings in some time, I now focus on photographing and collaborating with artists who are ready to express their true selves. I love guiding others to step into their creative power and embrace the parts of themselves they once hid.
Music has also become a deep part of my expression. As a singer and songwriter, my intention is to create music that reconnects people with their emotions.. music that feels raw, soulful, and human. I want to bring back that unfiltered honesty that makes someone stop and feel, not just listen.
My strengths lie within the way I blend creativity with intuition. Everything I do, whether it’s music, photography, or writing, comes from a place of deep empathy and spiritual connection. I’m still in the process of building the foundation for what will eventually become a home for artists: a space rooted in authenticity, healing, and creative freedom. And when the doors open, my sister and I can’t wait to meet you all there.
I’m most proud of finally allowing myself to be seen, to follow my soul instead of the expectations of others. I want people to know that my work isn’t about perfection; it’s about truth, emotion, and the beauty of being fully human.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
My ego ran the show for a very long time. It protected my insecurities, amplified my fears, and validated emotions that were mostly driven by impulsivity. I didn’t realize how much it was quietly shaping my interactions, my choices, and even the way I expressed myself creatively. It took therapy, dietitian guidance, and the biggest of all, Ayahuasca, for me to experience a reality check that shook me to my core. I saw that I had wounds that were being held hostage in my mind and body, and those wounds were spilling out, projecting hurt and confusion onto the world around me, often without me even noticing.
Only when I sat bare in my own bed, fully facing myself, did I understand what needed to be done to heal, to release, to step into the truth of who I am. I’m still learning to navigate this new mindset, to move through the world with love rather than ego, and to respond from awareness instead of reaction. Learning how to heal, and I am endlessly grateful for the path it’s taken me on. It has opened my mind in ways I never thought could be possible, deepened my compassion, and most importantly, set me back on the path of artistic expression that feels raw, real, and entirely mine.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
To truly support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem, I think society first needs to honor the process of self-healing. When we take the time to reflect on our words, our judgments, and where they come from, we begin to understand the impact even a few words can have on someone else. Our words, our thoughts, our actions carry energy. Everyone expresses themselves from a unique perspective, and each of us has something valuable to offer.
Much of the shame or judgment around artistic expression, the belief that it’s “cringy” or “weird,” comes from our unhealed wounds and the conditioning of what society insists is “normal.” While those wounds aren’t our fault, the healing is definitely our responsibility. When we heal, our lens clears, and we can connect with others from authenticity rather than pain, or projection. Our personal algorithm expands from the surface to the soul level. Support creativity by encouraging connection, self-reflection, and the freedom to express without judgment.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Wayside Studios (the studio I record at)