We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Ryan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I attended Belmont University at the time, pursuing a degree in music business. I was invited by a couple of friends to go see Keith Urban at the Exit in. He wanted someone from the crowd to come up on stage and announce his Nashville tour date. To my surprise, he called my name. He knew I went to Belmont and asked me what I was studying and what I wanted to do in the music industry. I told him that I wanted to be the next country singer and heard a couple people chanting in the audience to sing!

He asked me if there was a song I wanted to sing with him and I instantly said “Without You.” It has always been one of my favorite Keith Urban songs. So he pulled me over to the microphone and we both shared an impromptu duet. I was so nervous, but what I really didn’t expect was what he was gonna say next. In the mic, he asked me if I wanted to get up and sing the song with him at the Bridgestone arena for his Nashville tour date. Of course I said yes!

Flash forward 7 months and I’m standing in front of a sold show at the Bridgestone singing “Without You” with keith Urban. There truly was nothing like it. Walking out onto the stage and seeing thousands of lights and hearing thousands of voices sing the song with you was so surreal.

The strange thing was that I wasn’t nervous. I genuinely felt like I was right where I belonged. I am so thankful for keith Urban allowing me that amazing experience, because it really lit the fire inside me to pursue artistry and go full force. I’ll never forget that moment and I dream of the day I get to be back on that stage with a band of my own singing the songs I’ve written to thousands of people singing the lyrics back to me!

Since then, I’ve put out a couple singles and music videos and I’m gearing up to release a lot of new music in 2023. I cannot wait to share with everyone what I’ve been working on and I hope it resonates with people the way it has for me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Originally from Corona, California, I moved to Nashville in 2017 to attend Belmont University. I have always had a passion for writing and performing, and being around people with the same interests really inspired me to learn more about my craft. I started writing with other artists and songwriters with similar music styles and have thus written some of my favorite songs to date. Some of these songs include my already released singles: Reno and Hillbilly.

Something I am very passionate about, is keeping that authentic early 2000’s country sound alive. The storytelling of country music is what inspired me and set my soul on fire as a kid. The sound of a fiddle and steel guitar always took me to a different place. I strive to bring that same feeling to anyone that listens to my music.

I think ultimately what sets me apart from others, is that I write lyrics you don’t often hear on country radio anymore today. I love story songs that make you feel something. Even if you can’t relate to the story itself, you still find yourself getting lost in the song. I love making up names and crazy storylines almost like it’s a movie in melodic form. I am most notorious for writing sassy country with a hint of revenge and I wouldn’t want it any other way!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think something most artists in Nashville eventually learn is that your journey is your own and no one else’s. What I mean by that is, it is so easy to see someone else’s success and internalize that as your failure. Comparison is a thief of joy. When you see others moving up, it almost makes you feel like you’re being left behind and can’t catch up. You cannot compare your progress to others.

If you’re kind, work hard, and have an attitude of gratitude, your time will come. You cannot stop, you cannot give up, you cannot doubt yourself. It is easier said than done, but having the mindset that you’re capable of achieving anything will drastically improve your chances of success.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is doing what you love and seeing how people respond to it. There’s something so special about someone in the audience coming up to you after a show, and telling you that your song made them cry. You have room to be creative and be yourself. Even though your music might not please everybody, there’s someone who will always appreciate and connect with it. Making people feel those kinds of emotional connections to something that came from your heart is so humbling. It validates that you’re doing something that matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashleyryanofficial.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ashleyryanmusic?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAshleyRyan?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ashley-ryan-music
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyryanmusic

Image Credits
Erick Anderson Kaylee Steffel Chaz Mazzota Kelsey Page