Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Mills Monaghan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashley Mills, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

There was a time in my early twenties where I really wanted to pursue my music. I wanted to be the next Taylor Swift. I knew how to write songs; I had been doing so since I was 16. But I knew early on I didn’t have the full package. No record label would ever sign me. I didn’t have the skills. I didn’t have the look. I didn’t have the business sense. I didn’t have the cool clothes; I couldn’t pull off the musician hat. And so I was a dreamer. Playing music was just something I thought about while singing along to my favorite tunes in the car. Anyway, it wasn’t realistic. No one would ever want to see me play my songs live. I didn’t have a fan base. Who would want to listen to me? I wasn’t pretty enough or skinny enough… I wasn’t enough full stop. At least these were the things swirling inside my head for years. I knew I didn’t have what it took to actually be a singer/songwriter because I wasn’t good enough so I knew I needed to get on a Plan B and get a degree in something I could actually use. So that’s what I did. I went back to college after completing my degree in Film Production and Music and got my post graduate degree in Early Childhood Education. I worked in the preschools for years both here in the United States and abroad in Ireland, where I received my secondary education. It wasn’t until I wrote a children’s book a few years back and saw it successfully published when I thought maybe I do have creative ideas that are worth pursuing. I won some awards from that book and I spent a lot of time touring with my little book. I thought, maybe I am an artist and maybe I can actually live a creative life because I am actually good enough. After all, I am doing NOW what I’ve been doing my whole career – I just didn’t know it. I have been writing stories and making up songs and performing for the kids in my classrooms this whole time – yet music and the idea of songwriting was out of the question because I wasn’t good enough, remember? But then I had a thought… why not lean into this creative self I’ve actually been hiding behind and just go for it? So that’s what I did. 3 years ago (during Covid) I started releasing my children’s music and I’ve gained so many opportunites to write and produce for children’s media, scored an award winning documentary, won several awards for my orginal children’s songs, was nominated for ‘Best Global Artist’ at Funky Kids Radio Awards, received rave reviews, radio play, played a lot of fun gigs, was on the front cover of a local publication in San Diego, went for a Grammy and met so many incredible people along the way… I’m Ashley Mills Monaghan, I just turned 40 this year and I’m only realizing now I am good enough to be a musician.

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?

My name is Ashley Mills Monaghan and I am a children’s recording artist, producer, songwriter and teacher. I love that I get to routinely be with my preschool music classes because it is who I have discovered I am and what I love to do. I LOVE to live a life where I get to combine all of my interests in such a creative and unique way. I love that I get to learn from the children in my life and I get to feel inspired by them and that shows up in my music. I want to create useful music for the parent and teacher, but also for the child; I create music that is meaningful and reflective of what children are going through. Music is so powerful in that way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unteach myself that I wasn’t good enough. For too long I was suffering in self doubt and now that I have children of my own, I see that lack in confidence they have creep in as well. We live in such a competitive, stupid world. It’s easy to place yourself in the ‘not good enough’ category.

I wrote a song called ‘If I Tell Myself I Can’ and although it is written for little ones that struggle with self confidence (you’d be surprised how much self doubt I would hear in a day when I was teaching preschool in the classroom everyday), honestly this is a song that is close to heart. I have to remind myself everyday I am worthy of this journey and there’s no winning or losing – only continuing forward on a path I know I want to be on even if I’m the only one thinking I’m good at it. If I tell myself I can, I can do anything.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I lived my Plan B for years and I wasn’t completely satisfied. Yes, I loved working in the classroom and yes, I loved working with children but I wasn’t completely utilizing all that I knew I could contribute. I needed to be creative. I knew something was missing. I love the collaborative process with other creators. I craved a sense of getting back to what I knew and what I wanted to do. Getting back in tune with that part of me was very gratifying and I’m so grateful I finally had the courage to wake up one day to just go for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ashleymillsmonaghan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymillsmonaghan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleymillsmonaghan
• Linkedin: Ashley Mills Monaghan
• Twitter: @ashleymillsmon
• Youtube: @ashleymillsmonaghan4905

Image Credits
Hilary Murphy Photography Kevin&King