Published: July 6, 2010 6:36 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight July 2010 Edition
Ashley Jordan
Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Ashley Jordan MPP Photography
Indie Folk Singer/Songwriter Ashley Jordan sings with a wonderful softness to her voice that naturally comforts the soul. Jordan, who is only 17 years old, also sings with a level of wisdom and maturity that one can enjoy each beautiful note that comes from Jordan’s voice. Add her crafted songwriting into the mixture Jordan delivers like a true champion. Here is a recent feature with our Webzine that Jordan conducted that introduces her to our readers. Enjoy!
Isaac: Let’s get started with this interview. When and how did you first become interested in music? How long have you been playing music?
Ashley: I've always loved music and supposedly was singing since I was a baby, but the first time I knew I had to have it in my life was after a sixth grade talent show at my school. I decided to sing an Avril Lavigne song - and I had never sung in front of anyone before. So I got a karaoke CD and in front of a hundred people in an auditorium I sang the song "I'm with You". I could feel how the audience was reacting and I remember feeling calm, yet powerful. I used the entire stage . . . and I felt like I belonged there. It was pretty surreal. I remember that everyone complimented me and even my parents were shocked at my ability and my ease of being on stage. A guy from the local newspaper was at the talent show and took my picture and it appeared on the front page of the paper that week with the caption "Next Teel Idol?". I was hooked!
From then on I more actively pursued music - - first with vocal lessons and later with guitar. I've only been playing the guitar for a couple of years. I used to sing with other people playing accompaniment- - like piano or guitar, but once I started performing places I realized that I wanted to play the guitar for myself and have control over the songs and when I was available to play. Plus, I had so much music in my head that I wanted to write and perform - - it was just a natural progression that I would have an instrument available to help me write.
Isaac: Who would you say are your biggest musical influences and why?
Ashley: I would have to say James Taylor, Ingrid Michaelson, Ellis Paul . . . and a Boston singer-songwriter (who I've had the pleasure of working with) John Gerard!!
Isaac: What has been the greatest highpoint in your career so far?
Ashley: Probably playing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston. I was selected to play at an event called "Music On and Up" which was a showcase of local young talent (under the age of 18) ....so I was thrilled to have the chance to play at the Hard Rock Cafe. I felt the presence of all the past amazing artists who had performed there - and it just felt really amazing. It was at the point where I was just starting to get asked to do feature acts and things like that - - so thinking about adding Hard Rock Cafe to my list of gigs made me feel like I was really making some progress!
Isaac: What has been the greatest disappointment in your career so far? What did you learn from that experience?
Ashley: Probably playing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston! They had judges who were at the event and they selected several "top bands" and I wasn't acknowledged in any way. I was especially bummed out because one of the judges was Ellis Paul's manager (Ralph Jackodine) so I was even more excited to be there. But I didn't even get the opportunity to talk with him and tell him how much Ellis Paul's music meant to me and I went home feeling deflated and like I didn't measure up.
Isaac: Ahhh, that’s not fair….Sorry to hear that…..
Ashley: After I scraped myself up off the floor though, I looked up the contact info for Ralph Jackovitz and sent him an email telling him who I was and that I saw him at the Hard Rock. I told him that I was Ellis Paul's number one fan and I sent him one of my CD's. He responded to my email and told me that if I came to one of Ellis Paul's concerts he would personally introduce me. I already had tickets to see him at TCAN in Natick the next week!! So I went and Ralph introduced me to him . . . and during the show Ellis Paul unplugged his guitar and went into the audience asking for where Ashley was! I almost passed out. Then he dedicated the song "Annalee" to me (I had told him that this was my favorite song on his new CD). So I never did hear about my CD from Ralph, but I decided that I had to get a thicker skin and just keep moving and doing my thing and that not everyone is going to be my biggest fan, but I can't let that bring me down. I was persistent and I got to meet Ellis who gave me even more motivation to keep going because I think he is completely amazing and I plan to someday open for him at one of his concerts!
Ashley Jordan
MPP Photography
Isaac: What draws you to want to play the type of music that you do?
Ashley: When I write the music for my songs I never think of a format or style - I just sort of go with the flow and see where it takes me. I've had some trouble categorizing my music because all of my songs seem to have their own different sound (country? pop? folk?). I express my emotions in my songs so I guess that is what draws me to writing the kind of music that I do. Sometimes my music is just a free-flowing fun expression (Like "Simple Love"), but a lot of the time I have something to say (Like "Haunt") . . .
Isaac: What do you feel it takes to play this type of music that you play?
Ashley: Honesty, for sure. But also focus - because if I’m not in the mood of the song I can't really convey the emotion and feelings of the song. If all my songs were just happy songs and upbeat melodies, it would be much easier - but many are not happy, they tell a story and because I want to draw the audience into my songs/lyrics I need to have the emotions and feeling to get them to respond.
Isaac: What do you think you will create that will make your performances and who you are stand out in the music industry?
Ashley: I think usually people don't expect the kind of music that I do from a 17 year old girl. That's the reaction I've heard the most - so I think that as long as I can surprise the audience with my voice and music, it will make me stand out and be noticed.
Isaac: If you had the opportunity to do one cover, what cover would you do and why? How would you put your own spin on this cover?
Ashley: I do perform covers - - and one of my all time favorites to do is the R. Kelly song "You Are Not Alone" (which was made famous by Michael Jackson). I think the song is powerful, and on my recording I have an amazing violinist who plays along and gives it just the right sound that I wanted to convey. I think it's an incredible and unique song and if I only have time for one cover, it's usually that song.
Isaac: What does it take to be a good songwriter?
Ashley: I think it takes being able to put your heart on the line and face things. Because I've found that the best songs come from heartfelt feelings about something - - whether it's loss or love or whatever. It's hard though, because many people may write in a journal or talk to a friend, but when I write a song I put my raw feelings on paper and then put it to music. It's scary, because people are listening and hearing about whom I am and what I'm thinking. But that honesty is what I think makes the music real -- and when I perform it, it comes from a real place. So I think being a good songwriter is about being brave enough to show people who you are . . .
Isaac: How difficult is it to juggle music, family and work obligation, and life in general? Explain.
Ashley: I'll be honest - it's not easy. I want to just be focusing on my music, but life keeps getting in the way. I'm a junior in high school and I wanted to be playing out at gigs all the time - but it's so exhausting going to school the next day and being a high school student. So I met with my amazing school counselor (Cindy Hurley), and she helped me come up with a plan to do something called a "dual enrollment" next year. So I'll be taking classes through a community college where I can plan my own schedule and take some classes online (which frees me up for being out late at gigs!).
I'll get college credit for the classes, but also fulfill my requirements for my senior year in high school so I can graduate in June with my classmates at my high school. Here's a funny thing: I'm still in my junior year right now (until June 17th or so). But I start my senior year classes/college classes on June 1st. So for two weeks in June I'll technically be a junior in high school, a senior in high school AND a college freshman ALL AT THE SAME TIME! LOL. But the reality is that I free up my schedule a bit next year so I can be out playing gigs and doing my music without being tied to being a senior in high school and all that comes with it. I'm ready to be out there! I couldn't do it without my supportive family though. My parents are behind me and my music 100% and they are my biggest fans AND my road crew. I know how lucky I am for that - I couldn't do this alone!
Isaac: What is your definition of being an Indie artist/band?
Ashley: To me, I guess it means I'm an artist who is totally on my own - - no record label or anything like that.
Isaac: Where can fans access your music online?
Ashley: They can download it or buy a CD from my website www.AshleyJordanMusic.com. My music is also available at iTunes and CD Freedom.
Isaac: In five years…….
Ashley: In five years, I hope that a lot of people know my name and my music. But I want my music to be an expression of who I am at that time in my life. I kind of see my music as a montage of my life - the good and the bad - and as I move forward I want it to represent where I am at that point. So this may sound corny, but I want my music to show my journey through life and as I progress as a person and a musician. I want my music to change and grow along with me - and for people to remember my name and seek my music for their collections!
