Meet Ashley Barksdale | Independent Pop Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Barksdale and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I feel like when someone is investing in their own career to be an artist, they have to take risks. Artists everyday take risks when it comes to sharing an idea about a song the have, to even releasing the song fully. We’re constantly in fear that nobody is going to like the music we create, or even like us in general and I think thats why a lot of people don’t actually start the music careers they want. I took the risk when I decided to release my first single ‘Lovers Dont Say (Goodbyes)’ back in April of 2022, and it was the best decision I ever made. Taking that first step has given me the courage to release more music, including my latest release of ‘C67-C2RZ’ and share music related ideas with others on the internet! If you’re somebody who wants to be in this business, the music business, you gotta take that first step. Take the risk.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It took me a little while to finally figure out what genre of music I wanted to create. I always grew up with pop music, constantly listening to Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, as well as watching the hit Disney channel show, ‘Hannah Montana’, which would inspire me everyday to want to make music and be a pop star. I found myself wanting to create melodies that would be very easy to remember because Katy and Gaga made melodies for people to remember. I tried experimenting with jazz and pop punk a little bit, mainly because other people were telling me to do that. However, I realized I need to make music in a genre I know is best fit for me and will make my career worthwhile, and pop is where I find those worthwhile moments. If it wasn’t for being surrounded by the environment that I am, attending a music school where people are always collaborating and supporting each other I don’t think I’d have the courage to release music, I wouldn’t have taken the risk. Watching other people take these risks and release their music and start the careers they want to have with music inspired me to do the same. I want people to feel seen with my music, wether thats with the lyrics or even the production. If I can get at least one person to relate to what I’m saying and feel like they can share their story, and feel good. and talk about my music, then I’m set!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
New York City is the place to be! I feel like if anybody were to take a trip to visit me in the Big Apple they would want to visit Time Square first. I would take them to my favorite restaurant in the Manhattan area, after exploring Time Square, Moms Kitchen and get their REALLY big milkshakes. I’d then want to see if they’d wanna see a musical! I personally would offer to see MJ The Musical, but if they’d prefer to see something else I’d be down, I love musicals. Of course I’d want to take them to my favorite thrift store in Brooklyn called Urban Jungle afterwards, hopefully we’d get some good finds. Honestly I feel like theres so much to do in New York City that you simply cant plan out an itinerary, you need to do things spur of the moment!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely my closest friends and my family. They’re all constantly showing up for me and giving me the support I need to keep going with this career. If it wasn’t for them all reassuring me at times when I need reassurance about my music and journey I would have given up already. Being an artist isn’t easy, and I feel like if we artists don’t notice the support we get it starts to impact our career negatively. Knowing that I have a support system to back me up really makes me feel like singing and making music is what I’m supposed to do in life.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ashley_barksdale

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ashleyboff

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ashley_barksdale

Image Credits
The images that have the blue blazer, black background and and black vans shirt, black background make sure to credit Fiya. Her instagram is @fiya.kyd