Meet Ashley Barrett | Ashley Barrett also known as Aybe Lexington | Artist and CEO of The Clariteye Company

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

Hi Ashley, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my company, The Clariteye Company in 2018, to help other women artist and creatives navigate the music industry. I heard so many stories of women having bad experience and I wanted to share my connects that God has blessed me with. Creating music or putting out a project should be a fun experience and making sure your surrounded by genuine experts in the field really adds to a fun experience.

The label focuses on mentoring and supporting women artist, entertainers, songwriters, and producers. We cover so many areas of expertise such as music production, publishing, songwriting, project planning, and film production.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I am on this journey I think that I am most proud of coming into myself as an artist. Aybe Lexington is quirky, a nerd with style and has smooth, buttery, soulful vocals that give you that raw emotion sort of like 90s music. I started out as a songwriter and I remember making the transition in 2016 to an artist I had to overcome doubting myself musically because I could not do certain things with my voice vocally, like run a lot. I learned to use what I am blessed with and be confident in it. I write most of my songs by myself and only have a few friends I like to do other songwriting collaborations with.

I was not always an artist, my career started at age 14. I began writing songs and recording at my Uncle’s Studio. After building up a catalog, I was given the opportunity to write songs for international artist Bruna Tatiana from Angol and other talented local artists. It was not until, 2016, is when I made the decisions to brand myself as a recording artist. I released my first single entitled “D’USSE,” and in the fall of 2017, I released my first music video entitled “Missing You” in collaboration with EDM producer, FOMO. Recently, I released my ep “6803.” I am really proud of this body of worked because it taught me so much more about the music business and completing a project from end to end.

The process to brand myself as an artist was not easy for me. I normally like to be behind the scenes which is why songwriting was so easy for me. There is a verse in the bible that speaks about God not giving us the spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind. To overcome my fear I kept that verse close to me and I told myself if you are going to do it, DO IT GIRL and make sure you are knowledgeable about the industry you are going in.

I have learned so many lessons along the way but the one thing that I had to learn was to be flexible! As a CEO and even a collaborator, things happen life happens, if you miss a deadline strive for the next date. Also, fail forward it goes back to fear, just DO IT if it didn’t work out this time have a retrospective moment and do better moving forward.

I would want the world to know that my brand and my story of my artist journey is about defy the limits of genres and music stereotypes and staying true to the art. There are so many stereotypes about age in the music industry especially for women, I am a 33 year old women pursuing a music career, I know the odds of success the world has put on women artist like me but I keep going. I encourage every artist to keep going and be true to your art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First off I am from Baltimore, MD. First stop is always crabs. My favorite crab spot is Mr. Bills Then you have to get a crab cake, we would either go to Moe’s or G&M.
Then we would take a stroll around the Harbor east and the Harbor
Depending on when they visited Ravens football team is a big deal. We would tailgate and catch a game.
So I am a foodie but I also have a gluten allergy but my list of restaurants are Verde Pizza, Black Swan, The Bygone, Sweet 27, and R House
On a nice Sunday the best place to go is Sunset Cove or Tiki Lee to enjoy yachts, food, music at the pier.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have village behind me and I would be nothing without them.

I like to give a big shout out to my family for always listening to my music before I release to the world.
My brother DJ who is my Music Director for really helping me create big entertaining set for my performances.
I like to thank the rest of the band members, guitarist Jay Rojas and bass player Isaac Johnson.

To my glam squad, my hairstylist Charisse Hicks, stylist Lakeia Seward, and make-up artist Eboni Little they are the visionaries behind each look you see and they nail it every time. My confidence level is on 1000 lol! I look and feel great every time we do a shoot or I step out for a performance.

To the greatest producer and mixing engineer Ryan “Top Secret” Anderson for seeing the music vision and collaborating with me to make all the songs in my head come to life.

Website: https://aybelexington.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aybelexington/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aybelexington

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aybelexington

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLs6ZhpDylZCjl86PCOCWDQ

Image Credits
Samson Binutu Roy Cox