Daily Inspiration: Meet Ainsley Costello

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ainsley Costello.

Hi Ainsley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Hi! My name’s Ainsley Costello, and I’m a 19-year-old pop/rock singer/songwriter based here in Nashville! I moved to Nashville when I was fifteen with my parents in March of 2020 (excellent timing, I know) from Seattle.

I’ve been writing songs and playing shows since I was 12, and I’ve been lucky enough to perform over 150+ shows in 20+ states, have written over 200 songs, graduated from high school when I was 16, and this May I just graduated from Berklee College of Music online with a degree in music business!

But I’ve been around music my whole life, my dad’s a musician so everyone in my family jokes that I caught the bug from him.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, moving to Nashville (after years of begging my parents) in 2020 was an experience, to say the least. I don’t think what we got in 2020 was what any of us expected, so that year taught me how to work with a total gear shift expect the unexpected, to pivot when you thought things would go a certain way. But that year was also a blessing in disguise because it catapulted me to where I am now.

Even though everything was virtual, I got connected to so many amazing songwriters who helped me learn and hone my craft. Now three years later, I think I’ve finally been able to start finding my people who get me artistically and who want to be a part of my journey.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Lately, I’ve been able to start fine-tuning my sound and my message after a few years of experimentation and figuring out who I am. I’m insanely passionate about writing songs that I didn’t grow up hearing. I love writing songs that explain to the next generation of young girls that, number 1, you don’t need to be in a relationship or in love to be a whole and happy and fulfilled human being, and number 2, we’re all just out here doing our best and that is enough, and number 3, do whatever makes you happy if that’s chasing your dreams if it’s falling in love, or if it’s even getting a turtle that you bedazzle.

I love love and heartbreak songs, but I think there’s a lot more to write about, and that our society needs to hear right now. Ironically, some of the songs I’m the most proud of aren’t even out yet.

I took a bit of a break this year from releasing music to write and finish my degree, but by taking that time for me, I wrote some of my favorite songs and messages that I can’t wait to share, so definitely stay on the lookout for music from the loud blonde chick in 2024 (me!). If I had to say who I sound like so you can get an idea, I’d say that I’m most inspired by bands like Paramore, and The Band Camino that lean a bit more rock, while still being heavily influenced by the sparkly bubblegum pop artists of the 2010’s like P!nk and Carly Rae Jepson.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
In the age of social media where you’re only ever seeing the good parts of everyone else’s story, and where it’s really easy to feel like you’re behind or not enough, being kind to yourself and giving yourself the grace and space to feel your feelings is important, and something I work on a lot in therapy.

It can be so easy to be mean to yourself and feel like you aren’t doing anything right when you see this person getting that deal or that person landing that opening spot on a tour, but trying to remember that other people’s successes aren’t your failures is something that I’m still actively learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ainsleycostello.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainsleycostello_official/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ainsleycostelloofficial/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ainsleymusic07
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJz5GAsJ3ReEml47YqIjivg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-328678168
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bUYu6ZgtImljj9FBrnTmF?si=mmLeBfIWSVGo24qRV6fTAw

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