Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Carswell.
Hi Ashley , 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?
I have been singing/performing since I was three years old, No one in my family is in the music industry or has ever been in the music industry. SO when my mother put me in ballet. My ballet teacher Pam Nobles (Who is now deceased) realized I wasnt a dancer, but a singer. I was then Orphan Annie for 3 years and performed on Access Broadway , and competed in competitions for my singing/acting. My Mother would take me to karaoke competitions, I have sang at multiple school events through elementary, middle, and high school. I would sing at my small town events with a eight-track or a karaoke CD. I auditoned for The Voice in 2013/2014 in person, I never made it to the live shows, Since then I audition every time they call, but never make the show, I have auditioned for American Idol 9 Times over the years. But it was really when I moved out of my small town in 2014 that I begin writing my own music. I have played softball my entire life as well, that is actually what took me out of my small town in FL, to the be city of Dothan AL, then later Montgomery AL, My initial goal was to get my degree and music would be my “Plan B”. BUT its funny when you make a plan for yourself, and you think “thats exactly how it’s gonna go”. I stumbled into this Dive bar, that I would frequent and listen to the “pickers”. There was a round table full of seasoned musicians and they simply asked me to sing with them, that became a regular thing on a Tuesday night for me. I met a younger musician Alex Walker he was a sit in Saxophone player, for this picking group. He then asked me to be apart of a Duo with him, So I started sitting in with Alex and we later formed a group “Double A” I was then approached by Wendel Collins out of Clanton AL, a bass player for a band called the Government Cheese, I then joined that band so in 2018-2020 I was bouncing between these groups that I was just apart of and making a little bit of money while I was doing it, and going to school. I would come home in the summers and play with a local band Red Pirate Band, In 2019 I was in nursing school and covid hit. I was also playing music pretty heavily at the same time even booked a small mini tour for my acoustic duo then it all came to an end. No more live music. Double A broke up, I hardly ever played with the cheese anymore, I had just met my now husband. and I had a major itch to scratch, I later decided its time for me to do my own thing, I had learned enough just to get by so I wasnted to start a band. So I did. I started Ashley Morgan, It has been a wild and crazy ride so far, nothing has came easily to me, There has been no guidance, it has all been trial and error. But I have learned so much along the way, and the biggest thing I have learned is this is what I was made for. This is what I was meant to do. No matter the difficulty. But i think that is just who I am all around honestly. In February of 2021 Ashley Morgan band debuted in Montgomery AL , at a little dive called “Pour Stars” (now closed) and in July we debuted in FL at High Five Dive Bar which we still frequently play. The band itself has changed over the years and so have the members but we have an awesome crew and I am thankful for everyone who has ever been apart of us. The band broke up in 2023 in which I never quit, I just changed direction instead then I rebranded Ashley Morgan, and flipped it on its head, and its been the best thing we have ever done. Meaning we went from being your average bar cover band to something someone actually takes serious now. and I couldnt be more prouder of the sucess we have had with that, not saying there hasnt been hard times. because believe you me. This industry is not for the faint of heart. In 2023 I linked up with Edgewater music group on a whim and decided that it was time for me to release a full album, my husband and I wrote every song on the album, We did in fact have 2 co-writers Andrew Moncrief (Your Own) Brandon Martina (Whiskey on Ice). I gotta give credit where it is due. and we were finally able to release the album this year May 29th 2026. Whiskey On ice is a song about me and my own struggles with alcoholism that I think many can relate whether they are a addict or not. I just so happy to be one. We were added to Apples “New in Country” Playlist out the gate on release date, so I was pretty excited about that. We have just scheduled our debut in Franklin TN, at the Mockingbrird theater, so we are finally getting some of the shows I have always wanted for myself and for my guys. Im not in this to make it to the big leagues, Im here because this is what I have felt led to do, and be engulfed in I am a work horse and Have alway been one, and I think when people listen to my music they will find something for themselves in there as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is nothing about being a musician, that is “Smooth”. But its not about the struggle to me its about how you handle or overcome it. The biggest struggle I have had is I dont play guitar, or any other instrument. Not from the lack of trying. I have learned enough on guitar to write songs. but its just not something that has come natural to me. So I am very dependent on my musicians that come and play for me. Praying to God they know there parts, and will show up for the job, I have had some not so good shows because of other muscians, but in the end it falls on me, and thats okay I hired them. Another one is Social media, I find that you have to be incredible secure with yourself and confident about what your trying to accomplish as far as social media goes, I understand that it is a incredibly important tool, I might be a little too “old school” to be young in that aspect I suppose. Shows are not easy to come by especially shows that pay well, but the fans make it worth it almost every time. Being authentically myself has been my number one priority through this all but also with the success I have had over the years, I was also getting sober in the midst of it all, Have I lost myself? Hell a few times, Getting Sober is learning yourself all over again, and that kind of transitioned over into my music and daily life that has been a complicated journey to navigate thats for sure. I dont lean on my sobriety as something that should be praised or rewarded that is not who I am, I dont even care if people know I am sober. It I didnt do it for them. But the struggles alone with being a Female fronted band/artist have also been incredibly hard I dont come half dressed to shows, I am far for the cookie cutter ideal country woman. Which I am perfectly content with, If you come to the show to see my legs or whatever else there is to look at, your there for the wrong reason anyways. Being not too bad to look at defnitely doesnt hurt but I am sure you know what I mean.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Ashley Morgan Music, Is me. I started the idea Ashley Morgan which is my first and middle name, in 2020. Which over the last 6 years has become my main source of income. We playing Acoustic show and full band shows, for now throughout the coast of Florida and Central parts of Alabama. We had had the opportunity to share the stage with acts such as The Josphines, Taylor Austin Dye, Kylie Morgan (No relation), Drew Parker, Trae Landon, Elvie Shane, Mark Wills, and most recently Donovan Chapman. I have had the Opportunity to perform at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center, as well as the Sopchoppy Opry (Sopchoppy theater/Conference). I released my first single “Let Go” in 2022, The released a full album of originals May of 2026. Will be playing the Mockingbird theater in Franklin TN, in September of 2026. as well as debuting in Indiana right after the franklin show, we have a show in Montezuma as well as Rockville IN, I am most proud of the foundation that we are starting to see that we have built, Ashley Morgan is starting to get recognized more and more each day, and thats all I can hope for is somewhere, someone out there can relate to me and my music and thats and awesome thing to see and be proud of. I am nothing special, but I am also not going anywhere. Like I have said this is what I was made for.
Any big plans?
Im glad you asked that, This coming up year 2027 I will be taking a little bit of a sabbatical, just 8 years of road dogging has really put a damper of my mental and physical state, and I dont mind admitting that. My hire guns or my current guys, they get a “break” and i dont want a break especially now. But I want to be able to step back for a minute and regroup. Get my feet under me again. and attack this industry from a different angle. (promotions, marketing) I want to be more particular about the shows I book, I want to be intentional with my actions. I want to wrtie more and put out so much more music, I have atleast 40 unfinished written songs. That is going to be a big change, since gigging and road doggin as been soley what pays my bills the last 6 years. But it is something that is much needed and is something that is going to make me come back to shows stronger than ever I believe. I want to hon in on my craft, I plan to book more ticketed shows, and less cover gig and hopefully build some small tour for the and nation wide in 2027. I am not signed, and I am not with any label so everything we do, I make happen. thats not me coming in with an ego, my guys to alot of heavy lifting for me and I am very appreciative but being an independent artist, this is my job, and this is what is expected of me. that’s what I mean by that so if i dont do it all, it dont get done. Simple as that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashleymorganmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymorgan_music/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyMorganMusic
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Ashleymorganmusic
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleymorganmusic
