Conversations with Zoë Ashberg

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoë Ashberg.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Music has been a massive part of my life since I was a little girl.

Growing up, my house was constantly filled with a wide variety of music, and I’m really grateful that my parents always encouraged me to explore different genres of music. I can still remember the many nights when I would perform improvised songs for my family after supper; technically, these were my first songwriting experiences.

My dad got me my first guitar for my fifth birthday, and I think at that point there was no stopping my growing love for music. He is also a musician and a songwriter, so he was a huge inspiration for me in actually writing my own songs.

I wrote and produced my first song when I was 11 years old with my guitar teacher at the time, and this is when I discovered, “Hey, I’m actually pretty good at this.” But it wasn’t until high school that I realized how important songwriting would be in my life as a form of healing and expression.

I’ve been pretty introverted for most of my life, and there was a period when I was so shy that I barely spoke at all. I truly believe that songwriting gave me my voice back. Performing gave me the confidence to use it. Even more so, I discovered that my music was therapeutic not only for me, but for others too.

That’s when I realized that this was never just a hobby for me. So now I’ve dedicated myself to making it my own.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the biggest challenge for me, especially in the beginning phases of deciding that I wanted to make a career out of songwriting, has been worrying about how others perceive me.

These feelings were most prominent when I was applying for colleges, especially as I watched my friends pursue more “realistic” careers. Thankfully, my family has been nothing but supportive of my decisions, and in fact, most of them tell me that they always knew that this is what I was meant to do.

Now being in college for music and seeing so many others follow their passions has only strengthened my desire for a career in music-making.

I’ve finally gotten to a place where the only thing that can stop me now is myself.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
On a basic level, I’m a musician and a songwriter, but I also like to think of myself as a thought-provoker and a truth-seeker.

Many people know me for being exceptionally intimate in my songs, and that’s probably what they love about it – being able to feel something. Writing music gives me the chance to be completely honest with myself.

Sharing it is almost like a bravery test – am I willing to be vulnerable enough to display this stripped-down version of myself to the world? Personally, I love doing that, especially because everything I write is up for interpretation, and that’s such a beautiful thing. Being able to connect with people and impact their lives in unique ways is really all I could ever ask for.

Anyone that listens to my music also knows that I have a deep obsession with experimental harmonies and tunings and song structures.

Especially over the past few years, my growing curiosity about music has pushed me to continuously research and try new things. So I’m proud to know that my specialty has expanded from singing and lyric-writing to being able to exploit certain musical sounds to make my lyrics MORE impactful – and vice versa.

I feel that what sets me apart from others is that I have a pretty wide range of styles that I like to write in. It’s exciting because it means that I don’t have to restrict myself from exploring any musical territory, and I’m free to make music just because I enjoy it.

It’s also great for my listeners because once I release more songs, I hope and believe that there will be something for everyone.

What are your plans for the future?
Recently, I’ve been teaching myself how to produce music, so I’m very excited to continue releasing my fully-produced songs in addition to my demos.

I’m especially looking forward to releasing a specific collection of songs that I hope to post on streaming platforms in the near future. I don’t want to give away too much yet, but I will say that I’ve written them to collectively tell a story that I think many people will relate to. It’s kind of like a concept album, which is super exciting to me.

I also recently formed a band called The Sparrows with my good friends MØNARCH, Austin, and Xavier, who are all amazing musicians. We have some really exciting projects set for the future, so people should definitely look out for those.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msha.ke/zoeashberg
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/zoeashberg
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZoeA_Sings
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ZoëAshberg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/zoe-ashberg
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@zoeashberg