A meticulous collection of pop-indie tracks
Johnny Ashby is a British singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Ashby found a love for music through his Dad’s mixtapes.
As a teen, he played guitar in various bands and after leaving college, stepped into the session world. Deciding to move to California with nothing but a suitcase full of clothes, a guitar he built himself and dreams of playing the legendary Troubadour, the songwriter dove in headfirst and has not looked back since.
His upcoming debut album Time Of Our Lives is soaked in sincerity and authenticity, giving us a calm and meticulously produced collection of pop-indie tracks. Ashby’s influences such as The Lumineers, Noel Gallagher and John Mayer come rushing through, which he blends with ambient, ethereal sounds and guitar playing reminiscent of Radiohead, as well as the effortlessly cool, laid-back feel of Chet Faker.
His sound is flooded with haunting but warm strings, familiar, acoustic, rhythmic strums, punchy drums and Ashby’s rich vocals which dance alongside gorgeous backing harmonies. Written and co-produced with Sebastian Fritze, Fredrik Eriksson and Bill Delia from the band Grizfolk, there is both tragedy, euphoria and fun mixed into the album, but with an overwhelming sense of the importance of living life to the fullest. Ashby confides, “This album has been a long time in the making! Being my first full-length record this feels like such a big part of me and artistically it shows a big part of who I am. I really wanted to break that barrier between myself and the listener and be as honest as I could be with these songs. It’s a little peek into what I’ve been feeling and who I am as an artist.”
“Wild” resides in a sonic magical forest of tenderness, with thoughtful moments surrounding the echoing pallet of warm tones. Compared to Ashby’s previous songs, “Wild” has a far more emotional and haunting taste. The strings emit a soul-stirring effect, while the upbeat drums and indie glow shine bright amongst the indie flares.
”Living In The Moment” has undeniable uplifting energy, the song talks of quite simply living in the moment, even when things get tough. Ashby sings over a euphoric build of stunning strings, giving a sense of togetherness and hope. The delicate moments that shine in the pre-chorus are beautifully tragic, reflective of the sadness that people can’t be present, but the beauty in finding just that.
“Born Again” speaks of new beginnings and how things come in cycles. Featuring ethereal harmonies and vast soundscapes delivering a utopian, spine-tingling atmosphere, the track gradually builds into an unforgettable anthemic chorus. The singer’s soulful, raspy vocals narrate failing, getting a second chance and wanting to live forever.
“This Is It” is an incredibly honest and poignant indie pop song about growing up and learning some of life’s harder lessons. The moving melodies and affecting lyrics hold a place amongst the simple production, allowing us a moment to focus on the meaning and emotion behind the track.
“Time Of Our Lives” opens in a tropical ambient entrance, before the drums take the punching power with backing melodies that fill the soundscape up in warm melodies. This is a single that will give you a real sense of enlightenment and animation for life. Described by Ashby as his “favourite song on the whole record”, this track is the glue for the album, tying up the different tracks. This is the album anthem, capturing the timeless message of the entire album.
Ashby’s music has garnered acclaim from numerous publications and playlists, as well as support on radio both in the UK and the US. He’s played the prestigious Troubadour in Los Angeles multiple times and his songs have been featured on primetime television for shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Shameless, Pretty Little Liars, Elementary, Rise, Baywatch, ITV’s Finding Alice, Teen Mom and Midnight In Texas.
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