FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375
greatscottproductions@earthlink.net
Critics hail the arrival of singer-songwriter Christina
Ashley
Resilient teenager writes and sings as therapy on Let It All Go
San Diego, CA (1 February 2011): With today’s release of her debut album, Let It All Go, singer-songwriter Christina Ashley stands proud and defiant, adamantly refusing to be viewed as a victim. The seventeen-year-old San Diegan turned to music – specifically singing and writing songs – to overcome a series of personal struggles that included bullying and the loss of her room and all of her possessions in a house fire. While the seventeen song collection, released by Sketchin’ Records, boasts versions of chart-topping hits written by iconic singer-songwriters, it’s the four original songs penned by Ashley with her producers, Amber & Rob Whitlock that are garnering the attention of music critics.
Lyrically, Ashley faces her
vulnerability and summons courage by confronting her fears on album opener “By
Your Side” and closer “Let It All Go,” a sparsely produced vocal and piano
duet. Musically, she displays an
innate ability for writing hooky melodies on “Away” and “I Still Remember That
Time,” the latter of which is addressed to the boy who bullied her.
Throughout the diverse disc,
whether it be a country-fied gospel (“I’ll Fly Away”), a retro dance cut (“When
Will I See You Again”), sophisticated jazz (“My Little Boat”), or an adult-pop
rocker (“These Dreams,” “I’m Not That Girl,” “Africa”), Ashley sings with the
emotional depth, poise, confidence and gentle grace of a pristine
angel.
Let It All Go was brought to life by a fine supporting cast of ace session players (Rob Whitlock, Grammy winner Charlie Bisharat, Anthony Jackson, Trey Henry, Cliff Almond, Pat Kelley, Mike Miller, Darren Raser, Luis Conte, John Rekevics, and Lion King vocalist Carmen Twillie) along with top flight production and arrangements that breathe freshness into the cover songs. In the hope of following in the footsteps of some of the greatest singer-songwriters of the modern pop era, Ashley recorded gems penned by Paul Simon (“Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes”), Elton John (“Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word”), Billy Joel (“And So It Goes”), Jackson Browne (“Running On Empty”), Dan Fogelberg (“Longer”), and John Lennon & Paul McCartney (“Two Of Us”).
Encouraged by the initial
response to Let It All Go, Ashley, a
mature, focused and gifted overachiever who is currently applying for admission
to Ivy League colleges, is inspired to write new material for her next recording
project. She’s eager to perform
music from Let It All Go at a
hometown concert date this spring.
Below are excerpts from several early album reviews.
Blogcritics: “…the more
sparsely-produced original tunes generally stand out as the most
interesting. This is especially
true of the album-closing title track.
A simple piano ballad, ‘Let It All Go’ allows Ashley to be herself…She
sounds confident as she expresses her personal, intimate lyrics…‘Away’ takes her
into Norah Jones territory, another original that stands out…”
Reviewer Magazine: “…her delicate and sweet vocals show
resilience through a tough time in her life…Christina Ashley’s sophisticated
style and talent is perhaps best showcased in her personal songs—songs she had
either helped write or performed herself.
The young artist’s spare vocals alone on piano is perhaps the most
effective...”
Hill Rag: “Ms. Ashley proves herself
to be a promising singer-songwriter with the potential to have the long-term
music career of which she dreams.”
For further information about Ashley, please visit www.ChristinaAshleyMusic.com and www.sketchinrecords.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375
greatscottproductions@earthlink.net
Teenage singer-songwriter uses music
to
Let It All
Go after fire
Christina Ashley will release her debut album February
1st
San Diego, CA (29 November 2010):
As if it’s not difficult enough being a teenager, singer-songwriter Christina Ashley’s room and possessions
were completely destroyed by a house fire a few years ago. The seventeen-year-old
Striving to follow in the footsteps of iconic singer-songwriters who serve as her primary influences, Ashley recorded hits from the likes of Paul Simon, Elton John, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, John Lennon & Paul McCartney, and Dan Fogelberg. However, the most revealing moments on the generous seventeen-track Let It All Go are the personal songs co-written by Ashley, including the intimate piano and vocal title track about letting go and moving past the fears from the fire. Her warm, angelic voice is poised yet sensitive, delicate yet powerful, graceful and self-assured. Opening the disc, “By Your Side” displays an extraordinary level of maturity and perception by the high school senior who wrote lyrics inspired by “the friends who stood by me while I was going crazy, even when it seemed like there was nothing left to stand for.” Don’t be fooled by the bouncy demeanor of “I Still Remember That Time.” It is directed at the guy who bullied her in sixth grade and middle school. A breezy sea of melody sophisticatedly presented in a swoon-inducing setting, “Away” is about the role music plays in Ashley’s life.
“Beyond family and friends, music is the only constant in my life. It helps me stabilize emotionally. I was going through a hard time and being in the studio was the one place I felt at home,” the soft-spoken Ashley shared. “I really enjoyed working with so many phenomenal musicians and it helped me grow so much - not only as a musician, but as a person in terms of strength and understanding. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity and it is my dream to have a long career in music.”
The Whitlock’s assembled their usual team of prominent session players to work with the promising troubadour for Let It All Go. Led by arranger Rob Whitlock (piano, keyboards, Hammond B3, Wurlitzer and synths) with Amber Whitlock (vocals), the lineup included Grammy winner Charlie Bisharat (violin), Anthony Jackson (contrabass guitar), Trey Henry (acoustic bass), Cliff Almond (drums), Pat Kelley and Mike Miller (guitars and mandolin), Derren Raser (guitar, trumpet and vocals), Luis Conte (congas and percussion), and John Rekevics (saxes). For Ashley, who also played French horn on the record, one of the most memorable moments was dueting with Carmen Twillie, the lead singer of “Circle of Life” from the Lion King film, on “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (reprise).”
Singing since she was first
enchanted by watching Disney musicals, Ashley started taking voice and piano
lessons as a six-year-old. She’s
been a featured performer in shows by the San Diego Opera and the San Diego
Children’s Choir. After appearing
in a number of theatre productions, Ashley decided to focus on singing and
picked up the guitar. She studies
voice with Amber Whitlock and sings in the vocal conservatory program at a high
school geared towards the performing arts.
Over the years, Ashley has sung at a San Diego Padres game, performed in
The following songs appear on Ashley’s Let It All Go:
“By Your Side”
“Two Of Us”
“Away”
“Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes”
“I’ll Fly Away”
“Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word”
“These Dreams”
“Longer”
“When Will I See You Again”
“I’m Not That Girl”
“And So It Goes”
“I Still Remember That Time”
“
“Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (reprise)”
“Running On Empty”
“My Little Boat”
“Let It All Go”
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