Today we’d like to introduce you to Ansley Fain.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, my name is Ansley. I am a creative thinker from a “small town” in metro-Atlanta. In high school I was recruited into the theater community and my senior year I was talked into auditioning for chorus, but for most of my life I didn’t know that I could sing. In fact, before I dove into music I was a psychology major at a local college with the goal of being a child psychologist. Somewhere into my second year I was invited to an open mic close to home. After going and listening for a few weeks I couldn’t help but want to get on stage so the next week I learned a couple of songs with a friend who played guitar and I made my way to the microphone. When I finished my set I basically ran off the stage with the determination to never come back feeling like I had embarrassed myself in front of all these incredible musicians. Thankfully a sweet soul, Amy Willingham, whom, at the time, I’d never spoken to, stopped me with a hug and told me that she liked my voice. So I kept going back.
For the next few weeks I continued my classes, but my grades progressively worsened. I’d find myself in class writing song lyrics when I was supposed to be taking notes. I couldn’t keep my head in it anymore, I’d found something I was actually passionate about opposed to the career path I’d previously chosen as an attempt to survive and fit into societal expectations. To no avail I tried twice to change majors in order to stay in school, but no more than two months later I was no longer a college student.
After withdrawing from school I began collaborating with local songwriters, artists, and bands, building a stock of songs. My vocal coach at the time, Heidi Higgins, linked me up with a songwriter, Zach Thomas, who was going to school in Kennesaw— this was when I learned how much I valued the art of cowriting. Zach introduced me to some other musicians/songwriters in the area and it didn’t take long for us to become absorbed into a band that we eventually named “Modesto.”
For about a year the band made pretty good progress traveling around Georgia for cover gigs. Eventually the gigs we were having, mostly in bars, became extremely draining on an emotional/mental level for me. I wanted more, I didn’t want to pretend to be a jukebox anymore for people who weren’t listening, I didn’t know it at the time, but I was longing for purpose. At the time I knew very little about the industry and, even more, I knew very little about myself as both a human and creative.
Two years of life later and I am now getting together the final pieces of my debut album, “Human Curses” that is scheduled to drop April 27th of this year. There has been a lot of growth these past few years, a lot of refocusing, and quite a few important revelations.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Growing up in a southern baptist family, the idea of Christianity was nothing new to me. In my teens I had run from the church, and God for that matter, due to anger, self-hatred, doubt, and deep sorrow that was rooted in not understanding why the world was the way it is. When asked why I’m here on earth my immediate answer was “love.” I would say that is true to this day, I just now know the Source of that love. The concept of an omnipresent, love-filled, forgiving and merciful God was relatively foreign after previously thinking that God was an angry, authoritarian deity passing out damnation cards left and right. Looking into the Word began to give me a new perspective and peace of mind. This is when my relationship with my Creator began to blossom and when the inspiration for my debut album started to unfold itself.
Please tell us about your art.
I aim to not limit myself as an artist by confining myself to one genre or art form. In my collaborations I have enjoyed cowriting with singer-songwriter Eli Potter, guitarist, Kyle Confer, I and my openness to being genre- neutral has taken me all the way to working with the local hiphop/rap artist known as Daywlk. I am excited to see where the journey takes me, trying to keep my mind open to the unknown, because it has been a beautiful ride thus far. I think one of the most enjoyable things about art is the power it has to bring people together. I am extremely grateful for the connections and relationships I’ve made along the way.
My main goal is to spread love. When I realized that your thoughts affect your reality I started to make an effort to rewire my brain in hopes of becoming a more optimistic and faith-full visionary. My debut album “Human Curses” focuses on this shift in perspective— that the pattern of your thoughts influence the world around you— and that is the point of the dual name “Blessings;” it all depends on how you look at it.
Seeing what someone else’s ideas, energy and vibration can add to a piece is one of my favorite parts about working with others so for this debut album I knew that I wanted to work with a producer outside of myself. Mr. Woody Earwood agreed to take on the project and it has been a really fun experience to see what he hears on top of what I’ve only ever known as acoustic music. I hope that everyone likes the direction we are taking things because my ears are having a blast with it.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and, even though I had to virtually walk through hell, it brought me to a better place and began the journey to a better version of me. I came to find that I was overthinking everything. Because I was full of negatives like fear and anxiety, I was being ruled by them, and I felt the need to understand everything to have a sense of control and safety. The lack of understanding and increase in uncertainty led to an excruciating existence. Again, it wasn’t until this time that my relationship with God began to blossom, and when the inspiration for my life and debut album began to develop. My art and who I am today would not exist if my life didn’t look the way it does.
Through this journey I have learned a healthy dose of humility. I have learned to enjoy the little things, like sunsets and blue skies. I am learning faith every day. I have met some incredible musicians, artists, songwriters, and friends all along the way. When I told God I couldn’t do it alone anymore the Holy Spirit began peeling back the layers and revealing to me that I was never alone to begin with.
I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. I definitely am extremely grateful. “Rome wasn’t built in a day” as they say, and I’m sure they hit a few bumps in the road as well. Thinking about the first folks who moved out west, passers by may have thought they were crazy, but have you seen the mountains of Utah or the canyons of Arizona? They sought after a bright future and they made up their minds to build something. It doesn’t come easily, but with faith and persistence you can overcome more than you realize.
Image Credit:
Chase Lawrence – “Human Curses” cover art, Alecia T. Photography
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