Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashli Reese.
Ashli, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m from a small town Massachusetts called Pittsfield. I moved to Atlanta when I was 18. Dropped out of college, became a photographer, then a video girl then started in this music business. I’ve been maneuvering through the industry for about two consecutive years now! Being a hiphop photographer first then featuring in some major music videos until I rested with music. I’ve been writing since middle school, poetry, etc but I never thought I could sing. I was just a poet. Both of my parents sing well so I decided to try it… My friends and I recorded my first sample in my closet last August and since then, I’ve been working extremely hard on my craft and getting my voice heard.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road is never smooth, I had to decide between following my peers or following my heart, I knew school wasn’t for me I just had to find the things I was good at and excel in them. I’ve had moments of living in my car, struggling to eat, I’ve had label meetings and I’ve been told I wasn’t good enough yet, or just given the option to song write because nobody was really believing in my artistry. I’m finally at a point where people are starting to see my vision. I still have a little ways to go but I never let a “no” deter me from what I felt was my lane. I kept going through all negative opinions and now I’m so close to achieving my goals. This is what I want to do and nobody’s going to stop me.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m an artist, so I make music. I love making sounds people can just vibe out to or feel good type of music. But I’m also a photographer and an all around creative. The goal is to make a living of what I truly love to do. I love music and all the arts and I just want to be amazing at everything. I’m most proud of the love I’ve been receiving as a fresh artist. It’s nice to see people enjoy something you put your heart in to make and it drives me to go ten times harder. I think the main thing that sets me apart right now is that I’m not the same type of female artist that are out right now. I’ve created a lane for myself and I’m sticking to it.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a little bit of a menace and an angry child. Going back and forth from my parent’s houses whom lived in two entirely different environments played a big part in my childhood. My mom was in poverty while my father was in the suburbs. I wasn’t all bad but I did get caught stealing every so often, fighting boys at school and just ignored all authority in general. I was going to live life my way and I knew that early on. I’ve always been a free spirit and a leader. I used drawing and painting as an outlet to express myself when I was younger and then my dad put me in this poetry camp and that’s what really started my writing process. I fell in love with words and putting them together to tell stories. Now I’m learning how to translate that musically.
Contact Info:
- Email: iamhoneyar@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/honey_ar__
Image Credit:
@vizualk on IG
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