Nick Ashton
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2004 | INDIE
Music
Press
Nick Ashton Country Music Finalist 2012
"The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international songwriting contest that began in 1997.
Bob Weir, Jesse Harris, The Black Eyed Peas, The Bacon Brothers, Ken Komisar and The Veronicas are some of the members on our Executive Committee of Judges." - John Lennon Song Contest
By ROBERT KINSLER / Special to the Register
Nick Ashton has been writing songs since he was 13, but in an interview this week, the longtime Orange County resident joked about being "a 20-year overnight success."
However, listening to his coming full-length release, "Crush," it's clear the talented singer-songwriter-guitarist may be the next country star to emerge out of Orange County, placing him in the strong company of Gary Allan ("Smoke Rings in the Dark," "Tough All Over") and Jennifer Hanson (whose self-titled album was released in 2003).
The San Bernardino native headlined the preconcert Tailgate Party for the KZLA Country Bash at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine last October. His first single, "The One," from his 2004 release, "Affair of the Heart," scored airplay on country radio throughout the U.S.
It was that growing attention, as well as a performance at the CMA Music Festival Fan Fair in Nashville in June, that gave Ashton the opportunity to record "Crush" with members of Tim McGraw's band.
"I really had a unique opportunity to work with guys in Nashville," Ashton said, noting that guitarist Denny Hemingson and bassist John Marcus of McGraw's Dance Hall Doctors are featured across the 12-track disc.
Unlike many artists who draw on Nashville's pool of songwriters, Ashton penned all the songs on "Crush." And the result is a collection that is decidedly more personal than many modern-day releases in the genre.
Ashton - who moved from the Inland Empire to Orange County about 10 years ago - calls his sound "West Coast country," and that sonic shoe seems to fit as well as any.
From the catchy first single, "Botox Queen," and roots rocker "Tennessee Rain" to an especially memorable ode about following musical dreams ("That's My Song"), Ashton has developed a wide-ranging style that will appeal to fans of traditional and modern country.
"They're all recent, written over the past two years," Ashton said of the songs on "Crush," all enhanced by his distinctive voice. "Usually I'll find inspiration that happens along the way, from a broken heart to a flat tire. I start with lyrics and come up with a line and build a song around that."
Other highlights on "Crush" include the romantic themes explored in "Every Now and Then" and "Cinderella," as well as far-flung themes explored in "Simple Country Life," "Leather Sister" and "Hard Life."
Ashton noted that his style likely owes as much to the country-tinged rock of the Eagles and country-folk of America and John Denver (whom Ashton met when he was a child in the 1970s) as to contemporary country.
"Each song is different," Ashton said. - Orange County Register
By ROBERT KINSLER / Special to the Register
Nick Ashton has been writing songs since he was 13, but in an interview this week, the longtime Orange County resident joked about being "a 20-year overnight success."
However, listening to his coming full-length release, "Crush," it's clear the talented singer-songwriter-guitarist may be the next country star to emerge out of Orange County, placing him in the strong company of Gary Allan ("Smoke Rings in the Dark," "Tough All Over") and Jennifer Hanson (whose self-titled album was released in 2003).
The San Bernardino native headlined the preconcert Tailgate Party for the KZLA Country Bash at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine last October. His first single, "The One," from his 2004 release, "Affair of the Heart," scored airplay on country radio throughout the U.S.
It was that growing attention, as well as a performance at the CMA Music Festival Fan Fair in Nashville in June, that gave Ashton the opportunity to record "Crush" with members of Tim McGraw's band.
"I really had a unique opportunity to work with guys in Nashville," Ashton said, noting that guitarist Denny Hemingson and bassist John Marcus of McGraw's Dance Hall Doctors are featured across the 12-track disc.
Unlike many artists who draw on Nashville's pool of songwriters, Ashton penned all the songs on "Crush." And the result is a collection that is decidedly more personal than many modern-day releases in the genre.
Ashton - who moved from the Inland Empire to Orange County about 10 years ago - calls his sound "West Coast country," and that sonic shoe seems to fit as well as any.
From the catchy first single, "Botox Queen," and roots rocker "Tennessee Rain" to an especially memorable ode about following musical dreams ("That's My Song"), Ashton has developed a wide-ranging style that will appeal to fans of traditional and modern country.
"They're all recent, written over the past two years," Ashton said of the songs on "Crush," all enhanced by his distinctive voice. "Usually I'll find inspiration that happens along the way, from a broken heart to a flat tire. I start with lyrics and come up with a line and build a song around that."
Other highlights on "Crush" include the romantic themes explored in "Every Now and Then" and "Cinderella," as well as far-flung themes explored in "Simple Country Life," "Leather Sister" and "Hard Life."
Ashton noted that his style likely owes as much to the country-tinged rock of the Eagles and country-folk of America and John Denver (whom Ashton met when he was a child in the 1970s) as to contemporary country.
"Each song is different," Ashton said. - Orange County Register
"Everyday's A Blessing" climbs to #81 on the Power Source Chart. Top 100 Power Gospel. Summer 2014. - Power Source Magazine-HMG Nashville
Discography
Affair of The Heart- CD 2005
Crush- CD pre-release/radio testing
SHOWS:
Highlights of Shows 2006-2015
Concert,Crazy Horse Saloon-Orange County Ca, Concert
Concert, Six Flags, Magic Mountain Ca, Joe Nichols
Tootsies, Nashville TN, Show for WSM Radio
Tootsies, Nashville TN, Country Music Week Show
Verizon Amphetheatre, Irvine Ca, Montgomery Gentry
BB Kings, Nashville TN, Country Music Week
Blockbuster Pavillion, Devore Ca, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans
Photos
Bio
January 2014
Its that unstoppable rush of infatuation, the first full flush of excitement, that sizzling electric tingle that shoots through you at the thought of that special person youre just getting to know. Its a crush.
California-to-Nashville transplant Nick Ashton knows all about that love-drunk feeling. His new album, Crush, was written under its influence, and it pulses with the thrill of romantic anticipation. Maybe the sound of the album rings so true because it is. Most of the songs are about somebody whos very special to me, he admits. Its kinda funny to talk about it, but that really is what happened. When youre inspired, youre inspired.
But that inspiration is just a jumping-off point for Ashton to explore a fuller spectrum of human experience on these 11 tracks. The songs are all true stories, he testifies. Each one of the songs is actually written from events in my own life. This album was inspired by some really positive experiences.
One of those positive developments was Orange Countian Ashtons happy immersion in the music-rich atmosphere of Nashville, which has now become a second home for him. The sound of Crush represents the melding of Ashtons laid-back Cali country-rock influences and the crackling virtuosity of the Nashville aces who bring a cutting-edge, radio-ready shimmer to his songs.
Crush was first born when Ashton traveled to Nashville to record a few demos with producer Jim Lightman. Taken with Lightmans skilled touch and the quality of Music Citys musicians, he let the project blossom into a full-fledged album. It gelled really quickly, says Ashton. I was hooked on the whole Nashville sound. Ive got to hand it to Jim LightmanI write the stuff, but hes done a phenomenal job of getting the right musical feeling.
Crush is the culmination of Ashtons musical life, a journey that began over 2,000 miles from Nashville, in San Bernadino, California. His father was a bass player and singer who gave up the traveling musician life to be home for his growing family. Young Nick learned about music from his dad firsthand, while soaking up the diverse sounds of his parents enormous record collection and the local California music scene. I listened to everything from big-band stuff to Chicago to Black Sabbath, he recalls with a chuckle. My Dad taught me a lot about timing, he had me listen to Sinatra and then show me how to lay back just behind the beat He believes that the current country music moment is perfect for a musician with his varied influences. Whats really neat thats happening now is that theres a great diversity, he figures. People are accepting different styles being injected into country music, like what I do.
Encouraged by his father, Ashton started playing music himself at around age 13. I just had this sort of innate need to play, he says. He took up drums first, bashing along to Beatles albums. Then I noticed that the drummers are at the back of the band, he says with a laugh. I wanted to be at the front, so I learned to play guitar.
Songwriting came naturally to him, and his teen band was distinguished by its refusal to play anything but originals. But the music was good, and people liked it, so we were kind of like the big party band, he remembers. Thats how I made a living at 19, playing at parties for a thousand peopleadmission was a dollar for girls, two dollars for guys. Thats how I got into music.
He quickly tasted success, selling a commercial jingle to a wine company seeing one of his songs recorded by English hard-rock legends Wishbone Ash. I thought, Wow, this is a great way to make a living, he says. There was no question in my mind that this is what Id be doing.
Since then, Ashton has been paying the dues necessary to every professional musician with an uncommon spirit of determination and optimism. Im proud that Ive never given up, he says. "You just gotta for it 110%."
Band Members
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