AN ARTIST with a smooth, soulful sound and angelic voice, Ashley Brooks is a singer, songwriter, and musician originally from Winchester who loves performing various genres of music. She uses her soulful and melodic voice to bridge social gaps and inspire communities to unite and enjoy one art form that connects us all — music.
She said, “Songwriting is an escape, and I enjoy writing from different narratives. It allows me to be creative and hopefully encourage others through my lyrics and tell a story.”
Her songs are a fusion of jazz, soul, folk, country, pop, gospel, and contemporary Christian, and her lyrics speak to the struggles and triumphs of navigating life.
Besides her voice, the guitar is her primary instrument, and she can take a country song and craftily convert it into a smooth-flowing jazz ballad.
The musician has been singing and playing the guitar since she was young, inspired by Motown artists like Marvin Gaye and Nat King Cole and one musician near and dear to her heart, her brother, Zachary Brooks.
Ashley said, “He is extremely gifted and talented. We’ve worked a lot alongside each other since we were just kids making a bunch of racket outside. My brother has shaped my sound and inspired me as well.”
The duo collaborated on their single, “Smooth Sailing,” produced and released in 2020.
Ashley grew up singing in her church choir and was raised by two talented singers, John and Kimberly Brooks. She said growing up, watching them sing was integral in helping her discover her love and sound for music.
She said she always loved the sound of the guitar. While attending church, she enjoyed seeing guitarists visit the area and play during worship.
Walter Hamilton Sr. and his family play various instruments and are talented people who inspired Ashley early on.
Growing up in a small town was not always easy for the soul singer, especially being an African American woman with a unique sound. But her dedicated supporters have guided her every step of the way.
“This little niche village raised me and made me the person I am. This community that has brought me up still supports me to this day.”
Ashley continues to pour her heart and soul into every performance, igniting a fire in the hearts of all who listen.
Aside from her family and friends, one person who encouraged her to pursue her passion in music is her former instructor, John Cook, of Tullahoma. Cook began teaching Ashley when she was 15, and his patience and encouragement during lessons helped propel her into a new world of music composition.
The Franklin County High School alumna graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science. She majored in Recording Industry with a concentration in Music Business.
After interning at Sony Music Publishing in college, the company hired her full time to do administrative work in music publishing. Even though she no longer works there, she said she gleaned immense wisdom from her experience.
“It helped me learn how interesting and instrumental the administrative side of the industry is.”
Ashley has a way of putting her audience’s souls at ease with her rhythmic sounds. Her fingers fly over the strings, and her voice soars with emotion. When she performs, the world disappears briefly, and all that exists is the music. The power of her music lifts the audience up and carries them away.
From playing at Opry Mills and the Well on the square in Winchester to performing at Urban Writers Round in Nashville, Ashley is truly a hero of her community and generation.
One song that holds special meaning for the guitarist and songwriter is her song “Take Me Back Home.”
“Lyrically, it expresses how I feel about the village and community that helped raise me, and it speaks to, for me, the people back home in Winchester,” she said.
Ashley feels the freest to create in a room by herself with a pen, paper, and her guitar. Reflecting upon her many life experiences helps her write her songs.
She hopes to encourage future minority musicians and musicians of all cultures to stay true to themselves, but her story is just beginning.
Ashley took the crown at the “Nashville Is Not Just Country Music” writers’ round in April, beating out six other talented songwriters in a fierce competition that lasted only one night. In the final round, she was overjoyed to learn that the audience had chosen her as the victor with the most votes.
“I was very humbled and honored just to have the opportunity to share my original songs with others at the event. To win was like icing on a cake,” she said.
Ashley’s music continues to show its audience the power of music and the unifying force it could be. She symbolizes hope and inspiration; her graceful melodies bring joy and comfort to all who listen, profoundly expressing the power of music. GN
