Meet Rising Nashville Star Ashley Cooke

For country artist Ashley Cooke, a full-time music career wasn’t always in the cards. While she grew up passionate about the art and often traveled to Nashville, it wasn’t until her college years that Ashley started seriously pursuing music. With a few viral videos and a debut album now under her belt, Ashley is making waves in the country music scene. We spoke to Ashley about her new album, how she got started in the music industry, and more. Please welcome our newest FACE of Nashville!

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Can you describe your journey into country music and how you landed in Nashville?

I’ve been writing songs and singing since I was 11 years old. I used to come to Nashville a lot to write on Music Row. My family would bring me when I was too young to drive myself, and we were always just around Nashville … I fell in love with music [when I was] super young.b

When I was 18, I moved to Nashville to go to Belmont University. I studied marketing and communications, so nothing to do with music. During my senior year, I applied for the Country Showcase, which is the in-house student-run music showcase. I applied for it on a whim, and non-music majors don’t typically do it or make it into the showcase, but I made it and won in 2019. That started my full-blown journey into pursuing artistry full-time. I signed my first record deal last year, and it’s been a crazy journey ever since.

Social media has driven a lot of your success. How did you discover that avenue as a way to get your music out into the world?

In 2019, when I graduated, I was so excited to pursue music and play shows down on Broadway in Nashville … then COVID happened. I couldn’t play shows or go to Red Door and meet people or do any of the new artist things, so I went down to South Florida, where my parents lived at the time, to quarantine. I was like, “Well, all there is to do is social media,” so I popped on TikTok and started posting videos.

It was one of those weird anomalies where my very first video went viral. I posted this challenge called the “Lay Me Down Challenge,” where you sing a chorus of a Sam Smith song from the lowest octave to the highest octave. The next thing you know, it was at 2.3 million views. I spent the entirety of the pandemic learning the platform and how to go live, when to post, what to post, and how to post. I used the pandemic and made something positive out of it.

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You recently released your debut album, shot in the dark. Where did the album’s inspiration stem from?

It’s 24 songs, so it’s a lot of songs. It’s the largest debut album [from] any country artist. The past couple of years of my life have been such a journey in the best way, and so much inspiration happened — whether it was by myself or with co-writers. I was learning so much about life, love, my career, my family, and how to navigate being a 20-something-year-old in today’s world. A lot of the songs came from personal experiences — breakups, family troubles, or whatever it may be.

We wrote 50, 60, or 70 songs for this project. Then we had to whittle it down more and more, and we got to the 24 number, and I was like, “I can’t sacrifice any of these songs. I love them so much.”

A lot of the inspiration behind why I chose [the title] shot in the dark is because of my journey with music and TikTok. It’s been such a shot in the dark. A lot of the things that have been successful have been such a “Well, we’ll just try it and see what happens.” [A lot of the album] is about trying things, seeing what happens, and taking shots at love, life, and my career. It feels like the perfect title and the perfect content for my debut album.

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What energizes you to be creative?

When I hear somebody say something in a different way — even if it’s just in conversation. For example, with the song “shot in the dark,” we were on a writer’s retreat for the album and sitting around trying to write a different idea. We’re like, “Okay, let’s just take a break, get some coffee, and hang out.” My friend Jordan Minton, who was also there as a writer, was talking about social media and was like, “You know, it’s kind of just a shot in the dark.” That’s such a common phrase we always hear, but nobody ever thinks to write about taking a shot in the dark and also in a relationship. It’s about fun nuances, how things are said, and double meanings.

What has been a memorable “pinch me” moment in your career so far?

I recently played a show with Luke Bryan in Denver, CO. I was up on the catwalk area, and people lit up their phones for my song “Never Til Now.” There were 20,000-plus people in the arena. I was so present in that moment — getting to look down and see my hands on my guitar and see the spotlight and be like, “Wow, I am the artist in this moment right now. This is so cool.”

What is the best advice you’ve received, and from whom?

One of my favorites is from Kenny Chesney. We were hanging out for the first time on his tour bus, and we were talking about life and our careers. He said, “I’m so proud of you. You’re grinding, you’re doing the thing, you’re working hard, you’re putting the work in, and it shows.”

I asked him, “Is there ever a time you look up? When do you take a minute and breathe?” He said, “You kind of just keep going, and you have to find beauty and relaxation in the middle of it all. The way to win is to keep working and work harder than the person next to you.”

I always thought [of my career] as a sprint where you work and work, but then you’re going to burn out. I think what he was trying to say — which I’ve implemented into my life now — is to work your butt off and find ways to relax, regroup, and refill in between all of it. You can’t just work yourself to the bone, then break for a couple of months, and then work yourself to the bone again. You have to just keep going and find the refill among it all.

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Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?

Chapstick, sunshine, and peanut butter.

Lightning round!

Favorite TV show you’ve binged recently?: Hijack on Apple TV.
Favorite Nashville boutiques to shop for clothing?: Blush or Posh.
Favorite place to grab a coffee or cocktail in Nashville?: For coffee, Killebrew. For cocktails, Old Glory.
What is one item you never travel without?: Headphones

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