Shades of Blue - Official Video...

 

If you want to download the song hit this link!  Will you have one of the first 100?:  http://soundcloud.com/ashleighashley/shades-of-b

And thats a wrap! :D
@sh.x

The Blue Rose...

Wiki says that historically the Blue Rose has the following significance:
"In some cultures, blue roses traditionally signify a mystery, or attaining the impossible, or never-ending quest for the impossible... Blue roses also convey inner feelings of love at first sight, being enchanted by something or someone... In Chinese folklore, the blue rose signifies hope against unattainable love.[8]"

How fitting lool!
#shadesacoming

 @sh.x

The Shades of Blue Crew...

(2 DAYS to go)!!  Producing Shades in Dam was an epic personal achievement for me...but this post is dedicated to my uber-talented CREW...and all of the people/companies that helped make Shades of Blue happen!  When you finally watch the video...I want you to keep every single one of these guys in mind because it couldn't of happened without them!!
The Crew:

NEIL RAJA - Camerman/Photographer (timelapse) - Neil Raja Studios

CHARLIE MILLER - Cameraman/DOP - formerly of Drum'n'Bass Areana

JACK MCGLOUGHLIN - Cameraman/Editor - Neil Raja Studios (and formerly Drum'n'Bass Arena)

PRISCA HOFER - Hair/Make Up/Continuity

NIRJA RAAM - Photographer/ PAP PAP

MARLON ZENDON - Location Scout/Guide/'Bad Guy'

JONATHON HOCKLEY - Navigation/Kit Monger/Producer of Shades of Blue

Locations:

SECOND LIFE MUSIC Record Store

Shades HQ - STAY OKAY (Zeeburg)

Costume:

MILLICENT ASHELY - Fashion Designer /Co-designer & Maker of Shoe Dress

ANNA DEVI NAGTALON - Designer/Maker of Button Chest-Piece and top

And there we have it !  Thanx soooooo much ya'll!  I can't wait to show the world what we achieved on no money and BARE heart!  Also want to say a massive thanx to Editor Leigh Brookes @ Fire Belly Films, Chris @ Second Life Music, Stefany Rietkerk @ Artcore, Rob @ Budgetcam and Marlon Zendon for putting Prisca and I up!!

GO TEAM SHADES!

#shadesacoming

@sh.x

Shades-a-Coming 251211...

So as the countdown to 251211 continues in the next few posts I figured I'd let you guys in on a few behind the scene secrets from the Shades of Blue journey...including a few taster stills we took while we were on it!

When asked why I chose to take a team to Amsterdam for my 1st video instead of shooting in London (which would have been much easier/cheaper lol), the short answer would be that I couldn't help myself! But the truth lies much deeper than that...and it has nothing to do with my ganja-holic tendancies lol.

First off Amsterdam is such a photogenic city...beautiful canals, interesting architecture, amazing street art...it's a location scouts dream! Secondly, it was the first place I landed when I ventured into Europe solo for the 1st time! This trip turned out to be almost like my passage into adulthood, a time of learning and healing wounds that I'd been ignoring for the longest time!

Shades of Blue was inevitably written on this trip...a song about betrayl, and love-loss...conflict, making peace and moving on! Everyone we love will leave a trace of themselves on our emotions, everyone we love will leave a shade of blue on our heart...some darker than others, but all help to define the way we relate to people around us.

All Photographs by Neil Raja

 Shades of Blue is a song about embracing those shades as part of who you are. It's tough, but only by accepting them can we 'free' ourselves from the people who put them there in the first place!
How many Shades of Blue are you?

#shadesacoming

@sh.x

S.o.B with 1Take.TV...

Shades of Blue music video is approaching the finish line *phew* Now that the edit's done, I've managed to rope in a couple of pros to give it those all important finishing touches! A release date has been set in stone (#ifitkillsme) and lets just say it's gona get very Shadey before the year's out!!

Over the next few blogposts I'll take you through the nitty gritty...but in the meantime massive thanx to Elliot Bradley, Jonah James and Beatrice Black at 1Take.TV.  Because of them I'm able to bring you a beautifully shot acoustic version of SoB to tide you over!

 
Had a great time shooting this taster with 1Take in their uber-cool basement studio, though I think my guitarist Gibbi Bettini would agree that next time we work with these guys there's a certain record we're going to break!! :P

Shades a-coming.....
@sh.x

Lyrix Oraganix @ UprisE...

After working with Uprise earlier this year at Proud Galleries gig I was really excited to be asked to get involved with a festival they were organising in Dalston!

This one day event saw over 3,000 visitors and they enjoyed a multitude of music, arts and educational activities completely free!. And, as is the UpRise ethos, there was no need to parade who is perceived to be what, just a day of celebrating the human and the community as Home.

One of my fave performances of the day came from Miss Baby Sol and of course the beautifully spoken Femi Martin.  And this is the footage from my performance with Lyrix Organix on the Dalston Rooftop Garden stage - rather windy but the sun had time to shine!!  My boy Gibbi Bettini  on guitar (check out his new website!) AND a special guest hehe...bring on the Beatfox (@2.09).

Massive thanx to Choolips for my amazing jacket...and to Uprise til next time!
Peace and Progress ;)

@sh.x

A Taste of BLUE...

WhOA!! Shades of Blue people...where do I start?? This track was produced by Riffioso last year! My brief to him: 'can I please have a track that...soouuunds like me' lol! Most producers would be like WTF! but Jon embraced it and shortly afterwards I received an instrumental called 'Purple Fruit'! Some time later... It was Xmas 2009 and after a rocky year I decided that I'd had enough of London and the people in it, so I booked a train ticket to Europe and didn't look back! Amsterdam for Xmas (WilD), Berlin for 1night (Reflective), finishing up in Prague/Czech Republic for New Yrs (Messy lol)! Travelling alone, by train gave me ample time to write! And with 'Purple Fruit' pumping in my headphones, and picturesque landscapes gliding past my window seat it was inevitable for Shades of Blue to be born. Later still... I re-visited Amsterdam in March 2011 - but this time it wasn't to party :P! I took a team of 6 with me - to shoot a music video for...you guessed it...Shades of Blue lol! Jon 'Riffioso' Hockley, Prisca Hofer, Jack McLoughlin, Charlie Miller, Neil Raja and Nirja Raam jumped on a coach over there...with all our kit (the funniest thing if u see the size of Charlie and Jack :o). And with a budget as big as my back pocket :/ we did something spectacular!! 

  

Here's a little taster of what we achieved...the full video SOON COME :D
@sh.x

Back into the MiX...

As I've been plotting to take over the world it seems I've kinda neglected keeping you guys in the loop, and it's been 5 weeks since my last confession lol! I always go through phases of non-communication, but sitting here getting a trim, I felt the urge to update ya'll!
--
I've been running round like a mad woman generating new content for the AA project. Gibbi (my guitarist) and I did a Roofhop at the beginning of August and met all sorts of interesting people along the way lol! Here's a sneaky pic, and details from the day to come VERY VERY soon!

Rooftop in Notting Hill- Gibbi: AA: Artcha
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It was an honour to play a gig at Hawley Arms (home to songstress Amy Winehouse - and she sure left her mark on the place!) It was the 1st time Social Deficit was performed to an audience and I'm pleased to say it got a BanginG reception :D

Next level eulogies. (I can imagine this door needing to be repainted in a year or so...only for the tributes to start building up again - think Abbey Rd)
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I've been writing endlessly, and you guys have got a couple of collabs (with the likes of Pr0ximas,Obscene Locals and Lincoln Savage) to look forward to towards the end of the year!
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The EP is also taking shape people! Thanx to old comrade Jon 'Riffioso' Hockely I've been able to translate the sounds/voices in my head to tangible shniz that the band will hopefully thrive on playing! It's sooo surreal hearing it all come to life!
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AA has teamed up with Sistova to hold a monster event in Nov...more about that later!
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The long awaited Shades of Blue music video is getting it's finishing touches :D YAY!! The trailer will be hitting the netwaves in the next week or so...followed promptly by the vid itself - I'm so excited to get it out there and...well see what happens! It's a somewhat docile taste of what to expect from the EP!
--
Oh and on the circuit!... Well well...it's be a really exciting couple of month out there. There have been amazing nights thanx to Unsigned Hype at Lockside Lounge! Rizzle Kicks performance at WIRED was soooo much fun lool! And it was kinda exciting bumping into them again at Ed Sheeran's Album Launch! Will treasure the spontenaity of freedom I felt singing - drunkenly I might add - a rendition of Yellow with Ed, on the corner of The Worlds End! The energy in the air was infectious :) I really felt the power of ye ole "la-la-la"!

That's all we got time for folks! I don't want to bore ya'll with the nitty gritty! Couple of dates to remember:
Sunday 25th Sept - Dalston Roof Gardens - acoustic for Lyrix Organix as part of the Uprise Festival
Friday 30th Sept - East Village - full set at the epic Rock The Belles :D
Look forward to seeing some of ya'll there!!

@sh.x O.U.T

London's Burning...

W/C 8th August 2011 will go down in London history as one of madness! We all watched our TV screens in shock as the actions of few, devastated the lives of many! Every city is tentatively united when disaster strikes and though it's rather crude to admit, we all jumped at the chance to watch the violence unfold - and gossip/pass opinion about it at work, at home and over a drinks with friends!

I could never condone the destruction or theft of anything thats loved and cared for by it's owner or indeed by a community, but like with every cause...there is an effect, and as a society we've ignored MANY issues that have slowly led to this unrest! Anyway...I'm no politician, but while some spent 72 hours mashing up da place last week, I spent 21 hours in the studio with Jonathon "Riffioso" Hockley forming a rebuttal the only way I know how:

These riots have forced many people to evaluate their 'place' in society...and more than ever highlighted the fact that social divides are on their way to becoming social canyons. With so many things to weigh up I've tried to remain unbiased but under-cover London has been burning for a long time and we ALL have to take some responsibility .. or live life in the smoke and ashes :/

I'm aiming to put this track up for sale to raise money for some of the families that lost everything, and maybe even for the culprits who need guidance to the peaceful side of life?! For those of you who need a bit more step in your DUB, Proximas a good friend of mine has created a banging remix!!

Ashleigh Ashley - Social Deficit (Proximas Remix) by Proximas

Please share, comment, like or hate accordingly! Lets get the whole of London singing this...we may not be able to change the past, but maybe this song could help change things for the future??!

@sh.x

Interview-ness...

Just thought I'd share this with ya'll...apparently the things that make me cringe are more likely to entertain you lot lol...so check this interview out - ourtesy of Notsigned.tv It was one of 3 interviews that night *phew*, after an acoustic performance at Zoo Bar, Leicester Square :D

Sorry again to Gibbi Guitar and Lucid Tiger for keeping you guys waiting - I only popped down to say bye to a few friends and ended up 'missing' for like 20mins lool! Massive thanx to Trevor Indie....and keep an eye out for Notsigned.tv! They've got their ear to the underground and I hope to get a chance to work with them again sometime soon!

@sh.x

EP_ic:...

There have been quite a few new developments in the Ashleigh Ash camp! I've been making some real positive steps with management duo Lucid Tiger and documentary director Mark Goldie is happily observing as the plot continues to thicken!

I've worked with a lot of producers over the last two years, most notably Proximas, Jonathon Hockley, JK Jr, Composure, Red Skull, Romariyah Records and 43 and Wizard! These guys are all amazing talents and I've learned a lot from working with their energy. It has come to light though, that my eclectic production sound translates to one streamlined sound live - Rock'n'Soul! And Ashleigh Ashley is all about that Rock'n'Soul! So when it came to making a decision about how I go about recording my EP it was difficult, but it seemed only natural to take it to the band!

A great reference to the kind of 'sound' I'm wanting to create!

I took the band: Joel Keys, Kieran Bass, Tobias Drums and Gibbi Guitar out for lunch at TGI's last Friday to see if they were up for making this happen with me! I was well nervous...and nearly late lol, but once we were seated and munching on our first round of Jack Daniels wings my heart-rate had returned to normal! Seeing them all with out their instruments in tow was kind of like seeing the Ninja Mutant Turtles without their shells lol!

I've never done this before but I've got big dreams for this EP and I hoped my enthusiasm was infectious as we discussed plans for rehearsing, recording and shooting vids for it! Part of me was/is always conscious of the fact that these boys all have lives and dreams of their own and asking them to commit their time on my minuscule budget is quite a big deal! A second portion of Jack Daniels wings was DEF in order *gulp* lol!

Now for the crunch, which felt strangely like proposing to a long-term love: Joel, Keir, Gibbs, Tobias....will you partake-th of this adventure with me....?

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!! :D

Live-r Than Ever...Finalae

It is with great pleasure and a little trepidation that I present to you the last video from my Live-r Than Ever Trilogy!!

We've caught some acoustic rays on the rooftops of Queen of Hoxton whilst Giving Up; then ducked into it's under belly for a sultry Glory Box performance - claws and all lol! And now its time to turn it up a notch with a rocking rendition of Metal Man complete with behind the scene snippets from the day! Enjoy!!

MASSIVE thanx to all parties involved in making it happen!!
The Band: Joel Ison-Keys, Kieran Dougall-Bass, Gibbi Bettini-Guitar, Steven Raman-Drums. Camera 1: Zee from Braver Darker Productions and Jonathon Hockley on Camera 2! Sound: Jason Robinson! Make up: Prisca Hofer! My mother dear Millicent Ashley for co-designing my Metal Man costume and helping me get dressed on the day lol! Amber Lincoln for taking photos! Special thanks to Tomo Kembery and Dan Spinney @ Queen of Hoxton for making the venue possible - as well as Jack McLoughlin @ Neil Raja Studios and Pat @ Gee Productions for editing these bad boys together! :D

Please comment, share, critisize and generally opinionise...at will :P
On to the NEXT lol!

@sh.x

EastEnders...

A handful of you already know that I've shot my first music video for soon single Shades of Blue :D! We're not talking about the Live-r than ever Trilogy (the last installment of which is going up in the next week or so :D) we're talking full blown, pre-produced production assalt...in AMSTERDAM lol!! I can't reveal too much more about it, but I just wanted to put this post in context!

Neil Raja is a good friend of mine, he headed up the production team I took to Amsterdam and he's also the guy responsible for taking my first 'modelling' photographs back in 2009 :

Picture from Raw Jelly Baby shoot 2009. Who does she think she is lool!

Neil and wing man Jack Mcloughlin have both given their time and support to my musical endeavours so I've got bare love for these guys! And aside from their constant flow of work shooting Indian Weddings, these boys are also wracking up a fabulous 'star CV' having photographed/interviewed the likes of Wretch 32, Toni Braxton, Macy Gray, Jesse Boykins, and Method Man (to mention a few) for Urban mega-blog SoulCulture! Check out their website: HERE

I stopped in to their office in Whitechapel to check on the progress of the Shades edit and as usual I was greeted by Jeeves...the office feline butler lol! We went for a smoke some time later, it was a lovely day and Neil announced that he wanted to take his camera for a walkabout - with me in it's sights :o! (I'm sure his right eye is actually a bionic paparazzi lenz undercover lol)! Many would feel slightly perturbed by Neils impulsive desires but you get used to them lol and we all know the most amazing things can happen in a heatbeat - so off we wandered through the infamous East End!

The man himself...

A true photographer, the best part of this walk was when Neil shouted to me: "How High can you get??" Haha! Much to the amusement of passers by and security guards trying to get out of the narrow allyway I was in, I managed shimmy a good 9/10ft off the ground lool!

Thanx Neil x... we got some grrreat pics, took in the scenery, and quenched our thrist with a can of Red Stripe from a stall on the road haha! I love being surrounded by positive creative people like Mr Raja...it inspires me, and reminds me that no location is too far, no wall to high to scale and no friends better than those who entertain your dreams!! (WoW...uber-gay moment there hehe *blush*)!

I can't wait to show ya'll what we achieved with the Shades of Blue video so watch THIS space...!

@sh.x

The Comedy Run Around:...

I've played many gigs in the last 2 years! I've played to full houses in Shoreditch and Camden, apathetic punters in Hoxton and, an energetic crowd in O2 Islington and near empty rooms in New Cross and Central London! The truth is you never quite know what to expect when you agree to stand up on stage and bare your soul!
My last gig at The Comedy in town was equally surprising lol! The night was a little dis-organised with soundcheck running uber late...and on top of that the venue drum kit didn't have a SNARE!! This means nothing to most...but all you drummers out there must be feeling it for my drummer Steve who went on the play the gig without one (after much deliberation lol!). Check out some of the pics - courtesy of GEE Productions Miroslav Jesenky!


The look on my face says it all! lol

It can never always be a GLAMOROUS gig :( . There will always be one or two events that leave you feeling deflated...leave you questioning 'Why the hell am I doing this'! It's a thankless task, and it's very rare when you're starting out that you can get a return on all your efforts. I was soooooo close to walking out on this one (in full diva style lol) but with a little word from manager Raph and the massive support of band memebers: GibbiGuitar, KieranBass, JonathanKeys and SteveDrums - as well as from those who came down to show love I finished the gig! It was definitely a release to belt my way through my set lol...worked up a nice thirst for a massive glass Rose lool!



Black peoples time my ass...look who finally showed up too lool! My cousin Lucinda.
I sure hope the next couple of appearances work out better than this one...but I'm glad to of added an extra layer to my thinkening skin lol...Sing you soooooon!
@sh.x

Wired @ Shoreditch House:...

Although many might find it strange for me to call myself a 'new girl', my near 2year presence on the music scene is but a drop in the ocean by industry standards! Though of course I'm working towards a title that carries a bit more weight I quite like being a 'newbie' lol! I love the fact that I can still be inspired by voices on the underground scene, I'm still not bored of trekking to the ends of the Metropolitan Line to get a studio fix, and there are still magical untapped music events for me to discover :D! I attended one such event on the 13th June:


WIRED is a music showcase that's been right under my nose all this time in a venue MADE for all things trendy, luxurious, and entertaining - Shoreditch House - and in a room aptly named the Biscuit Tin! On the first Monday of every month organiser Kate Bond and host Duke make a real charasmatic pair bringing you some of London's finest independent talent!

Kate Bond

This chica had a beautiful soulful voice and boy could she hit them high notes. But what struck me was how intimate it felt to hear her...excellent sound, the lounge chairs adding that homely touch, and enough people to start a mosh pit lol...it was a really hot way of being serenaded!

My boy Shakka! UK's answer to John Ledgend...Wired soooo got it right having him in to entertain! Check out more of this guy here: SHAKKA

Duke - smashing a Prince cover!

Bring on the Brass!

I definitely recommend this night to all...though it is guestlist only so you might have to do your research to get in there! It was nice to see familar faces like Ayo @ We Plug Good Music and my dep keys player Jonathon lol, as well genius vocalist Steven Tart to mention a few! Good times in Shoreditchland lol!!

Not wanting to miss out on the another amazing night that night...I also snuck over to Style and Substance @ the Queen of Hox - hosted by my lovely ladies Sistova! I arrived just in time to catch the end of an amazing dance/spoken word performance...who says these nights can't be multi-platform ay!!

If you know of any other nights that AA and co. should check out...HOLLAAAA! HERE!

@sh.x

Gig-geddy Gig-geddy part 2: PROUD...

The next 'Camden Night' to remember came when Ashleigh Ashley did Proud Galleries on the 31st May!! Ok...so you know I've got this hit-list of venues that I REALLY want to play? - well Proud Galleries was one of them! As an internationally renowned music venue, and a place where everyone from Katy B - to Mark Ronson has played before making the big time, it's a must have on any artist musical CV!

I got a call from a young lady called Secretta from UPRISE while shopping for a job in town (thanx Greg ;). This charity organisation has stirred somewhat of a revolution with their cool brand of anti-racist fesitival!! I'm sure we've all attended local fete's for this cause when we were younger, but these guys do it bigger and better with their Finsbury Park festival of 2010 attracting thousands of people! When Secretta asked if I'd be up for performing at their next fund-raiser gig, dedicated to Gil Scott-Heron, I JUMPED at the chance!!

I was sooo excited to play PROUD that I made a new Metal Man chest piece especially for the occasion (above)! And as for the boys (JoelKeys, KieranBass, GibbiGuitar, TobiasDrums), well I had 4 little surprises up my sleeve for them, courtesy of FLY53 :D!

It was a manic soundcheck...but once we were finally free to chill me and the boys went for a good old pub dinner at the local Wetherspoons. It was nice to be able to chill with them outside a music setting...it really made me appreciate them all the more, and was a perfect opportunity to tell them how grateful I am for their massive support over the last 6months especially! It also gave them the opportunity to give me a reassuring kick up the ass lol - we didn't have time to rehearse for this gig either and with a new song in the set I was quaking in my hi-tops lol! Oh well...show must go ON!! And what a show it was:

GibbiGuitar and TobiasDrums fooling around.

JoelKeys getting some AA lurrrve lol

KieranBass looking all majestic n shniiz lol!

I had a craazy night! Massive shout out to my boys Cynikal and Random Impulse who also blessed the mic on the night! Thanx to Paul and Secretta from Uprise and to all that came down to support - Jukebox and Braver Darker especially hehe!!

And Jonathon Hockley...you're a G for taking all these amazing pictures (for more pics see HERE)

@sh.x