Hidden Gems: Meet Nicole Ash

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Ash.

Hi Nicole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started writing when I was about 6, getting words and catchy melodies in my head. Bands like Bowling For Soup and Fall Out Boy opened my eyes to pop punk, and emo genres. After my older sister introduced me to My Chemical Romance, I knew I wanted to pick up an instrument and start actually making music. 

I played around on guitar a bit and continued writing, but started taking music seriously when I created a music account on Instagram in 2018. The account took off, and I released my first song with Wayne Avenue in 2021. The following year, I kicked off my solo project. Right now, my focus is continuing to create and release more music to play live with other local artists. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been struggles on my music journey. I suffered from self-doubt for years after picking up guitar, and it took publicly posting my progress online to start truly feeling like a musician. Similarly, I doubted my singing abilities until starting a solo project in 2022 because it was vulnerable. The best advice is to go after your dreams anyway and enjoy the process of learning! 

Burnout can also be a big obstacle, especially with social media in the mix and feeling like you need to always show up for others. This is still a work in progress for me because I’m always so excited to do more, but I remind myself to take breaks too. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In such a male-dominated emo/pop-punk niche, it’s pretty rare to find female artists who also play multiple instruments, sing, and scream. I also love jumping around and really feeling the music I’m playing. I love pouring passion into my work! In terms of my writing process, everything is very honest. Writing songs is the time I don’t feel pressure to make things perfect or worry who else cares. I’ve always written songs just for myself, and if I think it’s something that should be heard, I release it.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Fall in love with the process. There are always bigger goals to set and times that you will fail, but don’t forget to enjoy all the steps you’re taking to make your dreams your reality. 

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/guitarbynicole
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarbynicole/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleAshOfficial
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/53Zt8SoJ4qBvKLwdE5h0QH

Image Credits
Lisa McCraw
Lisa Urquhart
Jaiden Frost