What happens when an imaginative 23 year old blonde female, budding Buddhist, singer/songwriter stares at her producer’s fish tank for too long in search of enlightenment?
Usually the most one can ask for is a glimpse, if only momentarily, of Nirvana. In Ashley’s case, this chance encounter with a pair of gold fish (Twinkle and Sunshine), resulted in the beginning of a Record Label (Buddhafish Music), and two years later, the release of her debut album entitled “Waiting for the Future” (2008).
“Waiting For The Future” is an irreverent mix of music genres: Hip Hop with Nu Jazz, Trip Hop with House all “simmered down” by Ashley’s silky vocals and a strong baseline. Unable to classify her sound fully, she has been described by KA magazine publisher and Buddhafish producer Kevin Allwood, as “a young Sade meets Sinead O’conor while partying in Ibiza”.
Being born in Toronto, and moving to Montreal would be enough to make most people who experience this reverse exodus a bit extreme. But Ashley credits her intensity as the necessary drive needed to create and still function in the “normal” reality of, in her own words: a “pasta without the tomato sauce” world.
The 25 year old singer songwriter is now in the process of releasing her second album entitled “Love Revolution” (2011). This album came about after she accepted the role of spokes person for the My Heaven foundation, named after one of her songs on “Waiting for the Future”. The foundation was created for the sole purpose of raising money to send children to school and build orphanages for those children without homes. It was after seeing this part of the reality that children call their daily life, that she decided she had to write something about it. As if that was not enough, she decided that all (100%) of the profits from the sales of both “Waiting for the Future” and “Love Revolution” will go to this cause.
“You said I wouldn’t be here
You said that no one would care
Never thought that this would last
Saying I was just a little girl
But little girls they grow up fast” — Ashley King lyrics
Ashley studied fashion design and as fate would have it, the lucky 18 year old landed a job in one of the most avant-garde design houses in Canada (NEVIK), and quickly became after graduation, the right hand of the Designer. She feels that the production and execution of a Fashion week show is an incredible training for an entertainer. The pressure cooker of creating a 20minute runway show that could make or break your career twice per year, says King— is something that definitely gets you more than ready for the music world. King also became the house model for the label and has been since 2005 the face of the brand.
She also landed on the cover of Montreal Jet Set magazine with the caption entitled “Diva is Born” and then the Limited edition art book KA distributed both Nationally and Internationally, with the heading “Who is Ashley King” and a whopping 30 pages of high resolution Editorial glory. If that wasn’t enough, KA also bought and distributed 1000 copies of her CD (Waiting for the Future) to selected readers.
A sponsorship deal has been signed with KA magazine to promote Ashley’s new release Love Revolution across Canada, by distributing a copy of her full album in each magazine, as well as with a double page CD review and the back cover. The singer will also be continuing her role as spokes person and model of the Kevin Allwood brand. Ashley’s star in 2009 is definitely rising — Now with the completion of “Love Revolution”, King will begin the next step in what she calls “my slow cook process”: live intimate appearances around Canada – Starting with her private concerts at the 5 Star Hotel St. James – Montreal.
“This is the kind of album I wish to release. Something that is not just about who I loved or who broke my heart, but something that addresses what is happening right now, right here- and through this, to possibly create a bit of awareness from a place of love and good vibes. I feel that if only one other person gets it then that is good with me…that is a good start. So far my mom gets it, so man that is a good a start! I mean, have you met my mom? I think not.”(lol) King in discussion about soon to be released “Love Rocks”
Kevin Allwood Editor of KA magazine ( Ashley King producer) says: Love Revolution is the rare album that gives me all the vibe that I need in a listening experience. She reminds me of a young Sade but not in the context of vocal delivery alone , but more in the mood that I am in when I desire her music.