Ashley Super is an award winning singer, songwriter andlyricist born and raised in Philadelphia, She began singing and dancing at a very young age and always had a passion for writing. After spending seven years in foster care, Ms. Super beat the odds when she graduated top of her  class in high school and earned her degree from University in Political Science/International Relations and Latin American Studies. 

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Ashley about her latest music, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I’m from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and I create music for the soul. My music is a fusion of Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?

I grew up singing in the church and as my relationship with God grew so did my connection to music and performing. I founded a young girls group at my church “God’s Gifted Girl’s” and we would travel and perform our songs. Seeing how much our music inspired people, I knew that this is what I was called to do. As a foster child, I moved a lot in my teenage years, but the one thing that remained the same was my music. I could take my books with me everywhere. I spent years perfecting the crafts of songwriting and singing through vocal lessons, formal education, and amazing mentors. I am motivated to share this music because it has helped me through some tough times and also allowed me to experience some of the best moments of my life. I want to share that with everyone and inspire them to continue pursuing their dreams no matter what life brings their way.  “The Master’s Peace” is my first solo EP and I created it to take you on a ride. Hopefully, a ride you’ll want to ride over and over again. 

Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?

My sound is unique. It’s combination of Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop genres is very unique as well. I believe this leads to challenges when it comes to classification of my music. I’m not opposed to being labeled in any category but I’d rather be named in them all. I just want everyone to feel open to adding me to their playlist because I make music for everyone. My music is relatable at the soul level and was created to spread continuous positive vibes.

The second challenge I face as an indie artist is the pressure to conform. In this social media age, people want to see want to see the glitz and the glamour and the half naked posts gets the most likes. For me, being raised by my grandmother, I’m just a slight bit of an old soul. I just don’t want to distract my fans from the real messages of the music. With all of that, I appreciate everyone for their support and their love and acceptance of my individuality.

What was the last song you listened to?

 The last song I listened to was “I Don’t Need That” off of my EP “The Master’s Peace”. We’re filming the video for it and it has been stuck in my head since I wrote it. No matter how stressful this pandemic, and quarantine has been, this song has given me strength. I knew it was time to share it because the world was hurting and needed strength and healing. That is why I released my music now! It was not about me but about the world. 

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

I prefer CD’s because its something about that physical touch and crisp sound! The hard thing is that these newer cars are phasing out the CD players. I’ve had to make the switch to MP3’s just so I can listen to my music in my car. I do feel better about it now tho, because I don’t have to worry about scratching the CD’s or losing them. So, slowly but surely I’m falling in love with the convenience of the MP3. 

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why? 

I think they are all great, however I like to use Soundcloud. I love being updated on where in the world my music is trending and also seeing which song’s the fans like more. Spotify is also one of my favorites because I appreciate how often they expose me to new fans!

Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?

The best place to discover more of my music is at AshleySuperMusic.com. I will always pre-release my music, videos, and exclusive merchandise on my website before it is accessible elsewhere! I just want to give me real fans first look and listen to everything. The easiest way to connect with me is on my Instagram @iamashleysuper. I always try to respond to all my fans questions and story comments. I hope to see you there!