With just a suitcase, a hand-built guitar and a dream of playing The Troubadour, England’s Johnny Ashby arrived in Los Angeles. Since his arrival, Ashby has released two EPs, his music has been featured on television’s Grey’s Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars and he has played his Americana inspired tracks at the iconic music venue multiple times.
His EP, In Bloom, is his newest 5-track project. Through uplifting lyrics, Ashby captures the feelings that come with finding connection, new beginnings and coming together, while his signature raspy vocals add the perfect amount of Americana grit.
Utilizing inspiration from the songs of his youth, Ashby worked with Fredrik Eriksson, Sebastian Fritze and Bill Delia from the band Grizfolk to create the EP’s “out of the box” tracks including “Never Let You Go” and the title track, “Bloom,” reminiscent of Kings of Leon and U2.
“I think all the songs lyrically really address where we are in this very moment. They’re very true of the time in which they were written. They all have this “heat of the moment” feel for me because we managed to capture the emotion and feeling on each track right there and then. They’re so raw and honest and I feel like I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve here with all of these songs,” says Ashby.
You can listen to the EP here.