I've decided to start documenting the journey of Ashley Taylor, a young singer/songwriter from Utah.
At 12, she started teaching herself piano chords. Then she moved to the guitar. Those around her were impressed by her naturally talented voice, but also her ability to quickly learn. Soon she had a repertoire of songs she could cover. She is now at regular at Velour, in Provo, Utah. Velour is a unique venue, in which musicians have thrived since it opened in 2006. Most notable is that it is the venue in which the band Imagine Dragons started and developed a loyal following.
Ashley showed her songwriting talent on one of her first songs, 'Berlin', which tells the story of a family separated by the Berlin Wall. She had read stories in her history class and from it sprung a heartfelt song and a melody that brought tears to many who listened to it the first time. Her songwriting, now dozens of songs deep, has evolved to include music complexities and wit, as she dances between somber and light moods.
At 16, Ashley is still unknown to the masses. In fact, you have to look hard to find her. However, her talent and the good fortune of having an incredible venue such as Velour to hone her craft all points to a bright future. She is currently working on her first LP. I'll continue to share photos from her journey, wherever it may go.
