BobbyCast Presents: Unsigned & Independent: Megan Ashley - Lessons Learned from a Tough Year

you heard? Would she be on here? Maybe? So you would bring out somebody think sucks? No, No, I wouldn't bring on somebody it sucks, And I want to know that they have a good story before I bring them on too. I need to do some background surgeon, I guess I'm say asking in case people are you wanted to hit you up? So you need to, like, maybe not personally with your preference, enjoy their music, but at least understand why people like it, like it's quality music, yeah,

and then know a little bit about them. Yeah. It doesn't need to be something I would person be like, I'm going to listen to this every day, but you know more about them. I know and as long as it's good quality music, that's all right. So Meghan grew up on country music, and she claimed she didn't even know there was another genre until grade school. She moved to Nashville twenty nineteen for a few months, went back

to Texas to grab her stuff, and then COVID hit. Yeah, and she said she was building momentum in twenty twenty COVID hit, but it actually turned out to be a great thing for her. So she majored in knesiology. Was that something that she wanted to do or something that she just kind of fell into even though she didn't have a passion for that, Yeah, she just kind of fell into it. She said that her older brother majored in it and she didn't know what to do, so

she picked that major. Okay, here we go. It is unsigned and independent, Season two, episode two. The artist is Megan Ashley. The interviewer mister Kevin O'Connell, here you go. You are from Texas. You're a Texas girl? Is that correct? Yes? Born and raised in Texas Hill Country. Yes. Now, when I read that, I thought it was it meant to say Texas Hill County maybe, but Texas Hill Country is

an actual thing. Is that like you guys just you have your own little country out there, or where's Texas country? I feel like Texas is own country, right kind of that is true. But Texas hill country is just like between see Antonio Austin, a little north of It's just very hilly. It kind of reminds me of Tennessee a little bit. There's a lot of hills, not as big as you know here, but kind of the same. Okay. And what was Texas Hill Country like for you growing up?

Is it out in the middle of nowhere are you? Were you born on a farm or did you live in like the suburbs? What was that like for you? Yes, so my parents were divorced, so I was in between the suburbs and the country and we just spent a lot of time in the country. Or just like the hill country quote unquote, there's just out there. There's just

like a lot of lakes. I grew up going the lake all the time, wakeboarding that was my life back then, and fishing, and there's just so many great thing I mean, just Texas you know, yeah, Texas doing Texas things in Texas. Absolutely, that's awesome. And were your parents big music fans. Were you into music growing up your entire life or this something later on you got involved in. So nobody played anything or did anything but heavy country music. That's all

on you growing up. I didn't know there's other genres till grade school, like what's this? But yeah, I mean my my mom is honestly the one that got me into just really loving country music and like everything from like the Mavericks to Lone Star. I mean obviously George Strait, So all you know all that great stuff. Is that your favorite? George Strait? Do you have a favorite? I love George. I mean, growing up such a weird kid,

I just like loved George straight like as a child. Um, and my dad is actually from the same areas as he was from Texas, and so I mean George Strait. You know, he lives in San Antonio like from there, so you know he's pretty big grown up for sure. I'll like. Yeah, what about any female artists? Did you grow up on any female artists or groups? Maybe the Chicks or anything like that. Oh I loved Yeah, I love them. I loved Lean Rhimes, loved her old stuff.

I'm like her greatest hits and my mom's Mustang that was like my childhood. And then Lean Womack. I love the Liens, Martina, all of them, Okay, all the classics. Yes, I surprise your name wasn't Leon. Then, you know, for a while, I'm like, we could just added extra into Megan. I know, there you go. I like the I like the is your name? So your name? Is it actually Megan Ashley? Or is that an artist name? You know, some artists will come and move here and it's like, hey,

it's easier than like Megan Ashley. I mean that's just as you know, easy as it gets and for an artist name. But is that your actual name? Yes, first in middle, Yes, Okay, well that works out just great then for you? Huh absolutely, I like it. And what prompted you or when did you move to Nashville. I moved to Nashville in twenty nineteen, and it was a big move for me because it's like first time moving out of state and honestly like out of like my county.

And so when I first moved here, I was like, Okay, I'm gonna give it a trial for like, I mean, I've been in Nashville before, I like visited and stuff, like that. But I was like, all right, I feel like I should do this. I just don't. Texas Radio, my radio promoter, encouraged me to move to Nashville. He's like, you should just do it, like you need to do it. And I was like, okay, I'll give it like a three four months trial. So I did and I was like, wow, I really like this. I need to go back. I

went back to Texas and then COVID hit. Of course, but we can I supposed to move back, and so I ended up saying in Texas for three more months and they moved back up here and then honestly, twenty twenty was a pretty good year for me. I mean it was hard because it was like right before COVID hit, like I had a lot of like, you know, stuff

going on. I was nominated for new Female Vocalists and Texas had a top forty on the Texas Radio and just open up for Mark Wills and its just like started, you know, building, and then COVID hit and I was like, hey, what do I do? And so just focused on riding. I did so many riders rounds in twenty twenty, and so it was still good spite you know, the challenge that COVID brought to all of us. Yeah, I hear you, Wolf. It wasn't for COVID, I wouldn't be out here too.

So I know there's a lot of bad that came with COVID, but there's also some good if you look at it, absolutely, And what was it about Nashville that were you were out here for a short period of time You're like, oh, yeah, this is this is happening. Yes, well, I feel like and I'm super extroverted. I love people.

I love meeting people, getting to know people, and so when I first moved here, I mean I pose up to like three ad just like meeting people, and like my radio promoter from Texas introduced me to a lot of people here, Bart Butler and just like that Texas crew, and so I mean I just felt very welcomed and I just loved getting to know people. And there's just

so much I mean, you're feeling Nashal's. I mean it's a big tab, but it's not that big, you know, So I feel like there's so much packed in and there's just so much to see, and like people didn't get to know and all that great stuff. Did you play were you playing in places at that time that you came just for that short period of time or no, did okay? I did, Oh we're at oh gosh, my

first riders around. I did a lot of writers rounds first my first week here, I did a rider's round at Ali Taps in Printer's Ali, and I did the whole uh puckets thing back in a Leaper's Fork. So love area. Yes, So you've actually played there at Pockets I did first week. It was great. I didn't know anybody. I just kind of like, wait, it was so good though. Yeah, all the people out there great. That area, especially like during the spring and summertime, that area is absolutely beautiful.

So if you're listening to this and you visit Nashville, try to go out to Puckets out there in the Leaper's Fog area gets you some What are the roasted peanuts? I think it is. See, I'm from California. We don't really have those, So they have those out there. They have good food, good barbecue. It's a nice little little area with beautiful homes out there. And what about now? Are you playing anywhere like downtown? Do you play Broadway or are you more riders around the Live Oak kind

of thing. Right, So, when I first moved to town, I did Broadway. I like, literally I just win after it, And honestly, I was very proud of myself for like what I did when I first got to town, and then I right currently, right now, we're focusing on just opening shows. And I did last year. In the year before, I did like sixty about sixty to eighty per year

shows like acoustic shows and stuff like that. So this year we're focusing on writing and obviously social media and opening shows and hopefully going on a tour with somebody. So oh yeah, something little in the works maybe or is that something that you're okay, okay, okay, Well I'll be on the lookout for that. Then do you have some people out here that have been big influence on you,

whether it's a writer or promoter or anything. Yeah, So, honestly, I'm gonna say Lindsay, my manager, she has been I mean, she's just an incredible person and so she became I mean through hiring her as my manager, we became really good friends and just like her values and just kind of like teaming up together and like, hey, like what

do we want to do this year. You know, what's our goals, and like we've just exceeded them each year, and just like I think, just like her friendship and support and just who she is as a person has been honestly have a huge influence on me. What about your family or were they very supportive of you making the move out here? Um? Yes and no each other. You have a good relationship with both. Oh yeah, I love my parents. My parents are They're honestly some of

the greatest people you'll ever meet. You know, they're just super kind, down down to earth, hard workers, and they're supportive, but they also like they have no idea. They're kind of like they kind of just learned through me. I'm like, hey, this is how the industry is. Like I kind of

just like kind of explain to them. And it's funny because sometimes my dad's super supportive in the idea and my mom will be like, oh my gosh, and lea vice versa, like, well mom thinks I should do this or you know so, But I know they're proud and I just want to make them proud as well. Have your parents come out to visit you since and seen you play out here, somewhere, so my mom, so nie of them have seen me play out here, but obviously

they go to all my shows in Texas. Um. I go back to Texas usually about once a month to play shows, and so they're always They've always been supportive of that since my first show in college and my mom's coming to visit. My dad is super like small town main country boy doesn't really fly. So I'm like to get him out here and might have to drive them, but we have to. We have done a road trip, actually,

he went with me. I was before actually in twenty nineteen, before I moved out here, I was invited to go on a to play for iHeartRadio, like a fundraiser in Saint Louis for like this like softball game type thing, and so I was like, well, might as well make a like a trip out of it. And so we stopped and obviously Texas, Oklahoma place shown Kansas and then went back. We went through Nashville. Was like, well we

got to go to the beach in Florida before. It was like a huge road trip and I'm like, sorry, Dad, but but we had to. He probably made it to Nashville before I moved here, so do you feel like you have a little bit from each of them where you you had that small, small town vibe to you, but you can also get out of your comfort zone and move to Nashville and chase a dream, and you get that from both of them kind of they're very much like live in the same zip code, die in

the series. Okay, it's I admire, Like, I mean, I think you know, they're content. My dad's just just a good old boy, he really is. And so with him, like I feel like I get my extra rudeness friendliness from him because he's like the friendliest guy you will ever meet, just love like he will just talk to you, you know, the girls store, like everybody's his best friend. And then my mom and they're both hard workers. But my mom has been a really hard worker growing up.

She always worked two to three jobs, you know, And so I get that from her because I'm the same way. I'm like hustle. Like, let's go, we'll Speaking of jobs, have you had another second job out here other than music or three jobs? Yeah, you say it like you had quite a few in the short time you've been out here. So when I was in high school, I worked a job and over the summer I was at home more than I guess I should have been, and my dad was like, why don't you you need to

start working. I was like that to have a job. He's like, we'll go get another one. Really, I was like okay, So I did, and like ever since then, I've always worked two to three jobs. In college, I did the same. I paid my way through college and then as soon as I graduated, so I can make you more money once you get that degree. You're right.

My first paycheck went to my first EP and so yeah, So I've always had a day job and I've always like worked remote, so that kind of helps, but it also helps fund my dream too, because it's I honestly don't know what I've done without it, you know, financially. So I've always loved and honestly it's never having like a day job where I work remote has never affected like my dream. And my boss has always been super supportive of like, hey, if you need to go do

something like, let me know and go do it. So what are those jobs consists of? Yes throughout the year. So yes. So I've in a success coach for an education company and so I help other people reach their goals and dreams and just kind of like help them like set their goals, like small baby steps stuff like that to reach their goal. So which helps with mine? Obviously? Interesting? Yes, so you're almost like investing in yourself while also getting

paid to help other people out and have a side job. Yes, that's very smart of you. Yes, that's very smart of you. I didn't know what that was in college, but I love it. Exactly. What college did you go to? I went to UTSA and for my undergrad and then I did a grad program um for a fun kind of thing. What company was paying for Alabama World Tide? Wow? Your company was paying where? You can't beat that exactly. So and where did you enjoy your time at both UTSA

and Alabama? I did? Yes? Um, looking back, I'm like, man, I wish I said went to Alabama, But you know, it's just like when you're young, you don't know, like that's all. That's all I knew, and so I'm proud of it. I'm thankful, I'm we did good and I have a lot of great friends from college and just good memory. So did you go to school for music anything in music? No, not at all. I went for kinnesiology. So what transition to you, like what we're at, what

age or what year? Was there a specific moment or time where you're like, you know what, this was fun? It was great. I got my degree and that's awesome. But I want to go chase music, right, I've always wanted to I just didn't know what to do. I haven't no idea. So it was like the time. I was kind of like a clueless. I didn't have much direction, I'll tell you that. But I'm an older brother. And when I was like, okay, I guess I've got to

go to college now, I'm like Mark. My brother's name is Mark, and I was like, what do I do? He's like, well he did kinesiology too. We're both really into sports and stuff like that. So it's kind of the route we went. I've always wanted to do music. I just didn't know what to do. What direction? Oh yeah, I was like I don't know what to do. So I was like, you know, how to play in my room and stuff like that and for my friend and

with my friends and stuff like that. And so it wasn't until like, all right, I want to take this serious, Like what do I do what's my next step? Book? My first show in college at this little pizza place and Bernie, Texas, and it was free, but I did my first show there and I just figured out, Okay, what's next step? You play more shows around town? I would just like cold call places, be like hey, I would love to play a show. Do you music? This is what I've done so far, and then I went

from there. So, so you were booking yourself, you're performing, you're performing for free, and if you're paid, it was probably the bare minimum. I imagine, right, yes, what age were you? What year was this when you figured out you wanted to do all this full time? Cart will like seriously just start like, okay, this is what I want to pursue, and this is what I need to start doing. I need to start cold calling, I need to just start go performing and just kind of seeing

where it goes. Absolutely so, I mean always I wanted to take music serious, but again, like I had no I'd never been to Nashville. I had no idea of like what the next step was. So it was like my senior year when I booked my first show, and that the summer of before I graduated, And yeah, this kind of this, I was like, all right, what I'd do next? And yeah, yeah, and you haven't looked back since, right right, right, it's been great. Has Nashville always been

on your mind? It? Yes, I had never been. I honestly never been outside of well, we would go to Florida every summer, like the destinary. We of family over in that area in Georgia, so that was like our family reunion vocation. So I'd only been to like those southern states on I ten to get there, okay, until after I graduated and me and my friend's cigaroo trip up here to Nashville, and that was my first time in Nashville and it was great. I was like, oh, I want to go back, So I just figuring out

how to get back. Yeah, I link it to you now, huh. Yes, that's awesome. Good for you. Is there a time out here? Has there been a time out here in Nashville where you're kind of thinking to yourself, Man, this is a lot, this is tough, this is hard, this is a grind. Did I make the right decision? Right? I've never thought I always honestly felt like this is where I'm supposed

to be. I mean, it's definitely been hard, but I've never let a hard situation like to tear me from like this is where I know I should be, Like this is where I feel like I'm called and what I should be doing. Like I could not imagine quitting music, you know, and so I love to work hard. And I mean it's been tough, you know, especially being a girl in the industry. But it's been and like I said, like my manager, she's been Oh my gosh, Like I'm

so thankful for her friendship and just her support. So yeah, I mean, how did you two meet? You and your manager? Um? Off Facebook? I think um. I had heard about her from somebody and I was like working out one day. I loved workout. I was working out one day and like, She's like popped in my mind because I was thinking, Okay, for the new year, I would love to hire somebody

to help me like booking and stuff like that. And so I reached out to her and then we just started working together, kind of figured it out as we went. She had just graduated from Belmont and we just kind of went with it. And it's done really good. Like people that we know in the industry are like, wow, like you know, y'all are great work working together so well. If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be sitting here as well, because and dmme on Instagram, and I was like,

oh okay. And anybody who goes out of their way or or reaches out, you know, that says a lot or it's just it's not easy to reach out to somebody like hey, I have this artist. And she obviously was just very polite about it. Check her out, no problem, if not this and that. And I think that the way that she went about it was definitely the right angle. And I was like, oh, okay, this is interesting. So shout out to her, and shout out to you guys. Yeah,

it shout out to lindsay. Is there a time or a moment or goal of yours where you're going to think like, holy crap, this this is it, like I finally made it or is it more of the journey for you? I think it's honestly the journey. I mean, obviously I have my goals. I would love to play the Green Ole Opry one day just because it's just, you know, awesome. I would love to go on tour, and honestly, just like writing songs that like make a

difference that affect people in a positive way. What goes into your mind when it comes to the writing a song, like what is do you have a certain angle or do you wake up one day or does a thought come in your head? Kind of what is your process there? Yes, so I definitely have like little notes in my phone that has all ideas that pop in my head. But typically it's just like a little antenna whenever I hear like a good like just like an idea, or even it could be just like a line, I'm like, oh,

that'd be great to write about. And so before I started all this though, I wrote down amission statement very like corporated oriented every year. But I was like, okay, what's my purpose? Because I don't want us to make music just to make music, you know, I want it to you. For me, what country music has done is make a difference in my life, and so I want that to do the same thing, you know. So I

want to have a purpose behind it. And so I always try to remind myself because it's easy to get off that path, you know, and like follow other things. But I always just try to mind myself, like, Okay, what do I want to release and like why so that's kind of like my goals. Do you have you ever gotten this? Listen to your music? You have like

a very calming, soothing voice, thank you. Have you ever thought about even doing one of those the apps or thing where you can kind of because your voice, Like when you hear your voice, you're kind of you're whether you're driving or just sitting there, you can't help but to just kind of sit there and relax. I mean certain songs obviously, right, but you have a very calming

sound to you. So have you ever heard thought about something like, hey, maybe I should do some type of apps for like a calming or a meditation app or something like that. Free then two seconds, yeah exactly, and then just start singing to him, just start singing real quick and you're love that. No, I appreciate that. I mean, I hope so Rex like I feel I feel like that's in my friendships soon as my relationships, Like I'm always a hope that I'm like, you know, just a piece,

you know, I'm a peacemaker. I'll have you know, everybody being friends. So yeah, I never thought about that, but well that's one of the first thing that came to my mind when I heard a couple of your songs and I was like, this sounds just so calming, like I just want to I just want to sit here and relax. I just thought about that. Love that. But as a former teacher though, and somebody who is you know, chasing what you want to do and it took a

few years to figure it out. I'm right there with you. It took me a while. Do you have any advice for somebody maybe listening to this and think, you know, even if it's not music, I would like to ask this question, right, wrap it up, Like, even if it's not music, what is your advice to somebody maybe listening to this thinking about I want to go do this or I want to move here and there. They're hesitant on it, right. I'm definitely a go getter, like I'm

going to have a person. I'm not going to wait around to go do something Like I'm like, let's go do it, Like why not? You know, I think the biggest thing, like God's a big part of my life, so I think, like, you know, he always puts ideas in our hearts that we should honestly go after. It's like why not like we get one life and it's short, and so go after whatever you're thinking of. And you know, I feel like a lot of things can be daunting, Like you know, it's like oh, music industry, like oh

my gosh, like where do you even start at? You know, and a lot of times like you're pioneering because nobody before you and your family did it or X y Z. So I just really think writing down baby steps, so okay, like here's my goal, how do I get there? And it's like the Bay steps. So you do that and then you go from there. And it's the same thing with like I love to work out, and so it's the same thing with that, like over the years, like the baby steps and just focused on your goal and

enjoy it. On anything that's the biggest thing. And also like the relationships you like earn on the way, like Lindsay for example, like she's like a lifelong friend now and it's just like I'm so thankful, like no matter what happens tomorrow, like I'm just so thankful, like I have her friendship now and we got to like do this together and so it's been really good. That's awesome. And what are some of your highlights. I know that you've played at the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas last

year and you're playing again this year. Is that correct? Yes? So fun. How is that your favorite venue or event that you've ever played at? Okay, So, I grew up with rodeo. I've worked on the rodeo hall throughout, like you know, kindergarten through twelfth grade, you know, just with my mom, she did a rodeo or she you know, worked on the radio. To you, and so I kind of stepped away from that like industry for long times, kind of because I don't ride horses by any means anymore,

but you did growing up. Cows. Oh yeah, I'm like I was a horse girls, I was, though I love horses, but I also like, wasn't the wake boarding scene too growing up? But um Nfar, like my gosh, Like I mean, I grew up with the San Antonio Rodeo. We did that. Um but Nfar was just like another just another world, so much fun. I could have stayed out there all

ten days. So but it was just like great because there's live music everywhere a lot of people from the industry were there, so it was really cool to see you know some people I know different you know, aspects of the industry. Um, and obviously you got like cowboys everywhere too, but like, um, it was really cool. I've

heard amazing things about it. My mom was actually out there this past year, not for that, but for something else, for a word conference, and she was texting me and she's like, Kevin, like you need to come to this. There's cowboys everywhere and there's just like people everywhere, and I've seen a documentary on them before and I'm like, this is like they're super Bowl right Literally was yeah, yeah. So it's a huge event and it's ten days long

and it's definitely on my bucket list. And then as soon as I brought it up, I could see your face just light up and you just smile and be like it's amazing. So maybe I need to go out there this year and maybe I can see you perform out there. That would be awesome. That would be great. Fine. Do you enjoy songwriting or performing more? That's hard? Um, I love both. Um, it's so fun to perform. Like I said, like, I love people. I love meeting people,

and so we need to perform. You know, you meet so many people and I love doing that, and then writing is great because it's like, especially once you finish writing a song, I feel so it feel so great. So to create something and then you know, yeah, bring it to life. That's awesome. Well, Megan, thank you so much for coming on here. I really appreciate it. It's been a lot of fun here in your story, here in your journey, and I know there's many things that come.

What do we find you on social media? Megan Ashley Music, Yes, sir, on everything, yep, simplest so you can spell it. Okay, So Megan Ashley Music on social media, go follow her, check her out. Is there anything else do you want to promote? Talk about upcoming? Maybe this year? Go for it. The floor is yours. Yes, so all my ex'sluming taxes. Female version. I feel like I had to do that. It's been on my mind for a little bit, so because obviously, you know, George is singing about some girls,

and so I'm singing it about some voys. So that's a mix of the female version and just be able to look out for more music this year. Oh okay, you can't go wrong with there's a lot of George straight going on this podcast. Isn't I know. I know it's not a bad thing. I don't mean another bad thing. Absolutely no. Everyone loves from George straight, so that's a great thing. Well, Megan, thank you so much and I really look forward to see what the future holds for you. Thank you appreciate it. Thanks