Johnny Ashby is a British singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Ashby found a love for music through his Dad’s mixtapes. As a teen he played guitar in various bands and after leaving college, stepped into the session world. 

“I used to steal my Dad’s mixtapes and that’s how I discovered artists like Bowie, The Police and Oasis. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents too. My Grandad was an amazing pianist and could play virtually anything. 

I remember watching him and turning the pages on the music. I couldn’t believe how he was able to move his fingers so fast and play like that. That’s definitely what inspired me to pick up an instrument. I tried piano first, then saxophone (I was terrible) and then guitar. And that’s when it clicked. I haven’t been able to put it down since!”

His latest track “Lucky” narrates a feeling of loss, but finding hope. Having previously written songs about escaping and running away from your problems, the songwriter wanted to take a more positive outlook, with “Lucky” focusing on learning to live in the moment and not letting the good things pass you by. 

“Lucky was one of those songs that took a while to finish. We went through a lot of rewrites before we settled on one that “felt right”.  In the past, I’ve written a lot of songs about running away from things. Almost like I’m trying to escape. Lucky is one of the few songs I’ve written recently where it doesn’t feel like I’m running away from something. 

And that feels pretty good. I wanted to write something that was uplifting and made me feel good. To get myself into that mindset has been pretty difficult but when you get that sudden realisation and you’re able to feel happy just being in the moment, that’s a big step. 

We tried to make the production and feel of the song match with the lyrics. So the first half is very dreamy, and for me it feels a little lost and nostalgic. Then the second half of the song goes into this big, feel good, gospel thing!”

Featuring organ/synth sounds and washed-out acoustics, the track emits a dreamy and nostalgic feel. With laid-back, gentle percussion, followed by a big “sing-along” gospel feeling which carries the song home, “Lucky” is an uplifting, feel-good anthem. 

Ashby’s first EP Cannonball Days peaked at #9 in the iTunes songwriters chart which led to Huffington Post naming him a “Top 5 Emerging Icon”. His music has been featured on an official Spotify editorial playlist and heard on radio both in the UK and the US, gaining huge support from BBC Introducing and Absolute Radio in London. He’s played the prestigious Troubadour in Los Angeles multiple times and his songs have been featured on primetime television for shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Shameless, Pretty Little Liars, Elementary, Rise, Baywatch, ITV’s Finding Alice, Teen