BIOGRAPHY
From the early age of eight, Irish born Ashley Heyes would be found tinkering away on her Great Grandfathers grand piano. By sixteen she was spending hours practising her singing on her own piano and began to write songs.
Having completed her study at The Ballyfermot Rock School in Dublin and LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts), she continued in the Music Industry having success with the release of a co-written song for a children's charity in Ireland. She furthered her live performance experience mainly around Dublin in venues such as The Temple Bar Music Centre and the famous Vicar Street.
Ashley has been described as having an 'infectious enthusiasm' when performing and is gaining a following where ever she plays. With her unique piercing vocals, soulful and full of warmth, Ashley is captivating audiences where ever she plays. She writes songs of endearing depth in which her listener can identify with. Grounded and staying true to herself, her honesty shines through in her music as she expresses herself through her memorable lyrics and melodies. She will often be found playing in music venues full of ambience and good atmosphere such as The Bedford and Halo in London.
Heavily inspired from a young age by Barbra Streisand and Karen Carpenter, she has lately been described as a blend of Alicia Keys, Jewel, Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell with some Kate Bush thrown in. With her Irish lilt coming through now and then, Ashley is a one off with a very individual sound and has something that her audience's and listener's are wanting to be a part of.
REVIEWS....
Ashley Heyes - No-One Knows added: 26 Jan 2008 // release date: 26 Jan 2008 // label: Unsigned // reviewer: Andy Snipper As a graduate of both LIPA (Liverpool Academy for the Performing Arts) and Ballyfermot rock school, you would expect Ashley Heyes to be both confident and to show a modicum of talent. That she writes songs of endearing depth and posseses a sweet and emotive voice comes a somewhat of a bonus.
This is her latest single and features the lady with a simple piano accompaniment. She sings to the essential lonliness of existence and the vagaries of fate but avoids either being depressing or pleading of tone. There is a lot of Kate Bush in her voice and some real musicality. She claims Tori Amos and Lisa Loeb as influences and they both have some effect on her lyrics - Worth checking out at http://www.ashleyheyes.com
Thank you so much for your excellent, heartfelt performance last night... clearly you have a great following for a reason!
Our doors are always open and the piano always available... just give us a call!
Ashley Heyes - The Marlboro, Ilfracombe, Aug 2008. Reviewer: Ray.ASHLEY HEYES from london (8 hours travelling) came up next and you can see why she is one of the stars of the London unplugged circuit, this Irish girl has it all, the looks /the songs/the voice and is a superb musician, think a new Kate Bush or Tori Amos and your getting close, if she is not a star soon I’m in the wrong business.
Ashley Heyes - Basingstoke Observer – Nov 2007 - Reviewer: Raz
Ashley Heyes has burst onto the Basingstoke scene with a series of appearances at local venues and open mic gatherings. She composes and performs at the piano which is a refreshing change from the guitar- dominated stages we have become accustomed to. Her songs, written and sung from the heart, are also more mellow and commercially- orientated than we are used to but Ashley believes in her song-writing and singing and is ready to make it her career.
Check out Ashley's New Facebook Page!
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