Ashley, first off, thanks for the great sounds. "Before the Daylight's Shot" rang so true for me, for several reasons. It comes across to me as survivor's music, and it lifted my faith for that reason too. Is that a conscious part of your perspective as a writer?
I don't think about myself so much as a survivor but more as someone who has been brought back from the dead and that's an ongoing theme of my music and really, my life. I say this because I nearly destroyed myself with drugs and alcohol and the freedom that I live in today is nothing short of shocking to me.
How long have you been playing, and when did you first know that you wanted to create music that recognized God?
I've been playing guitar since right before I turned 16; I learned five chords and five Neil Young songs and got a club gig that summer- I was pitiful. I've always written about my faith and had a great love for playing hymns but over the years I think I've become more integrated in my life so that even when I'm not writing specificly about faith, I'm writing about faith.
You and your husband (Co-producer/guitarist Kenny Greenberg) seem to share the same musical vision. Your styles mesh so perfectly. Is that unity of vision something you have to work hard to keep or is that a God thing?
I think that Kenny and I share an approach to music that is similar and compatible but mostly we just really love what the other one does. The main thing we've had to learn over the years is to give each other musical room. I have a certain way of playing my stuff that is technically not very together but is really artistic-it took him awhile to figure that out. These days we really enjoy recording together-we don't have to have therapy anymore to finish a record.
More and more Christian artists are playing in the clubs now. Do you find your audiences receptive to all of your music?
I've played in clubs all of my musical life-over 30 years. I respect whatever venue I'm in and am very cautious about proselytizing but I am who I am and I think that audiences always respond well to authenticity. I really enjoy playing old hymns in bars--inevitably someone will come up afterwards in tears because the song has touched them in a very tender place.
Ashley, with all of your many talents you have many responsibilities, not to mention three kids! What helps you to keep your focus on the Lord through everything?
I can't say that I do always keep my focus on the Lord-my mind and heart are constantly wandering. I make a concerted effort to get up at dawn and have a devotional-that makes a huge difference to me-but it's appalling really how I'll decide to balance my checkbook instead of pray... I think service to others helps with focus as well---self-involvement is such an abyss (and one that I fall into regularly). Really, the truth is that the Lord keeps me tied to him-mostly through my brokenness and failures and truly, I can't resist His love for me.
For more on Ashley Cleveland and her soulful music, check out the Suite review of "Before the Daylight's Shot" or visit her website.
