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. Deciding to move to California with nothing but a suitcase full of clothes, a guitar he built himself and dreams of playing the legendary Troubadour, the songwriter dove in head first and has not looked back since.
“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. Ashby confides, “I wanted to write a song that gave me a feeling of freedom. Sometimes, especially this last year, pursuing music can feel like a bit of a struggle. Sometimes the journey to any destination can feel the same too. But if you look close enough, often the journey is a beautiful one and the experience of getting to where you’re going is the thing that makes it what it is.”
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 echoing vocals send chills down your spine, while the warm, mellow melodies transport you to a sunny, carefree place. The single was co-written and produced with Sebastian Fritze, Fredrik Eriksson and Bill Delia from the band Grizfolk and recorded remotely from home.
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 Mom and Midnight In Texas.
“Lucky” is the second of five tracks to be released this year, on the run up to a full length album due Summer 2021.
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