From the moment Ashley Newall first strummed a guitar, he’s been seeking truth in music. Inspired by John Lennon, he composed his first song at 16, and released a recording of his own material within less than a year. Now more than 20 years and umpteen songs later, the mature Newall writes about “love and lust, with a sprinkling of social and spiritual commentary.” With styles ranging from Latin and reggae, to pop, country, rock and funk, Ashley matches lyrical themes to varying musical styles. Through his publishing company, allNew Songs, Ashley is launching his music into new realms such as cinema and television. He has already had a song placed on a nationally broadcast CBC TV show and several of his original works placed on a recent movie soundtrack.
A seasoned performer and multi-instrumentalist, Ashley leads his own band, Ashley Newall & Friends, a stalwart on Ottawa’s club circuit. With solid guitar, bass, percussion, and vocals he also backs up many local bands, including Shannon Rose & the Thorns, Brash, L. Poushinsky, Tide Hollow, and The Big Bend (nominated for “Best New Group” in Ottawa Xpress “Best of ‘09” poll). Solo, and with his band, Ashley has played high profile gigs at venues all over Ontario – including Barrymore’s, Zaphod’s and LiVE Lounge in Ottawa; the Reverb and Clintons in Toronto; Gordon Best Theatre in Peterborough; and E-Bar and Club Vinyl in Guelph.
Ashley has produced five of his own albums, and recently acted as Execu …
From the moment Ashley Newall first strummed a guitar, he’s been seeking truth in music. Inspired by John Lennon, he composed his first song at 16, and released a recording of his own material within less than a year. Now more than 20 years and umpteen songs later, the mature Newall writes about “love and lust, with a sprinkling of social and spiritual commentary.” With styles ranging from Latin and reggae, to pop, country, rock and funk, Ashley matches lyrical themes to varying musical styles. Through his publishing company, allNew Songs, Ashley is launching his music into new realms such as cinema and television. He has already had a song placed on a nationally broadcast CBC TV show and several of his original works placed on a recent movie soundtrack.
A seasoned performer and multi-instrumentalist, Ashley leads his own band, Ashley Newall & Friends, a stalwart on Ottawa’s club circuit. With solid guitar, bass, percussion, and vocals he also backs up many local bands, including Shannon Rose & the Thorns, Brash, L. Poushinsky, Tide Hollow, and The Big Bend (nominated for “Best New Group” in Ottawa Xpress “Best of ‘09” poll). Solo, and with his band, Ashley has played high profile gigs at venues all over Ontario – including Barrymore’s, Zaphod’s and LiVE Lounge in Ottawa; the Reverb and Clintons in Toronto; Gordon Best Theatre in Peterborough; and E-Bar and Club Vinyl in Guelph.
Ashley has produced five of his own albums, and recently acted as Executive Producer of Sounds of Spring: Gallery Studio’s Concert Series, a live compilation CD featuring a tour de force of Ottawa talent, and released at the renowned Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Quebec. He was awarded a FACTOR recording grant for his 2000 CD, “Shakespeare in the Park”. A stalwart in the Ottawa music community, he hosted a popular weekly open stage, emceed events for the Ottawa Folk Festival and hosted several music programs on CKCU FM, a community based radio station in Ottawa.
Ashley released one EP per year for two years running –2008’s dreamy “In Between” and 2009’s raucus “Ashley Newall LIVE” – and has made it three in four years with the release of his “Light the Lamp” EP in March, 2011.
