An Interview with Ashley Kervabon-Stoyanov
The songwriter and creator of #WomxnCrush Music shares about her journey in the business.
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as a songwriter?
Yes! Of course! I’ve been writing music since I was in my early teens, but was pretty shy about it until my last year of high school. Songwriting started as a form of therapy for me, and has gotten me through a lot of obstacles. Obviously through years of practice and performing, and just growth as a person, the themes and genres have gone through phases, but all in all, when I write for me, I write from the heart.
How did writing music for other artists differ from how you wrote music for yourself?
I love writing music for other artists because I get to be out-of-the-box in terms of lyricism and melodic lines that I likely wouldn’t sing myself. My sound has always leaned towards a stripped-back singer/songwriter Adele-type vibe, so writing for someone who’s heavily inspired by Rihanna or Jhene Aiko, forces me to adapt to their story and gets me out of my own feelings. Especially if you don’t know the person you’re writing with, it can be a challenge! But I love it, and would love to do more of it!
Do you have any advice for aspiring singers and songwriters?
Go with your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, sleep on it to gain some clarity and don’t fight your initial instinct. Songwriting and any entrepreneurial journey should be intuitive.
What inspired you to create #WomxnCrush Music?
#WomxnCrush music was inspired by the need I felt to be part of a community of like-minded womxn in the industry to collaborate and share resources with. I couldn’t find the safe space I longed for in a city I had just moved to, so I decided to create the space myself. It wasn’t long before I realized I wasn’t the only one who felt this way, and that is how #WCM grew to where it is today!
How does WomxnCrush work to connect, educate, and inspire?
Our programming has shifted due to everything going on in the world but our mission will always be to create opportunities through our community. We’ve done this by hosting showcases, educational workshops and networking events in-person and now virtually. Our hope is that when you attend one of our events, you leave with more connections, knowledge and motivation to further your journey as a songwriter — no matter what stage of your career you’re in!
Which of #WomxnCrush Music’s initiatives or programs are you proudest of?
We just launched our first-ever virtual tour the first week of August, and I am so excited about it! Every two weeks, we’ll be virtually visiting a new location in order to bring local communities together during COVID-19. During our two-week tour stops, we are partnering with local womxn-owned music venues and local womxn songwriters to host a showcase in which all proceeds go to the venue. We’re also hosting local industry panel discussions to bring awareness to what’s going on in their local communities. On social media, we’re highlighting not only these events, but also sharing some music history and other resources from these cities. It’s a huge undertaking for our all-volunteer team but it’s been incredible to receive so much support from the industry — including the Recording Academy (read our feature here).
What do you hope for the future for #WomxnCrush Music?
My hope is that within the next couple of years we can be fully funded in order to hire a full-time staff and expand our programs. Who knows what the future of live music will be due to everything going on in the world right now, but I know that no matter what, we’ll be working on furthering our mission to create opportunities for rising womxn songwriters.
Who are some of your favorite female artists?
Current faves: H.E.R., Jessie Reyez, LEON, Jorja Smith, Dua Lipa. Legends: Adele, Alicia Keys, Emeli Sande, Lady Gaga, Carole King, Joss Stone, Norah Jones.
Is there anything I should have asked, or anything you would like people to know?
We have some amazing things lined up for #WCM — be sure to follow us on social media @womxncrushmusic and sign up for our newsletter at www.womxncrushmusic.com. And feel free to follow me at @ashleykstoyanov on IG!
