Fierceness and vulnerability might seem like different sides of the same coin, but with her new single, Ashley Riley is showing that they’re not all that different. Today, the singer-songwriter reveals her brand new track “Best Try,” a lighthearted song with a serious side to it. She originally penned the song as a kind of joke, inspired by a visit to her doctor. Riley wrote the song when she was feeling fairly jolly and laid-back about things, but its message is both deep and heartfelt.
The words and the melodies might suggest that she is coming from a very delicate place. But really, there is a certain boldness and bravery in being able to look at yourself in the mirror and have a laugh at yourself. Only a truly well-rounded individual can both appreciate the serious and the amusing side of things, and that’s what Riley is doing in “Best Try.”
As an artist, Riley is a songwriter’s songwriter. It’s like she was born to do it. She has spent a lot of time on the road, learning and earning her keep with her sleeves rolled up. Over the last decade, she has been carving out her own niche as a rootsy singer-songwriter. She got her start hosting open mic nights in her hometown of Decatur, Illinois. She soon formed a band and began to be known within the local scene. Riley has become well established in the Midwest, opening for artists like Kim Richey, Ellis Paul, Robbie Fulks, and Jill Andrews.
As a solo artist, Riley has had her music featured on Starbucks’ in-store radio, and her songs have also found their way into MTV’s Teen Mom and Are You the One. Her 2021 album Set You Free was well-received, which led to a busy touring schedule. She has also launched a podcast titled Made of Dreams. It’s an appropriate title for an artist who, no matter what the odds, has strived towards achieving her dreams, with both fierceness and vulnerability.