Radiating style and creativity, Kassi Ashton walked into our interview wearing a romper that she created out of a size 3XL Eric Church shirt. “Fashion is such a big part of me,“ she explained.
Her mother taught her to sew when she was in middle school and they made frequent trips to the Salvation Army to pick up old wedding and prom dresses that she could convert into other clothing pieces. “It’s a skill I wouldn’t trade for the world,” Kassi said.
Kassi’s creative side shines through into all aspects of her career. She created the costumes for herself and the backup dancers in her Violins video, designs her own merchandise, and she has creative involvement with everything she touches.
The songs Kassi has released thus far reflect a variety of musical styles and have been carefully selected to tell her story and resonate with her audience. “All the music I’m putting out this year kind of swings in different directions, song by song, because I really want to give multiple layers of myself to my fans, so they feel like they’re actually getting to know me as a friend.”
The first song she released is titled “California, Missouri” and portrays a different perspective than the typical feel-good hometown song. Being bullied as a teenager, she refers to herself as the “black sheep” of her graduating class. Kassi explained, “You feel pressured to do the same thing that everyone’s doing, wear the same clothes, date the same people, don’t speak out […].” Kassi explained that she eventually learned to stop caring about what people said and continued to forge her own path. One of Kassi’s mottos is, “Do no harm, take no shit,” and it’s an empowering message for all of us to be who we are.
Kassi doesn’t regret her childhood, despite the difficulties she endured. “I’m so happy that it was that way, because I feel like if it were easier for me in that whole growing up stage, I wouldn’t be as interesting of a person, you know what I’m saying? I feel like the struggles help us become stronger people.”
Her latest song “Field Party” is also an homage to her hometown, but with a more positive spin. While “California, Missouri” revealed struggles that she experienced, “Field Party” is a fun song about bringing people together.
On Tour with Maren Morris
Kassi will soon embark on her first tour, joining Maren Morris on the road this summer. She’s incredibly excited and exclaimed, “I literally couldn’t have a better dream of a first tour!” While some artists may want their supporting acts to change their show to match the audience, Kassi explained, “ I can give a show that’s 100% me,” which will give her soon-to-be fans a picture of who she is.
After seeing Kassi Ashton perform at CMA Fest 2019 in Nashville, we wholeheartedly recommend seeing her show. Her energy on stage is upbeat and intense and she really gets the crowd going. You can find out more about Kassi at https://www.kassiashton.com.