Dan Ashley – Outside Looking In (2024)
It doesn’t matter how much of life you’ve lived; a person can capture the essence of some reality with music, dance, even a diary entry that you will never show anyone. Whether you are a sheltered teenager never having experienced anything beyond high school or a 70-year-old explorer reflecting on past adventures, the personal narrative of your reality is what matters. Veteran singer-songwriter Dan Ashley has a musical career spanning decades sharing the stage with Dione Warwick, Cheap Trick and Mellissa Etheridge, performing at notable sporting events, and gaining an international following across generations. Even with the accolades and experiences, his songs are, at their core, a slice of his reality. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Outside Looking In’.
Following his well-received 2022 singles ‘You’re A Friend Of Mine’ (ft. Narada Michael Walden) and ‘River City’, ‘Outside Looking In’ is Ashley’s first release in two years – a re-emergence to the streaming world, you could say. Then again, this is via Spotify so don’t quote me. Joined by producer and engineer Bill Bentley, Ashley continues to push conventional Americana, rock and country to its limits in ‘Outside Looking In’… and then oversteps the boundary.
Smoothing, gentle and calm, ‘Outside Looking In’ is a concoction of old-school folk-rock with tinges of country clinging to the sides. Bill Bentley’s guitars match Mike Vanderhule’s drums in a mellifluous bubble of sound oozing with smile-inducing calm. Ashley’s rich vocals settle your soul and you feel completely at ease; however, as laidback as the melody is, Ashley’s voice oozes both optimism and haunting vulnerability. Aligning with the profound theme, he explains:
“We’ve all had those moments when we didn’t feel like we belong or fit in. ‘Outside Looking In’ is a “boy wins the girl” story that many people can relate to for various reasons. The boy in this song isn’t the cool kid. He’s not the quarterback or the one voted most likely to succeed. He’s the underdog. But, when he was given a chance, the popular girl saw him in a new way and, in the process, changed herself. I wanted to write a story about that kid and what can happen if you dream and take your shot.”
In addition to the single, Dan Ashley released an official lyric video for ‘Outside Looking In’. You can view the video below and on Ashley’s YouTube channel.
Find out more about Dan Ashley on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
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