Ashleigh Watson is an independent retro soul singer-songwriter based in Melbourne, Australia. From a young age, Ashleigh knew she was destined to be a singer and performer. She found it puzzling that other kids at school were unsure of what they wanted to be when they grew up. To kickstart her performance career, she began singing every Monday morning during ‘Show and Tell,’ entertaining her teacher and classmates with a selection of songs.
With a love for classic artists like Frank Sinatra and Elvis, Ashleigh discovered her true passion for Motown and soul music when she joined the world-renowned girl band ‘Sweethearts’ at just 14 years old. As one of the youngest members in the band’s history, she performed with them for eight years, leaving only when she was 22 due to her close relationship with director Ross Lipson and the band’s ongoing need for her talent. During her time with the Sweethearts, Ashleigh traveled to Europe twice, performing at prestigious events such as the Porretta Soul Festival in Italy and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
In 2014, Ashleigh had the honour of giving an impromptu performance of her signature song, “Baby I Need Your Loving,” to The Four Tops in their dressing room during their tour stop in Melbourne. Following this event, she became a recurring mentor and choreographer for both the backing and lead vocal sections of the band.
Since leaving the Sweethearts, Ashleigh has been a key member of several diverse music acts, many of which have spanned over a decade. She has been involved with groups like All Star, Bamboozle, The New Originals, Grand Soul Audio, Cash Up Front (which reached No. 1 on the Tasmania Country Music Charts), The Spurs, The Bluetone Assembly, and various acoustic duos.
In recent years, she has also become a regular session vocalist on programs such as The Voice Australia and X-Factor, and she is currently working on an album for the musical act ‘Owl Eyes.’ Ashleigh has enjoyed significant success with several of her original songs, which have been signed to music libraries around the globe. Most recently, her first single, “Little Love,” was featured in Episode One of Season Two of the hit ABC TV show ‘Harrow.’ Ashleigh is now focused on releasing her debut album in collaboration with musician, songwriter, and producer Michael Cristiano, which is due for release in 2025.
Ahead of her upcoming debut album, here’s my chat with Ashleigh Watson.
How did you discover your passion for music?
The truth is that I was born knowing what I wanted to do. I thought everyone knew what they wanted to be ‘when they grew up’ and I was shocked to find that’s not the case. It has been a knowing in my soul my entire life, just as deeply as I know my own name.
Did you ever consider focusing solely on singing, or did the desire to play instruments always feel like a natural extension of your musical identity?
It was never on my agenda to learn an instrument. Lyrics, poetry and singing have been my number one passion, but then again, I have always been involved in dancing and acting classes, and theatre too, which didn’t leave me much time to learn an instrument. I prefer to front my band with complete focus and leave the instruments to my band members. However, I have on my bucket list to learn both bass, and classical piano in my own time for my own enjoyment, so perhaps one day you will see me pick up an instrument at a gig!
What is it about music that keeps you passionate and motivated to keep creating, even when faced with challenges?
Music has always been cathartic for me as I can’t be bothered writing in a journal ha ha. I like to sing how I feel so that makes songwriting pretty simple. I have definitely had some tough times in my life, but I’ve always been grateful for them, because they gave me great songwriting material!
What achievement or recognition are you most proud of, and how did it impact your perspective on your music career?
The achievement that struck me most would be when my first single, ‘Little Love’, made it onto an episode of hit ABC TV show, ‘Harrow’. It was a defining moment because as a songwriter you feel biased toward your own music. So to know that someone wanted to air my music on their show, made me realise my music is good enough, and that I can find success in this industry.
Has there ever been a time when you doubted your career path, and if so, how did you push through those doubts?
Absolutely! Knock-backs were easier when I was a little younger because you know you have time to succeed. But as I got older, I did start to feel more pressure to ‘be successful’ faster. So when I did receive rejection from various roles or opportunities I began to wonder how and when this was all going to align for me. I won’t lie, there were some knock-backs that set me back a long while. But I allowed myself the time to heal and process my feelings. At the end of the day, my passion for music has never waned and so I had no choice but to continue (so to speak). And in my opinion it is that drive that breeds success and separates those who are ultimately successful from those who are not. Because frankly, if you let setbacks stop you , you don’t want this career badly enough.
What exciting projects or goals do you have lined up for 2025, and how do you plan to push your music to new heights?
I am thrilled to announce that I will be releasing my debut album later in 2025. It has been a long time coming and I am excited to have the chance to share my creativity in all its forms with my listeners, because I feel that my sound is not linear. And I’m looking forward to having a tangible product to showcase who I am as an artist. Thankfully, I have a wonderful team beside me to help push my music along, including the illustrious Michael Cristiano with whom I wrote my songs, and who also produced my album. And of course the genius Fine-Tuned PR creating PR magic behind the scenes. Stay tuned via my social media for the release details coming mid 2025.
Connect with Ashleigh Watson today across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. By following her Spotify, you’ll be the first to know when her new music is released. For more interviews featuring our Australian music community, keep reading here on TAGG.
