Ashley Sloggett
An Acoustic Guitar Gripper
By: Adam Grant

To check out Ashley Sloggett's track "Treasure," press CTRL + Click the link below:
http://www.ashleysloggett.com/media/mp3/AshleySloggettTreasuremaster.mp3

"I'm not just a little girl with a guitar," laughs singer, songwriter and acoustic guitar gripper Ashley Sloggett following a day of classes and a near car wreck on her way home.

 Just minutes after leaving Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario where she studies Advertising, Sloggett had a close encounter of a vehicular kind, as the car in front of her started sliding all over the street.  Now safely back at home, she reflects upon the balancing act between school and music.

"A lot of the school stuff is important to me, but music is more important to me," hints Sloggett.  "That kind of takes its precedence, which sucks sometimes, because I'll find myself - when I should be doing homework - writing songs, or practicing. 

"I find a way to manage.  A lot of my teachers are really understanding - if I have to play a show during the day - which has happened quite a few times, they totally understand and don't dock me any marks for being away." 

 Born in Hamilton, but raised in Burlington, Sloggett grew up in a home that embraced the arts for as long as she could remember.  At a young age she'd get exposed to a wealth of photography, fashions, movies and of course, music - all of which played some sort of role into moulding Sloggett into who she is today.

 Early on, she began to test her vocal licks, which would more often than not lead her into roles as the singer/songwriter of many bands.  Despite these opportunities, Sloggett wanted more - she wanted to take a hold of a guitar.

"My parents bought me a guitar for Christmas one year - I think I was 14.

"It was really weird because one night, (during) the November before that Christmas, I was sleeping, and then I woke up in the morning, I ran upstairs, it was 8 in the morning - and I'm a person that sleeps in," she explains.

"My parents were like 'what are you doing up so early?'  I said 'I know what I want for Christmas - a guitar!'  And they were like 'why do you want a guitar?'

 
 
 With that question now answered, and be substantially versed in the way of her instrument, Sloggett continues to plough her way toward fulfilling her musical ambitions.  No longer wanting to be seen as just a "girl vocalist," this Burlingtonite has taken great strides to put this notion to rest.

 This June will see Sloggett taking to the road for a whole whack of Southern Ontario area gigs in support of her 6 song demo CD, which was released in December '05.  The original plan was to have a full length recording available for this tour, but with school and all, she just couldn't find the time.

 However, this has not stopped the girl behind the guitar from adding a little estrogen to the testosterone stages of the world, as to this day she still plays a lot of shows with male oriented hardcore/metal acts.  So even though her pop-oriented acoustic rock may be a little out of place within these kind of events, Sloggett remains encouraged by musical women who are able to succeed in spite of heavy male influence.

"The 'rock' world is dominated by male guitarists," she says.  "Credit to them, that's amazing, and often I do take a lot of my influences and inspirations from male musicians.  But it's really awesome to see that a woman can make it in such a male dominated industry."

For more information please visit: www.myspace.com/ashleysloggett