Daily Discovery: Ashley Riley, “Made of Dreams”

Updated:

June 12, 2014 3:01 pm

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ARTIST: Ashley Riley

SONG: Made of Dreams

BIRTHDATE: 07/22/81

HOMETOWN: Decatur, IL

CURRENT LOCATION: Decatur, IL

AMBITIONS:To make a living writing and performing songs that I love. I’ve always wanted to have a song on a TV show or movie as well.

TURN-OFFS: Negativity

TURN-ONS: Music, a good smile, and a kind heart

DREAM GIG: It would be amazing to play Austin City Limits!

FAVORITE LYRIC: It doesn’t mean that much to me to mean that much to you – Neil Young “Old Man”

CRAZIEST PERSON I KNOW: Me, if I tell you!

SONG I WISH I WROTE: Just about any of the songs on Lori McKenna’s last album, “Massachusetts.” That record is full of great songwriting. I especially like “Salt.”

5 PEOPLE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: Patty Griffin, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Brandi Carlile, and The Avett Brothers

MY FAVORITE CONCERT EXPERIENCE: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings at The Vic in Chicago. I was mesmerized the whole time. They put on such a great show — the interaction with the crowd, everything. I didn’t want to blink and miss a second. It just felt really personal. They were able to connect with the whole room I think.

I WROTE THIS SONG: “Made of Dreams” is about being a musician… It’s about how sometimes it can take you away from the people you love, but continuing to press on because you love it as well.