by Ashley Torres
When I was younger, I made a book out of construction paper and wrote “Ashley’s Song Book” on the pink cover. Each page was covered with words that foolishly rhymed like a Dr. Seuss book. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the process of writing those songs because expressing my emotions without any boundaries felt therapeutic.
My passion for songwriting came to be after idolizing celebrities on Disney Channel such as Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez. Not only were they actresses on some of the most well-known television shows; they were recording artists with top-charting albums.
I would mimic the performing artists I would see on stage by singing into a tall broken lamp my parents gave me to use as a microphone stand. I would spend hours in my garage practicing songs and perfecting my stage presence. I learned to appreciate those “performances” more when I would sing songs that I wrote.
As I grew older and learned to play instruments, songwriting became my favorite pastime. I would write about anything that I experienced that impacted me: losing friends, meeting people who positively influenced my life, accepting my flaws, etc.
I remember the day I wrote about the disconnection I experienced with a former friend. We were once extremely close, but the distance between us grew as time progressed. This was a very difficult time for me because I felt the need to apologize for something I did not do. I bottled up my emotions, so I sat behind my keyboard and grabbed a notebook full of poems. In the span of twenty minutes, the song was finished, and I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Songwriting sessions became therapy sessions.
I wrote the following verse:
“There is a home made out of glass and stone
There is a chimney that never seems to keep me warm
There is a bed that never puts my head to rest”
I am proud of these lyrics because I feel like I encapsulated the emotions felt during this time—hopelessness, confusion, and sadness. Our friendship felt like a home made out of “glass and stone.” It felt so fragile yet strong. However, over time we lost the bond we once had and that “home” never felt the same.
Expressing myself through song has made me more confident with my emotions because I don’t fear others judging for being too sensitive or dramatic. Art is completely subjective and has no rules. I became fearless and shared my own stories of joy or heartbreak because I am telling my own story. My story is powerful. My songs are powerful.
My passion for songwriting came to be after idolizing celebrities on Disney Channel such as Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez. Not only were they actresses on some of the most well-known television shows; they were recording artists with top-charting albums.
I would mimic the performing artists I would see on stage by singing into a tall broken lamp my parents gave me to use as a microphone stand. I would spend hours in my garage practicing songs and perfecting my stage presence. I learned to appreciate those “performances” more when I would sing songs that I wrote.
As I grew older and learned to play instruments, songwriting became my favorite pastime. I would write about anything that I experienced that impacted me: losing friends, meeting people who positively influenced my life, accepting my flaws, etc.
I remember the day I wrote about the disconnection I experienced with a former friend. We were once extremely close, but the distance between us grew as time progressed. This was a very difficult time for me because I felt the need to apologize for something I did not do. I bottled up my emotions, so I sat behind my keyboard and grabbed a notebook full of poems. In the span of twenty minutes, the song was finished, and I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Songwriting sessions became therapy sessions.
I wrote the following verse:
“There is a home made out of glass and stone
There is a chimney that never seems to keep me warm
There is a bed that never puts my head to rest”
I am proud of these lyrics because I feel like I encapsulated the emotions felt during this time—hopelessness, confusion, and sadness. Our friendship felt like a home made out of “glass and stone.” It felt so fragile yet strong. However, over time we lost the bond we once had and that “home” never felt the same.
Expressing myself through song has made me more confident with my emotions because I don’t fear others judging for being too sensitive or dramatic. Art is completely subjective and has no rules. I became fearless and shared my own stories of joy or heartbreak because I am telling my own story. My story is powerful. My songs are powerful.