‘Checkmate’: The Final Move—Ashley Barron Outplays Heartbreak in New Album
“The type of individual that is hardworking and finishes what they start, despite barriers and obstacles that arise. The pleasure received from completing tasks and projects is very important to those who are high in perseverance.” — Guitar Thrills Magazine
“Barron is an open book. In her music and as a writer, she is committed to being vulnerable and sharing her story, regardless of how painful.” — Country Music News International
FOR RELEASE
Friday, October 4, 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rising country-rock artist Ashley Barron is set to capture hearts with her highly anticipated album Checkmate. This gripping blend of heart-pounding country and gritty rock ‘n’ roll takes listeners on an emotional journey through the highs and lows of love, loss, and personal transformation. Checkmate isn’t just a typical country album—it’s a bold, unapologetic dive into the strategic choices we make in love and life.
With each track serving as a metaphorical move in any game, the album mirrors the resilience, adaptability, and strength required to navigate life’s heartbreak and ultimately come out stronger. Ashley’s unique sound, fused with rock energy and country soul, pulls listeners into a dynamic experience that feels as liberating as it is relatable.
“This project has been so special to me because it’s truly my story,” says Ashley. “I started writing these songs as I was coming out of a four-year failed relationship. These songs were my therapy—my journey out of a very dark place, re-entering back into the dating world, and ultimately finding what true love really is.”
Each track on Checkmate captures the essence of Ashley’s personal evolution. Every move must be carefully considered and strategically planned. Ashley’s songs reflect the deliberate steps she took to reclaim her happiness and discover her true self. “Before we ever stepped foot in the studio to record these songs, I was performing them live. I loved everything I was writing in the moment that I was too impatient to wait to bring them to the stage! Being able to perform these songs live gave me all the inspiration I needed to record them. I wanted to bring my live show into the studio.”
The album is a testament to the strength it takes to face challenges head-on and the wisdom gained from each experience. Ashley adds, “My band leader, Aaron Stapler, stepped in and created the charts and tracks for us to play these songs live. Right then and there, I knew he was the one that had to produce this album. He gets me. He sees my passion for stage and understands my mix of country music and rock ‘n’ roll.”
Ashley is set to kick off her latest social media campaign, the “Checkered Challenge,” as she gears up for her album release. Running from September 4 to October 4, 2024, this interactive challenge is designed to engage her followers across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook in a fun and competitive way. Fans are encouraged to find and interact with posts where Ashley is spotted wearing or featuring checkered accessories. By liking, commenting, and sharing these posts, fans not only increase their chances of winning exciting weekly prizes.
Beyond her role as a touring artist, in 2021, the National Scleroderma Foundation named Ashley Barron as their official celebrity ambassador. Ashley was diagnosed with scleroderma at age five and tragically lost her mother, Carol, to the same disease in 2020, only four months after her mother’s diagnosis. Now, she uses her platform to raise awareness for the 300,000 Americans affected by this rare disease. With her upcoming album Checkmate and her advocacy work, Ashley seamlessly blends her artistic talent with her mission to uplift others. She has shared the stage with country music legends like T. Graham Brown, Dylan Scott, Maddie & Tae, Tyler Farr, and Craig Morgan.
Ashley Barron Checkmate Track Listing (songwriters in parenthesis):
- Ashes (Bill Diluigi)
- Betrayed (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Cryin’ In A Bar (Ashley Barron Pete Sallis)
- Destroy Me (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Find A Cowboy (What’s a Girl Gotta Do) (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Forever Feels (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Hooked on My Heartbeat (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- I’ll Be Okay (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Kiss A Brunette (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Pickin’ Up On (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Satisfied (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
- Unfiltered (Ashley Barron, Bill Diluigi)
For more information and to connect with Ashley Barron, follow her on Website, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
To schedule an interview or for more information, contact Dead Horse Branding at the following:
Danielle Reiss
Dead Horse Branding
Phone: (949) 421-9787
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About Ashley Barron
Emerging on the country music scene, Ashley Barron showcases her uniquely powerful and gritty vocals during every performance. Inspired by strong women in country music like Miranda Lambert and Loretta Lynn, Barron incorporates her life experience into her songwriting to create passionate and relatable music that embodies loss, heartbreak, betrayal, and the occasional crazy night out with the girls.
She’s come a long way from singing in her bedroom and participating in high school choir and music lessons in her hometown of Sacramento, California. After declining acceptance into the University of Arizona, she chose to pursue her dream—a career in country music—and vigorously began recording and performing. When it comes to her fans, Barron is an open book. In her music and as a writer, she is committed to being vulnerable and sharing her story, regardless of how painful. “I was taught to never give up, and if I can help someone push through a rough time, then I’m sharing my story.”
Ashley’s first single, “It Might Get Loud”, came out in 2017 when she was 23 years old. In 2019, she released “Wrote a Song About It.” The following year, her single “Beer in a Bar” received critical acclaim and topped the Billboard chart at #37. Her next single, “The Wind”, a hope-filled anthem that embodies the spirit of a strong woman who preserves regardless of the circumstances, debuted on the Billboard chart at #59 and was the second song added on country radio, eventually making its way to #37. Her single, “Let Me Go”, was most added to the Top 30 on the Music Row singles chart.
Barron worked with the executive producer of Rascel 3 Creative, Jimmy Lynch, on her music video for “Let Me Go,” which played nationwide on TCN, Music Choice, and GAC. Released in September 2021, Barron’s self-titled album reached over a million streams in the first month. In December 2022, Barron released an original Christmas song, “Walmart Cart Christmas”, which had more than 300 spins and was played on 40+ radio stations. During the summer of 2021, Barron had the opportunity to tour with and open for the legendary T. Graham Brown. She has also opened for other artists, including Dylan Scott, Maddie & Tae, Tyler Farr, and Craig Campbell.
In 2021, the National Scleroderma Foundation named recording artist Ashley Barron as their official celebrity ambassador. Barron was diagnosed with scleroderma at age five. At that time, her family had never heard of the disease, a common experience with scleroderma, a rare disease that only affects 300,000 Americans. Tragically, Barron lost her mother, Carol Barron, to scleroderma in October 2020. Her mother was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis only four months before her death.
Now, as Celebrity Ambassador, Barron is working to represent the organization and increase awareness of scleroderma in her performances as she travels throughout the country. In 2022, Barron had the privilege of speaking at their leadership conference and sharing her story with major donors and medical professionals. She is honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the National Scleroderma Foundation and bring awareness to a disease that doesn’t have a cure yet!
In the summer of 2023 Ashley hit the road with Chad Brock. Barron recently released her 7th single to country radio, “Blaze A Trail”, which landed on Music Row’s Country Breakout Radio Chart and is a song about being unstoppable and going after your dreams.
About Dead Horse Branding
Dead Horse Branding is an award-winning public relations, management and branding agency with headquarters in both Nashville, TN, and Sydney, Australia. Dead Horse Branding creates, designs, and refines each component of a brand, ensuring that the brand will always hit the right chord on every level. Dead Horse Branding’s business model is a cutting-edge management and branding service all-in-house that spans multiple industries, including music, fashion, design, business, culinary, entertainment, fitness, and more. There are 7 primary formulas to branding and Dead Horse does them all under one roof, making them a very competitive branding agency.
Branding is an identity developed through our DH7 branding formula, which includes: strategic planning, logo and image design, photography and visual assets, website design, marketing and social media, publicity, licensing, and distribution. Dead Horse Branding’s brand-building technique has been implemented into the education system in the USA and Australia. Rick Caballo and Melissa Core-Caballo were instrumental in helping to lead Kennesaw State University’s Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business program (MEBUS) as one of top curriculums ranked by Billboard Magazine 2022.
Baha Men, LOVING MARY (Steven Tyler’s solo band), Cyndi Lauper, Hachette Book Group, Simon and Schuster, Bo Diddley Estate, HENDRIX Music Academy, Grammy Winning Mark O’Connor Band, Universal Music Group, MTSU, Sony Music, ACPI Group, Interior Designer Kathy Anderson, Gigi Butler of Gigi Cupcakes, TEDx, NAMM, Songwriting University, Marc Jordan, Music Producer Tony Brown, Jayne Denham, Average Joes Entertainment, Music Expo, Joel A. Katz MEBUS Program, The Today Show, Lionsgate, and Hallmark are some of the brands we have had the pleasure of working within the USA and internationally.
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Photography Credit: Dead Horse Branding, Melissa Core-Caballo
