Brooke Ashton The Love of Song
For Brooke Ashton, songwriting has always been less about churning out another song than connecting with music itself. Her new album, The Love of Song, feels like an album that arrived when it was ready. It wasn’t rushed or released before its time.
This album reveals a patient process. Rooted in Americana but guided by instinct rather than genre, the album explores motherhood, grief, home, and the quiet strength it takes to keep creating through change.
The album evolved over the course of three years, affected by life’s interruptions, including the loss of Ashton’s producer and close friend. Originally from Pennsylvania and now based in South Carolina, Ashton draws from folk, bluegrass, country blues, and gospel tones, letting them blend naturally.
Ashton explains, “Music and songwriting have been a lifeline through every season of my life. I couldn’t keep these songs from the world – not with the chance that someone might benefit from hearing them. I didn’t set out to make a statement with this album. I just followed the songs where they led, and in the end, it became a reflection of how deeply I love the craft of songwriting.”
That approach runs through the album: there’s a steady commitment to following the songs where they lead.
Produced by Matt Morgan, who also plays on the album (guitar, bass guitar, percussion, mandolin), Ashton (vocals, guitar) co-produced some tracks. Other musicians on the album, which was recorded at Sit n’ Spin Studios in Greenville, SC, include Troy Jones (percussion), Andrew Carlson (strings), Aaron Bowen (keyboards), and Jason Sykes (banjo).
The opening track, “Mother Nature’s Song,” sets the tone with a bluegrass foundation sprinkled with gospel accents. Ashton’s voice is the highlight—weathered, expressive, and unmistakably her own. It’s not polished smoothly; instead, it imparts character, pulling listeners in and along as she sings.
Throughout the album, Ashton carefully balances light and shadow. “Circles” travels on darker textures, its atmosphere slightly foreboding, while “It Takes a Woman” moves with an unhurried country‑blues sway. Ashton’s vocals – delectably nasal at times, always telling, favor authenticity over convention, making each song feel personal instead of like just another performance.
“Superman’s Cape” conveys a sense of forward motion via its syncopated rhythm and subtle Celtic hints, giving the song a charismatic energy. On “Homesick,” Ashton scales things down: an acoustic guitar leads the way, joined gradually by soft strings that underline the ache of longing. Lingering restraint imbues the song’s emotions with life and makes them real.
Taken as a whole, The Love of Song rewards close listening and reminds us how powerful music can be when it’s made with care.
Discover more about Brooke Ashton here.