Juliette Ashby

Juliette Ashby was born and brought up in a north London suburb. Her first introduction to music was when she was just 6 weeks old and was taken to a Stevie Wonder concert with her mother. She was one of those babies who just cried all the time, so her mum bundled her up and took her to the concert with her. That decision really paid off; hearing Stevie's soulful tones at such a tender age got into her very being and has stayed with her; she was hooked.

"Our home was always filled with good music. My dad was a talented musician/music head, playing electric violin, piano, and guitar and is also a fantastic writer/journalist. He founded the first global entertainment news network, now called WENN, which he started and set up with my mum in our house when I was a little girl. So, I was surrounded by music and the well-written word."

"My big sister Jessica also had a good ear for harmonies, and as kids on long car journeys we'd drive our parents crazy by either arguing or singing at the top of our lungs. Even now I still ring my sister when I'm in the studio and am stuck for a good harmony and she'll sing down the phone to me."

"I wrote my first song when I was seven in the car while we were on holiday in Greece. It was a country song called "Place In My Heart" - my close friends and family still know all the words as we were always singing it."

"Ever since childhood, I have been very clear on how I wanted to live my life and how I wanted music in my life."

Juliette met her best friend Amy Winehouse at nursery school (kindergarten) when they were 4 years old -- "even at that age we were completely like minded and remained best friends throughout our childhood, teenage years and adulthood. "

"When we were 10 -- and when we weren't getting into trouble with the teachers - we were writing and performing songs, dances and raps. We called ourselves "Sweet & Sour" (like the rap duo Salt 'n' Pepper). I was Sweet (of course) and she was Sour."

Juliette took Amy to their first recording studio session with American songwriter/producer Alan Glass (now her stepdad). Alan had worked with the likes of George Benson, Kenny G, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire, and other greats. Amy and Juliette recorded the three songs they'd written together; "Spindarella", "Glam Chicks" and "Boys ...Who Needs Them".

"We were always getting up to some sort mischief, but when we got to secondary school our mums went up to the school and begged for us not to be put into the same class together.......that didn't stop us being best friends."

Juliette's parents divorced when she was in her teens. She became even more passionate about writing and singing and continued to write and record over 50 tracks with Alan Glass, all of which have played a big part in the writer and vocalist that she is today.

During her childhood and teenage years she was inspired by R & B, Country and Reggae music. Her biggest influence was from artist Bonnie Raitt. "I knew her albums inside out and she continues to be a huge inspiration to me as does the late, great Bob Marley. His amazing voice and lyrics triggered feelings in me which I carry with me everyday."

"I also loved '90's R & B....albums like "Pure Swing" were always in my first CD selection, and artists such as Erykah Badu, Conner Reeves, Lil MO, Salt 'n' Pepper, Kelly Price, CoCo, Aaliyah, Nicole, Monica, Silk, Brandy, Boyz 2 Men, Jill Scott, Rasheem Patterson, Brian McKnight, Babyface, Eric Benet, Mya.......the list could go on and on......they were all huge influences growing up."

Juliette writes all of her own material based on her own first hand experiences...... "my life's ups, downs, ins and outs, good and bad; it's all laid out on the table. It's my life and it's my therapy."

When she was about fourteen she went a bit "off the rails". In hindsight it did her good to get it all out her system then. "My mother - my rock - reluctantly had a continuous fight on her hands because I refused to go to school. I moved schools a couple of times and eventually left at fifteen after doing my exams a year earlier than my friends. I just wanted out and to concentrate on my music and my great social life! I felt total frustration at school... that I was wasting precious time... I knew what I was doing and what I wanted to do and would continue to do for the rest of my life; create and perform my music... "

By the time Juliette was eighteen, she had calmed down a little, moved out of the family home and into a flat with best friend Amy. "We had two of the best years of our lives there together with memories that will never be erased. Unfortunate circumstances began taking her life and our friendship out of our control. Through all the pain and disturbing experiences that followed we always remained right by each other's side whenever we needed each other... as best friends do."

After her rise to stardom, Amy insisted that Juliette sign to her new Lioness label imprint with Island/Universal. "We were both very excited; one of our childhood dreams was about to come true and together we started to put our plans into place. Amy's life started to get taken out of her own hands. Sadly, I asked to be released from the contract just prior to Amy's passing; it gutted me to the core."

Juliette has worked with some fantastic producers who still remain very close friends and they continue to make amazing music together. US producer Alan Glass (Kenny G, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire, George Benson), International Producer Mewe from the group "TWAK" (Travis, Goldie, Martina Topley-Bird), Jamaican producer Jazzwad (Damien Marley & Bobby Brown, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Movado) and UK producer Jack Shack (N - DUBZ).

"Like a lot of other people in this world, I've been through some real soul-twisting times... things that I've witnessed happen in my family and to my closest friend. Having no control over such events has left me with a great deal of pain. Pain that will stay with me forever, but my music is my therapy. Hopefully a comforting lyric or melody from one of my songs will touch another person and bring them happiness too. I'm looking forward to the future and to where my music will take me."