Our intern, Anna Oden sat down with Ashley Virginia, the host of What the Folk! Songwriters Sessions. Ashley is a North Carolina songwriter and musician who specializes in Indie-Folk and Rock n’ Roll. Ashley began her residency at Oden Brewing in January 2022. Since then she has shared the stage with dozens of fellow North Carolina songwriters and musicians. This month's What the Folk sessions are April 16th with special guest, Hank Western and April 23rd with special guest, Rufus Webster. 

Without further ado, the interview…

AO: When did you first realize your love and passion for music?

AV: Singing has always been something that was a part of my life. I was raised in the Episcopal church and did choir there as well as musical theater in highschool. As far as writing my own stuff, it started in middle school as a way to express myself. I also went to school for music where I wanted to be a music teacher so now performing music is really where my love is.

AO: Who or what has inspired you to make the music you do?

AV: In terms of other artists that inspire me, The Beatles have been a big inspiration, specifically Paul McCartney as I really admire his songwriting. There are singer songwriters that are more current as well like Lucy Dacus, Maggie Rogers, Phoebe Bridgers, and Adrianne Lenker are influences in terms of who I listen to. As far as playing and songwriting, I was inspired by a local musician named Molly (Molly Mcginn) who ran a similar gig at a different brewery. I approached her after a show and told her how great she was. My friend jumped in and said, “She writes music!” Molly said I could play some time having never heard a word out of my mouth, but just hearing that this is what I wanted to do and offering me a space to do it. I took a lot of inspiration from her and that radical empowerment, and that is what I am trying to do here with What The Folk at Oden. 

AO: Can you go in depth a little about your blend of styles in the music that you write?

AV: I have an eclectic taste in terms of what I like to listen to and I try to pull all of that into my music. I like indie and rock, and classic rock is something that I listen to a lot and pull those elements in my style. I love folk music, the people’s music, and the message that is viewed in that songwriting is a powerful communicator. Genre is hard to quantify as I try not to put myself in one box. I let the country, folk, rock and jazz elements tie into my music to make what sounds good to me in a unique blend. I like experimenting, being creative and free with the music I make, rather than trying to fit in a box and recreate a specific sound. I make what sounds good to me and listen to all sorts of music that come together in sometimes weird and cool ways.

AO: What is your definition of folk?

AV: I would say I’m very generous when it comes to my definition of folk music. Folk is the people’s music that has grassroots and is community driven. There is folk music from all different cultures and countries. Indie means independent and it’s interesting to know years from now people will look back at those independent artists and alternative indie and point to it saying “oh yeah that was the folk music of that time.” As long as the music is community driven, homegrown and songwriting specific, then it is folk to me.

AO: Where did you get the idea for What The Folk? What made you want to do it at Oden?

AV: So that ties into the Represent NC series and the former manager of Oden approached me after I had performed a couple of shows here with my band and asked if I wanted to put anything together regularly here. Molly took a break from her residency leading Represent NC so I got to try out her spot and host myself there, but then, COVID happened. Then about a year later, live music was getting back into action and I was asked by Oden to do a regular weekly show here. I wanted to focus on my original music and I am currently doing the songwriter sessions these days because it opens the floor for conversation between two people on the stage. It is a time for guests to focus on music instead of it being in the background. It’s something to curate the vibe and focus on the songwriting and an artist being able to create something original. The space at Oden has been great for having this series, with the large backyard and having this wonderful stage out there. There is also an open mic 30 minutes after the session for more collaboration. There is this whole open yard where people who want to get up close and focus or give their attention to the stage and the people there to mingle are able to talk and spread out further from the stage. It’s a space for either people that came knowing about this and to experience it and those that happen upon it and have the opportunity to discover it.

AO: Do you have any favorite stories or experiences from these sessions that you would like to share?

AV: It’s really cool so I got to host Molly at Oden which was a great show, the power went out and we had to do it solely acoustic and played our guitars because that was all we could do. It was a full circle moment and it was cool to be able to host the space and compensate artists for their original music. It is really hard to isolate a specific experience, but I will say I’ve loved doing the songwriting rounds specifically because what ends up happening is the guest and I will get on stage together and notice a harmony. This then allows for an organic exchange of music and vulnerability with the guests show by being able to jump in and play what they hear. When doing the songwriting sessions, there is space for storytelling and it feels like we’re sitting in someone’s living room singing songs and telling stories. I love having that opportunity to give that first space to those who haven’t had a professional setting to share their music. It brings me pride and joy to be able to create that space for people. When I was given this gig, I felt so nervous about playing by myself and now having this space I have grown so much more as an instrumentalist and musician. What The Folk has been really helpful in developing my own personal growth as a musician and it has been an honor to create a space for others that is welcoming.

For What the Folk! Songwriter Sessions Dates, Visit our Events Calendar.