We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ashley Mills Monaghan. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Ashley, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I get up around 7am, get my kids ready for school, walk the dog then on days I have a little extra time in the morning I jump on my treadmill. I usually like to catch up on The Daily Show, late night comedy (like Kimmel or Colbert) or my Housewives of Salt Lake City while I work out then I”ll get ready for my work day which usually either consists of recording work at home or going to different sites around my community to teach my music classes.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashley Mills Monaghan and I am an award winning children’s musician and author that specializes in creating intentional material and music resources for early childhood development. After teaching in the preschool classrooms for over a decade, I decided to focus primarily on musical endeavors which has led to awards, songwriting and performing for children’s media and occasionally speaking at teaching conferences. I am a member of ASCAP, the Recording Academy and Children’s Music Network. My formal business is called ‘Ashley Mills Music’ and under that I not only perform my music at family events and shows around Los Angeles, but I also host preschool music classes for schools in my community while continuing to work on several new creative projects that come my way. While my main focus for the business is teaching my classes and writing new material for teaching resources, I also write, record and produce in the children’s media space and that includes composing for podcasts, producing audiobook projects for other authors and writing songs for children’s books. I am also the voice of “Sadie” on ‘Ms Kym’s Musical Place’ on YouTube Kids.
My most recent release is a project that came to me last year from the same team who I wrote music and the theme song for an animated series TV pitch, ‘The Little Witch.’ While that project is still in talks for production, the team approached me about a new project they were interested in producing; a toddler time musical series and so ‘Super Duper Awesome Day’ was born.
‘Super Duper Awesome Day – getting your toddler through the day’ is a joyful children’s album that transforms everyday routines like brushing teeth, potty time, and cleaning up into fun, musical moments for toddlers and their families. Already, we’ve received so much wonderful feedback. South Bay Buzz said ‘ever since we saw Ashley Mills Monaghan perform live, our family can’t get enough of her joy filled songs for every step of the day!’ I’ve had parents approach me after class telling me their child loves to fall asleep to ‘The Goodnight Song’ and others telling me ‘my son won’t brush his teeth without the tooth brushing song!’ It fills my heart to know the songs are not only bringing joy to these children but that they are useful because that’s what creating it was all about.
This is my second full length album and it is currently on the inital voting ballot for the Grammys® 2025.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I believe the relationship that most shaped how I see myself is myself. No one else in my world can tell me to pick myself up if I fall down or keep going when I’m feeling defeated other than myself. I do that. I do that for me. Just because I get a pep talk from someone that may say the right thing that I need to hear at the time, that doesn’t really do anything unless I take action for myself. The only person getting in my way is myself and the only person that can keep going and make the choice to keep going is me. I could have the whole world cheering for me or tearing me down. It is up to myself to give myself the control to either push ahead or stop. And that’s taken me so long to really fully understand. I am 42 and I’m just now realizing the value in what I permit for myself. Sometimes I don’t feel completely supported. Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m doing anything right. Most of the time I’m feeling like I’m not good enough. But I can either choose to let my perception of that get in the way or I can give myself permission to fail and pick myself up and go again. No one else can do that for me. No one. So that in itself is shaping me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I feel like giving up almost every single day. Not because I’m lazy or don’t think I can do it, but I really wonder if I am good enough. There is just so much talent in my arena, I become overwhelmed. I don’t know where the low self esteem comes from but I do know that I do have the capacity to know that I want to keep going and so I do. Not so I can win – but so I can continue to learn, connect, grow and get better at what I know I love to do.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I’m not sure how to answer this. Is anyone’s public version really the real you? I like to think of myself as authentic and unique, funny and I’ll stand up for what I believe in. I have integrity and a strong work ethic and I think my social media mostly reflects that. I think when I host my music classes, that’s mostly represented. I like to connect with others. When I perform, that’s a whole other persona I have to create. I have to be joyful and energetic – but sometimes I’m having a bad day and then it suddenly doesn’t feel so authentic. But the show must go on and I have to give it 100% no matter what. We all want to put our best self out there for others to see but the truth is I’m more than likely stewing on something in my head that has nothing to do with my work and I’m worried about other things. I am preoccupied. Especially in this current political climate. I am hurting inside. I am sad inside. I’m happy inside and grateful inside, but I have real worry and those are things I am not sharing. It is my job to shine for others and be a good role model for young children and that means I can’t be my full real self in the public eye. But I am human. And fortunately for me, I can turn my emotional turmoil into something productive, like a good song.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d stop putting it off. I want to stop putting off the house projects that need to get done, putting off the diet that starts Monday. I’d stop with the ‘oh I’ll do it tomorrow’ mentality. Too many amazing ideas that I have for songs or projects or places I want to travel to – these inspirations come but then go because the grind of where I am at in life gets in the way. But, I would like to stop thinking about what I want and actually take the steps to go and get it. I want confidence that I know I can get it today. Not tomorrow. I want to get it today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleymillsmonaghan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymillsmonaghan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleymillsmonaghan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ashleymillsmonaghan4905
Image Credits
Penny Cordero at Shutter Styles (studio photography)
