Ashley's New Reality

Former O-Town member and reality TV star debuts solo album

The road seems to be smoothing out for former O-Town member Ashley Parker Angel. Things didn’t look so good for this cutie crooner a few years ago. First dropped by his record label and then forced to move in with his pregnant girlfriend’s mom, Ashley was ready to throw in the towel. Then he hooked up with MTV to create a new reality TV show, There and Back, which seemed to rocket launch his career to stardom. Now that the show is complete, Ashley looks ahead to promote his new album Soundtrack to Your Life (in stores now) and show the world that he has ditched his boy-band image.

FASHION18: Your new CD is called Soundtrack to Your Life. What does it mean to you and how did you come up with it?

Ashley Parker Angel: Soundtrack to Your Life was a song I had written for my son Lyric, who wasn’t born at the time. I was in this really crazy place in my life. I had experienced a lot of success at a really young age, and then as fast as it came it was gone. So there I was at a crossroad in my life and I had to make a decision as to what I wanted to do with my life. I could have given up and went back home to live with my parents, but instead I chose to move to L.A. and pursue music, which is what I truly love to do. I was going through all these struggles and challenges in my life. As I was writing this song I realized that these obstacles are obstacles that everyone goes through in their life. Then I thought, should I call this Soundtrack to My Life? Well, no, not really because it is the soundtrack to everyone’s life. It was a natural choice for the album, too. So that is how I came up with the title.

F18: What was the biggest inspiration for this album?

A.P.A.: Definitely my son Lyric. I have this new little person in my life and he is depending on me. I want to be even more successful because I want to take care of him; I’m responsible for him. He is what is driving me to be ambitious and persistent in this industry. I just want to make him proud and provide for him.

F18: What would you bring with you if you were stranded on a desert island?

A.P.A.: Definitely a guitar or a piano—something to make music.

F18: Do you think people will be able to look past the boy-band image you previously had?

A.P.A.: I think that is the hardest obstacle to overcome. Once you have been in a boy band, getting people to listen to your music without judgment is the biggest challenge. That is why I decided to do There and Back. I wanted people to see that I was involved in the creative process of making the album and that I have songwriting abilities. I was hesitant to let the cameras back into my life again after my experience with Making the Band; I didn’t want to be known as the reality TV guy. But I felt like it was a great opportunity to get my face back out there and really showcase this side of myself.

F18: What is your favourite karaoke song?

A.P.A.: What I Like About You by The Romantics

F18: Do you think that being in O-Town hurt you, or has it opened more doors for you?

A.P.A.: It has by far opened more doors for me. If I hadn’t been in O-Town, who knows where I would be. It is all about getting your foot in the door and that was what that was for me. Sometimes you have to work hard and pay your dues to get where you want to go. It was an incredible opportunity for me at the time and it has brought me to where I am today.

F18: What is your fashion obsession?

A.P.A.: Converse! And blue jeans. Every day!!!

By Sandra Colburn

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