Sometimes our lives look like this: Wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed, repeat. Every day feels like the same thing day in and day out. Life becomes monotonous, without purpose, without passion. We feel like we’re doing it on our own, we feel disconnected, we feel like we’ve lost the meaning. 

The good news? We get to choose whether we stay in a boring routine, or whether we find our purpose and sense of belonging. But in order to find, you must first seek. 

That being said, I’d love to introduce myself and share with you a bit of my story. I’m Ashley Spitler, and music runs in my blood. My dad has played drums his entire life, and I remember as a child going to festivals to watch him play in his country band. He’d perform on a stage under a big tent and my sister and I would dance and tap our feet and sing along, and during his breaks he’d walk us around the festival and buy us snacks and take us on rides. He’d set up lounge chairs next to the stage where we’d sleep while he tore down his equipment at the end of the night, then he’d load us up and we’d sleep in the truck on the way home. Some of my favorite childhood memories were watching him and spending time with my family at his shows. 

As far back as I can remember, my dad was teaching me to play. Sometimes at dinner he would take his hands and tap little beats on the table, and then I would repeat. This was the beginning of him teaching me syncopation. Then in the fifth grade I joined the school band and started my own journey as a percussionist. My dad taught me basic drum beats on a full drum kit, and then at school I learned how to read music, play with an ensemble, and play all sorts of percussion instruments. I didn’t really focus on playing the drum kit until my teenage years, and that was a skill I slowly developed over time.

Fast forward a few years, I was 13 years old. My sister told me she saw this really cool band playing at a local church, Sanctus Real. I had never really watched live music other than my dad’s band, but I saw one show and was an instant fan. I started attending as many shows as I could, sometimes several per month, buying as much of their merchandise as I could afford. Everyone knew I was their number one fan! I had no idea then that this local band made up of high school students would one day reach Grammy-nomination success level, but seeing them grow and thrive has been so rewarding for me, someone there from the beginning.

I continued to follow Sanctus Real for years, and I was introduced to tons of new artists through their concerts. I fell in love with live music more everyday and decided I wanted to somehow make music a part of my career. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from The Ohio State University, with the goal of going into the music industry somehow and somewhere.

Upon graduation, I ended up working at Yes FM, a local Christian radio station in Toledo. I was a DJ and got to interview artists, emcee concerts, and attend festivals for free–not only that, but I was actually getting paid to do what I love! In some ways it was a dream, but after five years as my life circumstances changed, I realized it was no longer the best fit for me and moved into a corporate insurance role. 

Photo credit : Kim Lacourse Photography 

Even though I was no longer working in radio, I was still playing the drums for my church. I continued this for years, until I eventually decided to start my own band. I wanted to entertain people by playing dance party music, so I made a post on Facebook to start gathering interest from other players. We brought players in piece by piece, and Pop’s Garage was born. We have been together for eight years, playing at places such as Hollywood Casino, Centennial Terrace, Hensville, and Put-In-Bay. In 2023 we won the Toledo City Paper’s “Best of Toledo” contest for Best Cover Band. I am so proud of what we have built.

Fast forward a few more years, and I had the urge to play country music, to get back to my roots. Since Pop’s Garage doesn’t really play country music, I decided to start a country band. Once again I took to social media to gather interest from other players. We brought people in piece by piece, and North of Nashville was born. We have been together for four years, playing at places such as Hollywood Casino, Put-In-Bay, and Promenade Park. We headlined at Party in the Park earlier this year, and in 2023 we had the chance to open for Scotty McCreery at JeepFest, which was a career highlight for all of us.

Photo credit : Sidekick Creative

Whether performing music myself or watching others perform, no matter what season of life I find myself in, music has always been a part of it. In my heart. Leading my path. Pushing me to get out of my comfort zone. And through music, I have met some of the most wonderful people, and in many ways I have found a sense of belonging and purpose. 

The 419 music community is full of so many wonderful people–people who are not simply going through the motions day after day, but rather LIVING. Putting themselves out there, sharing their hearts, pursuing their passions, making meaningful connections, and finding their purpose. I would love to use my voice and my passion to introduce you to some of these amazing people. Will you join me on the journey?