Smashlee

Artist Information

Biography

As a solo act or with her talented and fun-loving band, Smashlee performs a charming and heartfelt hybrid of original rock and retro-pop that's been called ‘sunshine surf rock’.

Smashlee is Ashleigh Somerville, and she grew up in BC’s beautiful Okanagan Valley. She studied classical voice and piano at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music, and jazz vocals and improv at the Banff Centre for the Arts, but it wasn’t until she picked up her mother’s vintage tenor guitar and plugged it into a mini Marshall stack a few years ago that she felt like she’d found the most honest way to express herself. She now lives near the beach in Vancouver, BC, and tries not to disturb neighbours like 85-year-old Effie, who bangs on the ceiling with a broom to tell Smash to "Keep it down!"

Smashlee has released two CDs: Smashlee’s Wee CD, a four-song EP of her signature ‘sunshine surf rock’, and for Christmas, a genre-defying LP called 'Peace, Love, Joy', featuring some retro holiday magic with some jazz notables from Vancouver, New York, and Kelowna.

Smashlee’s music has been played on both public and commercial radio, used for film and stage, and recorded by other artists. As a live act, Smashlee has been responsible for many a hearty ruckus at countless coffeeshops, restaurants, festivals, and beach venues.

Smash is currently hard at work on a full LP of sunshine surf rock. In the meantime, you can catch her playing select engagements throughout BC, and wherever else the sun may be shining.

Instrumentation

Ashleigh Somerville (aka Smashlee): lead vox/tenor guitars
Emma Smith or Nori Wentworth: bass
Scott Gamble: drums

Discography

"Smashlee's Wee CD": 4 song EP
"Peace, Love, Joy": holiday LP
*tracks from each disc have received commercial and public radio airplay in North America and internationally

Official Website

http://www.smashlee.com

Links

• Facebook

Audio

• In The Sun
  Listen  
• The Holiday Song
  Listen  
• Play Nice
  Listen  
• Little Candle
  Listen  
• Joe The Snowman
  Listen  

Lyrics

• In The Sun
• The Holiday Song
• Play Nice
• Joe the Snowman

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Wee CD review [+ Show ]
  

  Smashlee’s Wee CD is just too small!! I find myself listening to it four or five times just to get m...Smashlee’s Wee CD is just too small!! I find myself listening to it four or five times just to get my fill. How an artist can provide such an emotional spectrum in only four songs is a mystery to me. “Ripped in Half” leaves you wondering how you ever managed to let someone new into your heart. “Play Nice” begs us to accept each other as we come, while “In the Sun” reminds us to be gentle with ourselves – a song of pure hope and inspiration. As for “The Holiday Song”...I just love it. Reminds you of the butterflies of new love and endless summers with warm sun on your skin and fruity drinks. Makes life worth living in the midst of winter. Ashleigh Somerville is a classically trained musician with a rock 'n roll drive. If you get a chance to see her pump up the volume through her mini-Marshall stack – do it!!!
  

• fans on Smashlee's Wee CD... [+ Show ]
  

  It’s great! [Smash's music] makes me feel like I'm riding my bike down a hill with the wind whistlin...It’s great! [Smash's music] makes me feel like I'm riding my bike down a hill with the wind whistling through the long hair I wish I had!
  

• fans on Smashlee's Wee CD... [+ Show ]
  

  The CD is great. I didn’t know what to expect and had the amp cranked up...was expecting a gentle li...The CD is great. I didn’t know what to expect and had the amp cranked up...was expecting a gentle little tenor guitar lullaby, but I didn't feel sleepy at all! Lovely stuff.
  
  

• fans on Smashlee's Wee CD... [+ Show ]
  

  Good early-morning songs…makes you happy...[Smashlee is] such a good role model for doing what you l...Good early-morning songs…makes you happy...[Smashlee is] such a good role model for doing what you love.

Setlist

Originals:
In The Sun
Surfin' Every Day
Life Like Yours
Love Always Wins
No Rest For The Wicked
Play Nice
Gotta Give Up
The Holiday Song
One Of Those Days
Ripped In Half

Covers:
I Believe In Music (Mac Davis)
Faith (George Michael)
Not Fade Away (Buddy Holly)
Feelin' Groovy (Simon and Garfunkel)
Aloha Oe (traditional Hawaiian)

Basic Requirements

Calendar