Spunky, trendy, talented, and timeless are the words that come to mind when describing Ashtyn Talley, a junior Corporate Communications major from Decatur, Texas. Not can she rock any color hair (yes, I’m even talking about lavender) and a double nose piercing, but I am convinced she is the love child of Adele and Beyonce – this girl can SING! Luckily for HerCampus, she was able to tell us a little about her involvement and training as a singer at UT, sharing her favorite singers, songs and upcoming performance info!
Her Campus Texas: Can you describe Ensemble 309?
Ashtyn Talley: So this ensemble can be best described as a “studio ensemble”. So we are doing a lot of ear training, and widening our rage of styles as singers, so that we are better studio session singers. Gary Powell is our instructor and he is amazing! He worked with Disney for 20 years composing and recording things for them. He’s been in this business for a long time and he definitely knows what he is talking about. We meet 3 days a week, 4-6 on Monday and Friday in the music school, then 4-7 on Wednesdays in Gary’s studio.
HCTX: Who all is in the group?
AT: This semester we have 9 total members. Made up of students from all different majors, as well as John White, who was in the original ensemble 109 when Gary worked at UT in the 80’s. He’s one of the best bass singers I’ve ever heard.
HCTX: How did you get in?
AT: I got in with an audition in the Spring of 2014. We generally have an audition process but there have been a couple semesters where we keep the same group and Gary might just add or drop a few members based on what he saw in the previous semester.
HCTX: What’s your favorite thing about singing and performing?
AT: I just love getting to do what I love, and learning more about it and how to mold it. I have seen so much personal growth in my voice being in this group and it’s been awesome.
HCTX: What are your favorite songs to perform?
AT: I’m a sucker for a good ballad. I get pretty into them emotionally. I mean not to say we haven’t done fun up-beat songs too, like one semester we did an arrangement of “bang bang” and it was soooo much fun. But I always lean toward the slow stuff.
HCTX: Are you performing anywhere soon?
AT: We as a group have a performance on April 15th, we are performing songs that Gary has written over the years so that should be a blast. Me personally, I am actually doing a little gig with my friend Nate Redmond on Feb. 19 at Stinson’s cafe.
HCTX: Who are your favorite musicians?
AT: Oh man. An impossible question. I think I can be impressed by anyone with the right song. Obviously the great singers always impress me because I am just in awe at their voices, Xtina, Adele, Yonce, people like that. But I also am so impressed by people who are musically great, like honestly have you heard lady Gaga lately? She really is very musically talented. But apart from pop stuff I like indie/alternative music quite a bit. Halsey is great, I loved the Civil Wars, JohnnySwim; honestly I am kind of all over the place!
If you’re wanting to catch some great live music this week make sure to stop by Stinson’s Café on February 19th in the evening to meet and listen to Ashtyn!