Artist: Ashley Grimmie
Title: Underdog
Release date: 1/24/2014
Genre(s): Pop, pop rock
Label: Independent
Writers: Ashley Grimmie, Allyson Grace
Producers: James Diamond

About the EP

"Underdog is the debut EP from singer/songwriter and StarFactory season 1 contestant Ashley Grimmie Ashley was known for being probably the most shy and nervous contestant the whole season she was also known as the underdog due to her being one of the youngest singers on the show and that she was the only contestant being mentored by Alicia Lena she was eliminated a little early though coming in 7th place after being put in a sudden death sing off only one vote sent her home Ashley seemed to be devastated to leave though in time she got over it and she eventually went on tour with her mentor and idol Alicia Lena before going quiet after sometime without any word from Ashley she began posting covers and original songs online onto sites like YouTube she also released her debut single "Don't Wanna Pretend Anymore" earlier last year which didn't chart but got the song was positively commented on by the likes of Jennifer Armstrong, Katie Coyle and even Star Factory judge Brittany Knox Ashley then went quiet for a pretty long time once again not giving the song any promotion or anything she then came back on to the scene once again right before the end of 2013 with her single "Won't Be Hurt This Time" the song was a bit more upbeat than her debut single and also earned some pretty positive comments from artists like Isabel, Serenity Scott and Star Factory judge Michelle Green and a few others this song did chart this time peaking at #18 on the airplay charts and #14 on the digital song charts and she is now getting ready to release her debut EP she hadn't gotten any label offers so she's decided to do another independent release just like her two singles the EP was produced only by her good friend James Diamond Ashley had been working on this EP since February of 2013 and finished working on it completely in July she had decided to wait awhile before releasing it though most of the tracks on the EP are ballads the only track that isn't is her most recent single "Won't Be Hurt This Time"

Ashley's comments

So here it is guys my first EP I'm really happy to be getting this out to you guys I know you've been waiting for an album or something and the album will come hopefully this year if not then next year for sure but as of now I don't have the time or money for the studio I recorded these songs with my a little while ago and each one means a lot to me even the cover of Hallelujah I really believe I put my heart and soul into each song on this EP and gave it my all so I really hope that you guys enjoy it and if not then well there's not much I can do about that right? Lol anyway I'm really excited for this I know it mean not be much for some but this is huge for me I never thought I'd be releasing a single let alone getting the chance to do an EP the album will come next I promise I don't know when but it will anyway I want to thank my really really good friend James for helping me out with all the production stuff you're amazing James and you're great at what you do one day you're going to be this really huge kick ass producer that only works with the biggest names in music make sure to remember me when that happens and I also want to thank my best friend Allyson for writing DWPA it's such an amazing song with amazing lyrics and she's such a talented writer and singer as well I know someday she'll be releasing an album and doing huge things too I also really want to thank Star Factory for showing me that I can do this in the first place and for knocking me down and making me stronger SF was probably one of the best and biggest experiences in my life I also want to thank my mentor from the show and biggest idol like ever Alicia Lena you taught me so much and I appreciate that so much I really do love you also big thanks to my family for supporting me with my music and helping me through with it and helping me get through being voted off SF you guys are my world I also want to thank all of you guys you're so amazing and you're always supporting me and saying so many nice things and I really love seeing all those comments I appreciate it a lot and last but definitely not least I want to just thank God because without God I would not even be here so yeah thanks again hope you all enjoy this

Tracklist
1. Don't Wanna Pretend Anymore
2. Let Love Guide You
3. Won't Be Hurt This Time
4. Everything You Say To Me
5. Hallelujah

Let Love Guide You

Title: Let Love Guide You
Label: Independent
Genre: Pop
Length: 3:43
Writers: Ashley Grimmie
Producer: James Diamond

About the track

"Let Love Guide You" is the 2nd track off of Ashley Grimmie's debut EP "Underdog" the track is a bit more upbeat compared to some of the other tracks on the album but nowhere near as upbeat as the third track "Won't Be Hurt This Time" unlike that track this one has a more friendly happy feel to it we hear Ashley's piano skills come in at the beginning of the song playing that sort of happy tune as the song continues we then hear Ashley come in singing as well not really showing off her amazing vocals as she sings she just matches the happy sort of upbeat sound going on right now as she continues singing the song then begins building up around the ending of the first verse it builds up until it reaches the chorus where we hear the beat pick up even more now as Ashley continues singing in that happy type of voice as the beat continues she sings this way throughout the whole chorus before it eventually comes to an end she then begins singing the second verse and the song continues playing the same way it was throughout the first verse she then repeats the build up into the chorus around the ending of the verse she then continues through the chorus singing it the same until the end where things begin to slow down as she reaches the bridge of the song the rest of the instruments in the back stop playing all that's heard now is Ashley's vocals and the piano which still sound rather happy and upbeat like before but just a bit slower now she continues singing through it and around the end of the bridge she begins building up towards the chorus once again then we hear the rest of the instruments come back in and Ashley singing normally again but now there are some ad libs in the background done by Ashley she continues singing this way until the ending of the chorus she then begins to play an outro on the Piano for the song and only that can be heard before the song comes to an end

Ashley's comments

Hey guys so I wrote this track a little while ago it's about love how boring right? Well yeah that's what it's about love I was in a mood to write about it and the lyrics came to me so I wrote them down I really really liked the lyrics the song isn't only about love though it's more about the road to love like looking for love it can be hard it can be lonely at times and it can be dark but as long as you continue going down the road and let love guide you you'll eventually find the one you could find him or her your first try or you could find him or her after going through a thousand people well maybe not a thousand that might be a bit much but you get the point right? Anyway things are obviously going to come up and try to get in the way of you finding love like money or fame or other stuff but if love is what you want then just keep going down that road and don't get like distracted by that stuff but if that stuff is what you want then by all means go for it lol anyway I'm really happy with the way this song came out it was produced by the amazing James Diamond just like every other track on here lol and yeah I really loved writing and recording this and I really hope you guys like the song and can relate thank you for reading this if you did and listening to it

We've both been traveling down two different
Paths and the road has been bump no denying
That but we're still looking for the light at the end
Of the tunnel we don't know where it is
But we still have hope that one day we'll walk
And stumble upon that one who's been waiting for us
Oh baby that's true

There's nothing to fear listen to your
Heart follow it dear keep on coming this
Way promise I'll keep you safe let love guide you here
No I won't hurt you I know what you've been through
Seen the pain and the lies I've been through it too
But let love guide you here

Oh love just can't be bought no matter how hard
Some may try the material things give us nothing
Inside no that's why we walk and that's why we go
And continue down this road had some people threaten
And some people lie heard some people tell me they'll
Be here for life but they're words just crumbled
Oh so I kept walking on picked myself up when I was down
Kept myself so strong and you can do the same don't
Worry about the money or fame oh oh woah

There's nothing to fear listen to your
Heart follow it dear keep on coming this
Way promise I'll keep you safe let love guide you here
No I won't hurt you know what you've been through
Seen the pain and the lies I've been through it too
But let love guide you here

Let love guide the way bring you over here every doubt
Every fear it will all disappear everything that's been holding you
All the pain that's inside let it all go baby don't be shy
Come on let it guide you hereeee oh oh oh oh

There's nothing to fear listen to your
Heart follow it dear keep on coming this
Way promise I'll keep you safe let love guide you here
No I won't hurt you know what you've been through
Seen the pain and the lies I've been through it too
But let love guide you here

Everything You Say To Me

Title: Everything You Say To Me
Label: Independent
Genre: Pop
Length: 3:52
Writers: Ashley Grimmie
Producer: James Diamond

About the track

"Everything You Say To Me" is the fourth track off of Ashley Grimmie's debut EP "Underdog" the song is one of the more emotional and stripped back songs on the EP as this song is just Ashley's vocals and her piano skills on this emotional balled she sings about not being sure is she should let someone in or not and sings about the fear as she doesn't know if she could trust this person and all the pain he could bring to her if he hurts her she also sings about all of the happiness she could have if everything does work out the track starts out with two simple keys on the piano being played then a bit more kicks in the song is pretty slow and stays that way throughout the first verse as we hear Ashley singing in that soft voice sounding rather fragile right now as she sings the verse after the first verse the piano picks up a little and Ashley begins singing the chorus her voice stays light and soft like we're use to from her but she shows a bit more strength this time as she continues singing about whether or not she should trust the person this song is written about after a little while the chorus comes to an end the song slows down a bit then picks up again as she sings the second verse she sings the second verse the same way she did the chorus however the second verse is a lot shorter than the first and she almost immediately makes her way back into the chorus she sings it the same way she sang it before then makes her way into the bridge of the song where the song really begins to pick up a lot more Ashley shows a lot more strength in her voice now as she continues singing and playing the piano which sounds more intense now than before she continues singing and playing this way until she reaches "What if I don't know and you'll just bring me down" she holds the last part of that for about 14 seconds as the piano stops we just hear Ashley's voice now she sounds amazing as she holds the note and as she is the piano comes back in and she adds a little run to the note then goes into a higher pitch she then repeats that part once more but doesn't hold it as long as she did before the track then starts to slow down as she repeats the first words from the chorus and stops we then hear the piano playing a little before we hear Ashley come back in and the song slow down even more as she also repeats the first few words of the first verse as the song comes to an end

Ashley's comments

This song might just be my favorite song I've ever written or recorded honestly I put so much emotion into this song and this song is about a previous relationship I'll be honest about that I almost couldn't even record this song because it was just kinda hard going back to this part thinking maybe things could end up fine and thinking maybe we could be in love but maybe he'll hurt me which is what happened but that's not important anyway this song is very special to me and like I said my favorite song that I've ever written or recorded I don't only like the lyrics but I also think this song shows what I can do with my vocals I mean maybe I'm not the best singer in the whole world and I know I'm no Whitney but I really did put every piece of emotion I have into this song and I hope you guys can see that and I hope that you guys like this song as much as I do thank you so much for checking this out it means the world to me and I love you guys so much

I'm always coming back to you
Even when I feel so strong
It doesn't matter how hard I try I always end
Up back in your arms you've showed me the
Best love but you've also showed me the most pain
I don't know why I want you so much I still
Feel your love even when you're not with me

I've got to breathe and try to see everything
What this love could bring to me if it should
End I'll fall so far but if not I could be so happy
If you truly mean everything you say to me oh

Should I let my guard down should I give you
My heart? When you touch me I lose my breath
And every wall I've built falls down

I've got to breathe and try to see everything
What this love could bring to me if it should
End I'll fall so far but if not I could be so happy
If you truly mean everything you say to me

I'm standing in the dark trying to understand if
You've been everything I've needed all along
Although I still don't know I just can't let you go
And what if I don't know and you'll just bring me
Down what if you just bring me down? Yeah yeah yeah yeah

I've got to breathe and try to see everything
What this love could bring

I'm always coming back to you
Even when I feel so strong

Sounds like

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Hallelujah cover

Title: Hallelujah (cover)
Label: Independent
Length: 3:53
Writers: Leonard Cohen
Producer: James Diamond

Ashley's comments

So I was thinking and I thought it'd be best to end this EP with my favorite son of well all time and that of course is this song Hallelujah is such and amazing song the lyrics are just brilliant and I'd just always listen to this song so much growing up and I know it's been covered more than a million times by artists so much more talented than I could ever hope to be but I just really love this song so much and just really wanted to end the EP here with this track I wish I had gotten the chance to cover this during SF but that didn't happen anyway I should stop rambling now I really hope you enjoy my rendition of this incredible song and thank you again for checking this out it means so much to me and again I really do love you all so much thanks again

I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there’s a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It’s not a cry you can hear at night
It’s not somebody who has seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah


Sounds like