Ashley Riley - Close to Me (4:14)

Singer/songwriter Ashley Riley based in Decatur, IL went from playing open mic nights in 2008 to winning the 2020 Midwest Music Expo Listening Panel for her latest single, “Close to Me.”

Ashley told American Songwriter about how this track came from a personal experience and what it means to her.

“Close to Me” was inspired by super confusing relationships and me trying to make sense of them. This song was born out of the end of a relationship, and actually just a friendship. Sometimes I romanticize my songs for a different point of view, so with this song, the emotion of a back and forth, uncertain relationship was what I sat with while writing it.”