Perry is the frontman of Ashes of Folly, a talented Murfreesboro / Nashville rock band. The Colorado native hit a life low and turned to Music City, some good friends and music to help.
After battling substance abuse and depression, being homeless and losing his brother, Perry was looking to recreate himself. He had been writing and playing music in Colorado but he says he was “empty” and “broken.” “I was bitterly lost, but feeling led. Crushed but hopeful. A sad vacant lot inside, a smiling, hard working guy outside,” he says honestly. “A song I have called ‘Warm Decembers’ sums it up well by saying, ‘Sunny sky outside, dark cloud inside.'”
He reached out to friends in middle Tennessee and made the move to change his life. Then, he had another personal struggle when his mother died.
“There was a moment I remember where I knew this was either going to be my demise or a motivation. I wrote several new songs, including ‘The Chemical Plan,’ and started rehearsals and prep for putting together the first album. I used the focus of putting out a debut release, a line of shows and creating a presence in Music City, to turn my sadness into sound and my anger into productivity. It was a hard 180 in my life.”
He formed Ashes of Folly in 2013 and they released their debut, The Chemical Plan, two years later. Fast forward to today. They’re still making music and were featured on Nashville’s 102.9 The Buzz as well as on MTSU’s radio station. They’re working hard to cross more items off their music bucket list. They want to play The Ryman, Live on the Green, get played on more local stations and get Ashes of Folly on Exit/In’s wall.
For now, they’re celebrating their new EP — which was recorded at Kings of Leon‘s studio, Neon Leon. In fact, they were the first band to ever record there. Their producer, Brent Rawlings, lined it up when he called to see if they could collaborate.
“I expressed concern with my budget, seeing as his resume is deep and it would be at Neon Leon. He worked out a reasonable agreement with me and it became a reality,” Perry gushes. “Did I mention I have amazingly kind and supportive friends? The facility was something out of a magazine and it was quite the experience. I soaked it in.”
The EP features their current single, “In Your Head,” which started out as a question in Perry’s head.
“I woke up one day missing someone I loved and I started to wonder if love ever dies. I’m still unsure but it made a fine song. Rawlings produced these tracks and we had Jeff Keeran sit on keys, Torbett on bass, and Baker on drums… It is on the softer side of the AOF spectrum and I like the slow rock.”
You can preview that single in the video below. Stay tuned to the band’s official website for more. They’re currently tracking a fourth release and have a string of fall house shows coming up. They’re also nominated for Best Rock Album for the NIMA Music Awards. Vote for them here.
