Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Solage.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and grew up very humbly in Miami to a single mom who worked very hard. Even in my earliest memories, I remember my mom always working 2-3 jobs at a time to make sure we had a roof over our heads and food on the table. We struggled financially, but my mom made sure I was exposed to a lot of creativity and new experiences. She enrolled me in dance (ballet & jazz) and acting classes, encouraged me to take guitar and photography in high school and bought me my first guitar + professional camera. Deep down inside, I think she always knew that I was creative, and would always push me into trying something new. I think she just wanted me to have a better life than she did, honestly.
When I graduated high school, I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I didn’t want to waste time working mundane jobs trying to figure it out. I’m not too sure why, but I’ve always felt this deep sense of urgency in my soul. In 2013, I followed that sense and was able to land a job at a creative studio/events venue in Miami called LMNT.
At first, I was a full time, unpaid administrative intern, but I wanted to be doing so much more. One day, after a weekend-long solo trip to Orlando, the idea to produce my first event came to mind, I decided I was going to follow the urge again and go for it. At 19 years old, with approval from my boss (who was very reluctant), I was able to use LMNT for my first audiovisual event called Axinite, which featured some of Miami’s most relevant/experimental artists at the time; Raider Klan, Denzel Curry, Pouya, Nick León and a bunch of other people who were all considered “up and coming.” From then on, I discovered my love for bringing people together and continued to curate art shows, book artist and produce monthly events (The Void) at LMNT for the next 3+ years.
August of 2015, LMNT closed. My bosses sold the property and let me and the rest of our staff know the same day they signed the contract. I felt stranded and heartbroken like I spent the last three years building a community and now had nowhere to bring them. Not to mention, I was now unemployed and broke. I had spent so much time there, it became my life. August – December 2015, I spiraled into a deep depression. I remember applying to 100 jobs a day on every hiring website I could find. Nobody contacted me back.
January of 2016, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw that III Points music festival was hiring an office manager. Upon seeing this, I felt every molecule in my body tingle. I had attended III Points two years in a row at that point, and always knew I wanted to be a part of it. I quickly typed up a cover letter, submitted my resume and prayed for the best. From then on, the rest is history. I tell that story in depth because I think it’s important to note that right before I found the opportunity of a lifetime, I was in a really dark, low place. I’m really thankful I never gave up, because now I’m working one of my dream jobs.
Today, I’m one of the core members of III Points, with focus on marketing and art curation, and dabble in a few side projects including Space Tapes (record label), (F)empower (artist collective and non-profit femme empowerment organization), and a lot of freelance work such as DJing, consulting, location scouting and more.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t believe there is such thing as a smooth road. Trials and tribulations build character and make way for testimony. There’s always a hurdle to jump over. Now that I finally feel like I’m doing the work I’m supposed to be doing, I think the biggest hurdle for me is “security.” Seeing my mom work so hard growing up fueled the need for financial stability in me, so even when things are great, I always feel like I need to be doing more or need to be better, but this is all apart of the process.
My advice for anyone starting their journey is to just GO FOR IT! I believe we all are born with a sense of intuition, and if we follow it, we will be rewarded greatly. If you have a dream, go for it at full speed and don’t look back. You have nothing to lose. I would also say, don’t be afraid of rejection. I once heard someone say “rejection is a blessing”, and I believe that’s because when life throws you a curve ball, it’s usually to push you away from the wrong thing and towards the right thing. Finally, don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone moves in their own divine timing. Stay focused on you, be consistent, and you will get where you need to go, in your right timing!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My main full-time gig is III Points. There, I am on the marketing team and manage our social media, email blasts, copywriting, community partnerships, merch, bookkeeping/accounting, oversee the intern hiring process, work with our director of production on art curation and festival design/aesthetic, etc. I do a lot, but this is how my brain works. I don’t like to focus on one thing, but rather, I prefer to be able to flex different creative muscles when I get the chance. You wouldn’t believe it, but even accounting can be creative.
When I’m not at III Points, I am either DJing or working with (F)empower and Space Tapes. My role in (F)empower is mostly event production and sponsorships. We have an amazing team of 25+ creative femmes who all contribute in some way, which makes everything easier and so much more fun. Your most recent endeavor was starting a new monthly queer diasporic party called Masisi, which means gay in Creole.
Space Tapes is a record label ran by myself and about eight or nine friends. I wouldn’t say I have a definitive role at Space Tapes, but it allows me to be creative without boundaries. I’ve curated 3 zines for the label, manage sponsorships, and sometimes DJ as an artist on the label. This year I’m looking to be more involved on the A&R side, so I’ve definitely got my eyes peeled for new and emerging femme artists!
When asked what I am most proud of, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s my work, but more so, the community I’ve found through my work. If it wasn’t for the community of people who teach me, encourage me, push me, and are blatantly honest with me when I need it, I wouldn’t have the motivation to keep going when things get rough. In a way, my community is more valuable to me than the work. It provides me with the inspiration I need. I’m not sure what other people’s perception of my work is, but I would hope that when people think of me, they think of art, love, unity and a good time.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I believe that women can do anything. We can work any job and fill any role if given the chance. We are smart, creative, organized, analytical and empathetic. Though we are not living in a time where opportunities are equal yet, I do feel that there is a current uprising of women who are fed up with the challenges that are usually dealt by a cis white male sitting at the top of a capitalistic “food chain.”
More and more women are creating opportunities for themselves and others by starting businesses, building collectives and media platforms, and living freely in their expression. Social media and the internet have a big hand in that, making it so much easier to connect with people who live halfway across the world. To me, those are all political acts in a society that expects women to be submissive and quiet.
Going back to the question, do I feel that there are opportunities that women are well positioned for? My answer is: Women are creating them.
Contact Info:
- Website: ashleysolage.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/AshleyVenom
- Twitter: Twitter.com/AshleyVenom
- Other: Soundcloud.com/WhiteCactus
Image Credit:
Adi Adinayev, Kim Avendano, Nicole Combeau, Alexis Morales, Bogus Bogey
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