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Hey guys,

I’m back with something special and a preview of what’s to come. This post kicks off my artist spotlight series featuring various performance and visual artists in the DMV (that’s DC, Maryland, and Virginia :-).) I hope that you all enjoy meeting new people through me, and that you become life-long fans of these artists. Most importantly, please, please, please support them if you like what they do. These people are truly talented, and I can’t wait to continue highlighting them throughout the series!

ENJOY!

Meet Ally Way.

Ally Way on stage at BloomBars performing original song “Lifetime.”

Check out my video interview with Ally Way right here!

In a quaint and intimate location in the Columbia Height’s neighborhood of Northwest Washington, DC, a mixed group of 20 20-somethings gathered to appreciate unpolished jewels. BloomBars, located at 3222 11th Street NW, held its weekly event, “Sunday Seeds” featuring Ally Way.

Way, who’s birth-name is Allison Way, is a 23 year old DC resident who’s been singing and performing in musicals her whole life. With the support of her choir director and instrumentalist parents, Way is pursuing her music career in addition to working as a sells associate for Lexus Silver Spring. “I sell Lexi,” joked the artist.

After attending St. John’s College High School, she enrolled in and graduated from University of Maryland in May of 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Vocal Performance and Music Education.  After she establishes her place in the music industry she plans to use these degrees to produce other artists and open a school to encourage children who are much like her in their passion for arts and literature.

After taking us on a mental vacation to our favorite beach, she sung “No Pressure”

Ally Way begins work on her second EP, currently untitled, today. She believes she’s grown from the first one, Way Shower, which she released in 2006. She says she’s improved her vocal agility and has more of a jazz influence that she can’t wait to showcase to the world. The theme of the upcoming project is “striving to be emotionally free,” Way told me. She describes this state as “You know? Wanting to call this guy [who isn’t exactly right for you,] but knowing you want better.” This record will be about her struggles with a guy she’s been seeing for a while.

Ally Way intimate with her guitar.
Way believes in the power of aura and fears sometimes she’s too influenced by other artists’ energy. “If everyone around me is performing great, it helps bring out the best in me; but if everyone stinks, I always mess up.” She strives to be an original performer by staying true to herself. She said when she notices she sounds too much like one of her favorite artists– Sarah Mclachlan or CeCe Winans, she’ll remind herself, “sing the way you sing when you’re in the car by yourself.” This technique obviously works as she’s had the opportunity to perform on stages across the world. DC’s Busboys and Poets was very instrumental in her growth as a performer, but she’s also graced the stages of Yoshi’s in San Fransisco, Bluenote in New York, different festivals in Bermuda and Costa Rica, and Ronnie Scott’s in London. 
Way says she’s leaving this upcoming EP in the hands of her gods because they will take her beyond her expectations and they look out for her best interest.□
Good Luck, Ally Way!
Peace, Love, Create.
~BobbyPen
*All photographs, video footage, and editing done by Lauren M. Williams. All Rights Reserved.