#ashleybruce

These past 14 weeks have been a life altering experience. After completing this program, this experience has solidified my desire to go into the music business; whether behind the camera or in front of it. I want to thank all of the people who made my experience worth while.

First, shoutout to the amazing TA’s this year. Murielle, Ethan, Devon, and Frederico have been amazing mentors as we all are on this journey to success in the music industry.

To my amazing friends at FMM, I couldn’t be any more glad to have spent my experience at FMM with all of you. You all contain something so special about you that captivate me all the time. The talent is unreal. I really appreciate you all and may god bless you on your way to living your dreams.

Nirvana is one of the most influential modern rock bands. Steming from Aberdeen, Washington, Nirvana band members Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic met in high school and befriended each other over the mutual liking of local punk rock band the Melvins. Practicing for months together, Cobain suggested to create a band with Novoselic but Novoselic was reluctant. Convincing Novoselic to create a group, Cobain gave Novoselic a demo called Fecal Matter. Novoselic finally agreed to create a band after he heard the demo. After creating an abundance of demos in 1988 with multiple drummers, Cobain and Novoselic met Dave Grohl who eventually became their permanent band member.

In September 1991, Nirvana released its sophomore album Nevermind which became a huge success due to MTV’s constant airplay of the infamous hit single “Smell Like Teen Spirit .” In January 1992, the album topped the billboard 200 album charts, surpassing Michael Jackson’s Dangerous album. This album would eventually sell over 30 million copies worldwide including over 10 million sold in the U.S.

The group’s overall success generated massive attention which several music journalists and influential magazines have empathized Nirvana’s music as a major culture shift. Michael Azerrad, who wrote his own Nirvana Biography stated : “Nevermind came along exactly at the right time. This was music by, for and about a whole new group of young people who had been overlooked, ignored, or condescended to. The Rolling Stones distributed the 500 greatest albums issue in 2003, ranking Nevermind at #17. Rolling Stone said, "No album in recent history had such an overpowering impact on a generation—a nation of teens suddenly turned punk—and such a catastrophic effect on its main creator."

My name is Ashley Bruce and I am 16 years old. I am born and raised in New York City where music is essentially everywhere I go.

My influences and inspirations have come from a variety of people from Beyoncé, Rihanna, Frank Ocean, Michael Jackson, and more. These people In their own original way have created a collection of art that have stand out compared to everyone else, some leading to iconic moments in not only pop culture, but music in general.

My strengths as a performer are still being developed at the moment. I am still trying to figure out who I am as a performer. However, when I develop my strengths, I want to be able to connect with an audience, small or large and be able to tell a story through music hopefully leaving the audience with a great memory of happiness.