Ashley Hicklin is a UK singer-songwriter and composer from the North-East of England, later based in Hamburg. Raised on open-mic nights in his parents’ bar, he begins playing guitar, piano and drums in his early teens. He first works in punk and Brit-pop bands before turning to classical music, and goes on to write for ensembles including London Sinfonietta.

His live work includes concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and extensive touring across the UK as a folk-pop singer-songwriter. He builds a reputation in Germany after a BBC live video broadcast draws industry attention, leading to contact with EMI Publishing Europe chief executive Peter Ende.

As a songwriter, Hicklin quickly writes his first number one single for Swedish Idol winner Johan Palm, as well as Belgium’s Eurovision Song Contest entry, which also reaches number one. He also writes chart songs for artists and teams linked with Skunk Anansie, Leona Lewis, James Morrison, Marit Larsen, Amy Winehouse and Sugababes.

While writing in Germany, he meets producer Franz Plasa, known for work with Echt and Selig, and the pair begin recording the material that becomes his debut album Parrysland. He signs with Ferryhouse Productions and Warner Music, relocates to Hamburg, and performs in formats ranging from solo sets to nine-piece band shows with a string quartet. His debut single “Eskimos To Astronauts” and the album Parrysland are part of that period.