Singer-songwriter Ashley Riley's "Cut My Losses" is an anthem for anyone who's ever dreamed of packing up their car, driving off into the sunset and starting a new life somewhere else. Even if you never make that extreme leap, Riley's summery song is made for a windows-down, introspective ride around your hometown.
"I wanna cut lose/ I wanna cut my hair," Riley sings. "I wanna cut my losses and get out of here/ Let's get out of here and go."
Riley says the song is about feeling the need to connect with a piece of yourself you though you'd lost.
"Cut My Losses" was originally inspired by looking back and realizing how much more open I used to feel. I think sometimes as we grow in age, we get so busy with all of our responsibilities and just have our noses to the grindstone and we can start being a little too serious. At least I felt that way, so I wrote this song to remind myself to loosen up a bit and stop taking everything so seriously, to stop letting everything stress me out!" Riley tells Wide Open Country. "I don't know what it is, but I love the feeling of being in a city where I don't know anyone, feeling anonymous and exploring new places is a freeing feeling. I like being around people and being social, but then sometimes I just want to be alone, and I don't necessarily want to be alone, I just wanna be left alone if that makes sense! It's a study in contradictions. Honestly though, the more I learn about myself — and I love taking personality tests and learning about the Enneagram and all that stuff — I'm usually on the cusp of things. My horoscope sign is a Cancer Leo cusp, and those two signs are kind of opposite. I definitely think that that influences the yin and yang of my personality."
Riley says the song became more meaningful in 2020.
"The other way in which this song grew in meaning for me was because of all of the quarantines and stay-at-home orders in 2020. I feel like the world collectively got a bit stir-crazy, and we all couldn't wait to get out and feel a sense of lightness," Riley continues. "One last fun fact is that I'm a licensed hairstylist and so the 'cut my hair' line was a little nod and wink to that. Also though, changing your hair can be really significant and bold. There is, of course, the famous quote by Coco Chanel, 'A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.'"
Listen to "Cut My Losses" below.
"Cut My Losses" is available for pre-order here.
For more information on Ashley Riley, visit her official website.
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