Sindy: Okay. So tell me - what's it like having Jessica Simpson as your sister? Ashlee: It's so fun! People are always like, 'Oh you're in comparison,' but we are so totally not in comparison. People can compare us all the time and all day long and we don't care. We are like so not in comparison. We just love each other. We do things so we can spend time, like the Ice Breakers commercial we shot so we could be together for a day, you know. We both have these crazy-busy schedules but we always make sure we can spend some time together cuz we just love each other.
Sindy: Do you think it's going to be hard being in the same industry as your sister?
Ashlee: I think it's not hard being in the same industry. I think it's so beneficial because I have kind of grown up and I've watched her. It's really helped me to know where not to step. Like choices that I definitely wouldn't choose to make. I've watched her make some mistakes and she's grown from them. But it's also like in general, the younger sister gets to watch her older sister and learn. So it's fun.
Sindy: Are you planning to tour once the album is released?
Ashlee: I am definitely going to tour. At first I am going to be doing a promotional tour, and I'm doing like radio shows and stuff like that. I'm going to go on tour after that. I don't know who I'm going to go out with though. I'm crossing my fingers for Maroon 5 cuz I think they are so cute. It would be so fun to go out with somebody that I just like, totally love their music.
Sindy: Do you ever see yourself collaborating with your sister?
Ashlee: I think that Jess and I definitely would love to collaborate on something, but we'll do it when we know that the moment is right. When we find a song or we find a movie, you know. We do definitely collaborate like doing that commercial and stuff like that. So we will definitely do something one day that really means something to both of us.
Sindy: Who were your musical influences growing up?
Ashlee: I really like 80's music. I love 80's women like Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders, all those people. And I really actually like Alanis Morisette and Fiona Apple. All those people had a really big influence on me... Stevie Knicks, Janis Joplin. I love women that can rock. Even Gwen Stefani - I think she is so awesome and so talented and I love her.
Sindy: How about now - who are you listening to?
Ashlee: Nowadays... I like this band, they're called Postal Service. They are so good. I like listening to all music. I'll get in the car and I'll listen to a rock CD like AFI and then I'll turn on like Al Green. I have a very diverse selection of tastes - I love all different kinds of stuff.
Sindy: Are you going to have any free time in the next little while?
Ashlee: Yeah, I'm actually pretty busy lately. But maybe I'll have some free time. If I do, it'll be just like two days.
Sindy: So when you have time off, what do you do?
Ashlee: Go home and sit with my friends and do nothing but sit there and laugh our butts off. Me and my girlfriends sit there and have the best time doing nothing cuz we've just known each other for so long. We can be goofy and stand up in front of each other and be dorks and be like, 'Okay let's go bowling,' or 'Let's go to put-put golf.' We just have fun doing nothing.
Sindy: How have your friends been through the making of the CD?
Ashlee: My friends have been so supportive. Like, my very best friend, Lauren - she lives with me and has been one of my friends since I was really young - literally would come out to the studio and hang out with me and I just got such a good energy just having her there. It makes everything fun and not like work. It's like your best friend's there and you get to play.
Sindy: Any words of advice for kids who wanna get into this business?
Ashlee: Well, you should know that it's definitely a tough business, there's a lot of work but I think that people have to know that they can totally do it. I used to think when I was younger that I couldn't sing and here I am and I am so excited. I love singing, I sing everywhere I go now. I think it's just confidence and believing in yourself and I want kids to know that they don't have to be somebody else, they just have to be themselves. That's the best thing that you can do.
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