Meet Cheyna Ashe

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cheyna Ashe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cheyna below.

Cheyna, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

In 2023 I was wrestling with the idea of quitting my job. I was working at a mental health clinic which I felt called to go to in 2020, but I knew that I was simply doing something that I “could” do and something that I “should” be doing. All my life I’ve always implemented music in the core areas of my life. In middle school and high school I was first chair violinist, and later moved on to joining the philharmonic orchestra. Outside of that I was always singing in church and with my family different conferences, and even in that I was the musical organizer. I built the harmonies and structure in which the song would be sung. In 2016 I started realizing that my God-give vocal talent was something I could actually use to do two things. Make a living, but more importantly make people happy and show them that they have purpose and worth. Personally as a christian I have seen so many lives change because of the 45 minutes sermons that would be shared. I think that’s a wonderful way to reach someone, however I have also seen many people turned off because they did not want to sit down and listen to someone talk for so long. However music is powerful! I started writing song with messages that could be shared in a 3 – 5 minute span, and those songs have changed lives. Some has told me how they were contemplating life , but after they listened to one of my songs on repeat it ..saved them. At the mental health clinic, though I was a hydrotherapist and receptionist, I always found myself singing to patients with a guitar in hand. I knew that music was my route in which I could make a difference in this world. I knew it was my language that I could use to communicate to many walk of life with a message of hope and purpose. At pinnacle of my decision to leave my job and take a leap of faith into the unknown, a friend of mind shared a thought with us for a vespers and shared a quote that said “there is nothing worse than being successful in the the thing you WEREN’T called to”! After I heard that my mind was made up and I handed in my resignation letter later that week. Since June 2023 to this present moment I haven’t looked back. I’ve never even had to dip into my savings. God continually provides opportunities for me all around the country, all around the world, and with such a vast majority of people. Doing this made me feel like I had purpose, it helped me show others that they have purpose, and ultimate it also gave me a sense of freedom in doing what I love to do. I knew and still know that I am doing what God has called me to do.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I was born and raise in New York during my early years and later moved to Georgia where I would spend 10 years of my life. After attending a Bible College in Arizona I would later move to California to take on my new job in Fresno,CA. I currently live in Sacramento,CA area, and love snowboarding with friends in the mountains of Lake Tahoe, paddle boarding in the American River, and simply catching up with friends when I get the chance. I grew up in a family where money wasn’t something we could use at our disposal. I didn’t have the opportunity for private music lessons, extra curricular activities, or vacationing every summer. Instead when my family was in need, we would sing in front of grocery stores to prayerfully raise enough money to help us get enough groceries for our family of 5, for the next few days. Though we didn’t have much we learned to make the best of our situation and learn to focus our mind on the bright future ahead.

Growing up, I would be asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I would say “I don’t know. I just want to be in charge of something.” Little did I know that I would be the CEO of my business Saving Synchrony. Currently I am a musicianly (music-missionary) full-time. My motto is “Music with a purpose”. It is my goal to make sure that any music I sing or write has a purpose behind it. They are not empty words with a nice beat, but music with a story and message to anyone that will listen. The most exciting aspect about what I do isn’t getting to travel the world nor getting the opportunity to meet so many incredible people, but it’s to be able to see a life touched or changed by the words I chose to share. The core values of my ministry are love, faith, growth, humor, and honesty. These are the aspects that I ensure are throughout every aspect of my ministry, in my relationships, in my concerts themselves, in my leadership, and in songs. I just finished up a mini tour on the east coast that brought me to Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. I have events to look forward to throughout the summer in helping run a Summer camp in Yosemite and the music portions of that, coordinating music for an international ministry’s youth event, as well as future conferences and events that I will be singing for. Some upcoming events include me going to Guam in the next year, and multiple places within the United States.

Because I have multiple skill sets, I am utilized in a broad variety of ways, I’ll sing for weddings, for church services, for conferences and conventions, I’ll coordinate the music for week long events, I’ll busk in popular areas like Hollywood Blvd and even the airport just to bring a little ease to someone’s day though song, and I’ve even been brought in as a speaker.

I’ve had the opportunity to sing the national anthem for the NBA and am currently being scheduled to sing for the MLB this summer. The expected time for me to be releasing my new album called “Gratitude” is January 2026 so keep your eyes out for that. I am also working on workshops for churches to help them put power back in to their worship services. I come in for a Weekend intensive and help churches, no matter their music preference, bring authenticity back in to their worship. I share stories, testimonies, struggles, practical vocal and instrumentals tools, as well as Bible truth throughout the seminar. Any one that loves God and music will benefit from this workshop. In the mean time I have T-shirts to sell and services to help continue to raise funds for my ministry and the efforts.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities that were most impactful, I would say were flexibility, understanding, and playing multiple instruments.. These things have helped to set me apart from many other “musicianaries”. The nature of large events lends toward the great possibility of things changing and last minute. The stress of having to change things can be overwhelming and the last thing any organizer would want is someone that is non-flexible and refusing to roll with the punches, especially when it effects the program on a whole. I do whatever I can to make sure things appear seamless in the midst of change. Along with that being understanding helps you to approach situations and people with greater kindness. It helps to keep you motivated and pushing along even if you’re tempted not to. Playing multiple instruments has helped me to be set apart from others, because normally someone would have to higher and pianist and instrumentalist. I can do both for the price of one. It helps the organization save money and I also become more memorable and shared with other churches when they may be on a budge looking for musical help.

For someone on a journey with this I’d encourage them to practice being flexible and working with the flow when change happens. A great way to practice being understanding is to not get upset when someone does something “dumb” on the road. We don’t need road rage, but if you start thinking about what that person might be going through it helps you show a little more empathy and not get as made. Whatever your sphere is I’d say try to learn the ins and out of the various rolls involved in what you do. This will help you be invincible when need to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Honestly, this may sound cliche as I am a Christian, but the Bible has helped me a lot. It has given me examples on what kind of character I should try to develop and how I can be more understanding. It has given me encouragement for those moments when I’ve felt discouraged and just wanted to give up.
In the Bible God says I will never leave you nor forsake you(Hebrews 13:5) , that tells me I’m not in this alone. It says that God will place hard-working people before great kings (Proverbs 22:29), and also says that if I continues in well doing then I will reap my reward in due season(Galatians 6:9). There are so many other verses I could use, but these are just a few motivators and principles that have proven themselves time and time again.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

head shot on a rock. -“Sarah Betat”
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Blvd Busking shoot – “Nathan Towns”

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