Ashe (singer)

Ashe
Ashe (2018)
Background information
Birth nameAshlyn Rae Willson
Born (1993-04-24) April 24, 1993 (age 31)
San Jose, California
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboard
Years active2015–present
Labels
Websiteashe-music.com

Ashlyn Rae Willson (born April 24, 1993),[3][4] better known by the mononym Ashe, is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 2019 single "Moral of the Story", which was featured in the Netflix film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020) and was produced by Noah Conrad with additional production from Finneas O'Connell.[5][6] Ashe also co-wrote Demi Lovato's 2017 single "You Don't Do It for Me Anymore" and has toured with Louis the Child, Lauv and Whethan. She was nominated for a Juno Award for her gold-certified single "Let You Get Away" with Shaun Frank. Her debut studio album Ashlyn was released on May 7, 2021. Her second album, Rae, was released on October 14, 2022. Her third album, Willson, was released on September 6, 2024.

Early life

[edit]

Ashlyn Rae Willson was born on April 24, 1993, in San Jose, California.[3][7] She also spent her childhood and upbringing in San Jose.[8][9] She began attending piano and vocal lessons at the age of 8.[7] Ashe says that she grew up listening only to Christian radio and that she thanks her grandfather for introducing her to music from names like Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Jefferson Airplane.[10] She put an e on her stage name to pay homage to Carole King.[11] She attended Berklee College of Music and graduated with a major in contemporary writing and production in 2015.[12][2]

Career

[edit]

2015–2017: Early career

[edit]

Ashe started out by singing demos in Nashville before catching the attention of Swedish deep house producer Ben Phipps, who asked her to sing on his track "Sleep Alone" in 2015.[13][2] Over the next two years, Ashe specialized in appearing on a number of dance and house tracks from names like Louis the Child and Whethan. Her 2016 single "Can't Hide" with Whethan was her fifth No. 2 on both the US and Global Spotify Viral 50 charts.[14] Her 2017 single "Let You Get Away" with Canadian DJ Shaun Frank was nominated for Dance Recording of the Year at the 2017 Juno Awards and was certified gold in Canada in 2019.[15][16] Ashe assisted Demi Lovato in composing their 2017 single "You Don't Do It For Me Any More" from their US platinum-certified album Tell Me You Love Me (2017).[13] Between October 2017 and January 2018, Ashe embarked on tours with Louis the Child, Lauv and Whethan.[17] After signing to Mom + Pop independent label,[18] she released her debut single "Used to It" in June 2017 and "Girl Who Cried Wolf" in November 2017.[5][19] "Used to It" was her second single to reach No. 1 on the Global Spotify Viral 50 chart.[14] Ashe was placed alongside Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi on Vevo's list of Artists to Watch in 2018.[20] Throughout April 2017, Ashe supported The Chainsmokers during their Memories Do Not Open Tour and performed onstage with Big Gigantic during Coachella Festival 2017.[21][22]

2018–2020: The Rabbit Hole & Moral of the Story EPs

[edit]
Ashe performing in 2018

By the time Ashe had released her debut EP, The Rabbit Hole, in June 2018, she had clocked over 200 million accumulative streams and nine No. 1 songs on Hype Machine.[23] The EP was described as "a versatile and compelling seven-track affair."[24] Ashe supported Quinn XCII on his From Michigan with Love World Tour, during which she also released her single "Moral of the Story".[25]

On April 5, 2019, Ashe released the four-track EP, Moral of the Story: Chapter 1, which Finneas O'Connell entirely produced.[26] O'Connell also produced three of the four tracks on her sequel EP, Moral of the Story: Chapter 2.[5]

In February 2020, the single "Moral of the Story" was used in the Netflix teen rom-com To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020), which caused the song to reach number 2 on both Global and US Spotify Viral 50 chart.[14] Ashe made her debut chart appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Moral of the Story" and the Billboard 200 with Moral of the Story: Chapter 1. Ashe also released a duet of "Moral of the Story" featuring Niall Horan.[27][28] As of June 2020, the single has been used in over 901,400 videos on the online platform TikTok.[29] As of September 2022, her collaboration with Niall Horan had reached over 160 million streams on Spotify.[30]

2021: Ashlyn

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In March 2021, Ashe released another song with O'Connell titled "Till Forever Falls Apart". Her debut album Ashlyn was released on May 7, 2021, including the songs "I'm Fine" and "When I'm Older" issued prior to the album, along with "Me Without You", released on May 5. Ashlyn debuted at number 194 on the Billboard 200 dated May 22, 2021.[31]

2022–present: Rae & Willson

[edit]

On March 3, 2022, Ashe released the single "Another Man's Jeans" after releasing snippets of the song on social media. Ashe released another single, "Hope You're Not Happy" on May 6, 2022.

She returned to her "home", the San Francisco Bay Area, to perform exclusively at Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival on August 6.

On August 6, she performed at the Twin Peaks stage at 3:45 pm. She sang songs including "Angry Woman", "Shower With My Clothes on" and "Another Man's Jeans", which would appear on her forthcoming album Rae, released two months later. During her set she also sang "Somebody To Love" by Queen.

Soon after, Ashe announced her second studio album, Rae, on June 22, 2022, the same day that she released the song "Angry Woman". The album was released on October 14, 2022.[32]

Before the release of the album, Ashe released three more of its songs: "Shower with My Clothes On" on July 29, "Emotional" on August 26, and "OMW", along with its music video on October 12, 2022.

On November 4, 2022 she released a single with Stephen Sanchez, titled "Missing You".

Throughout 2023, she was scheduled to embark on her Fun While It Lasted Tour. However, the tour was canceled on February 1, 2023, citing she no longer felt "mentally healthy or resilient enough to go back on tour yet" and forced herself to take a break for her mental health.[33] On June 21, 2024, she gave her first live performance in over a year when she performed "Moral of the Story" with Niall Horan during his Saratoga Springs show on his tour, The Show: Live on Tour.[34]

On June 27, 2024, she announced her third album, and first independent album, titled "Willson", released on September 6, 2024. The lead single from the album, "Running Out of Time", was released on June 28, 2024.[35]

Artistry

[edit]

Ashe says that jazz music, Diane Keaton, and Carole King are major influences and inspirations to her own music.[11] Ashe put an "e" on her stagename to pay homage to Carole King.[11] Artists she admires are Stevie Nicks, Carole King, John Mayer, Justin Vernon and Bon Iver.[36]

Personal life

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Willson got engaged to musician John Canada in July 2024.[37]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[31]
US
Heat.

[38]
US
Alt.

[39]
US
Indie

[40]
Ashlyn 194 2 18 31
Rae
  • Released: October 14, 2022
  • Label: Mom+Pop
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
6
Willson
  • Released: September 6, 2024
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

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Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[31]
US
Heat.

[38]
US
Alt.

[39]
US
Indie

[40]
CAN
[41]
The Rabbit Hole
  • Released: June 22, 2018
  • Label: Mom+Pop
Moral of the Story: Chapter 1
  • Released: April 5, 2019
  • Label: Mom+Pop
157 2 10 19 72
Moral of the Story: Chapter 2
  • Released: August 9, 2019
  • Label: Mom+Pop
"—" denotes releases that did not chart, or charted on a subchart.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[42]
AUS
[43]
AUT
[44]
CAN
[45]
FRA
[46]
IRE
[47]
NZ
Hot

[48]
NOR
[49]
SWI
[50]
UK
[51]
"Used to It" 2017 Non-album singles
"Girl Who Cried Wolf"
"Choirs" 2018 The Rabbit Hole
"Moral of the Story"
(solo or featuring Niall Horan)
2019 71 44 29 42 71 17 5 35 30 31 Moral of the Story: Chapter 1 and Ashlyn
"Bachelorette" Moral of the Story: Chapter 1
"In Disguise" Moral of the Story: Chapter 2
"Cold in California"
"Monday"
(with Filous)
Non-album single
"Save Myself" 2020 Ashlyn
"The Same" 2021 Non-album singles
"Real Love"
"Till Forever Falls Apart"
(with Finneas)
75 27 Ashlyn
"I'm Fine"
"When I'm Older"
"Me Without You"
"Another Man's Jeans" 2022 Rae
"Hope You're Not Happy"
"Angry Woman"
"Shower With My Clothes On"
"Emotional"
"omw"
"Running Out of Time" 2024 Willson
"I Wanna Love You (But I Don't)"
"I hope you die first"
"Ashe"
"Pushing Daisies"
(featuring Suki Waterhouse)
To be released Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart, or charted on a subchart.
[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications
US
Dance

[54]
CAN
[45]
"Sleep Alone"
(Ben Phipps featuring Ashe)
2015
"Don't Look Back"
(Ben Phipps featuring Ashe)
2016
"Alive"
(Ben Phipps featuring Ashe)
"Orbit"
(SŸDE featuring Ashe)
"Can't Hide"
(Whethan featuring Ashe)
"Recognize"
(Win and Woo featuring Ashe)
"Let You Get Away"
(Shaun Frank featuring Ashe)
96
"The Back of Your Hands"
(nimino featuring Ashe)
2017
"World on Fire"
(Louis the Child featuring Ashe)
"Rewind"
(Louis Futon featuring Ashe & Armani White)
"Right to It"
(Louis the Child featuring Ashe)
33
"Get Lost"
(Bearson featuring Ashe)
2018
"Love Me for the Weekend"
(Party Pupils & MAX featuring Ashe)
"Right Where You Should Be"
(Quinn XCII featuring Ashe and Louis Futon)
2019
"Friends"
(Big Gigantic featuring Ashe)
"Missing You"
(Stephen Sanchez featuring Ashe)
2022
"—" denotes releases that did not chart, or charted on a subchart.

Songwriting credits

[edit]
Title Year Artist(s) Album
"Wrong Way" 2016 Stone Van Brooken
"You Don't Do It for Me Anymore" 2017 Demi Lovato Tell Me You Love Me
"Howl" Delaney Jane
"No One Has to Know" Goldfish Late Night People
"the alternative" 2023 Lyn Lapid to love in the 21st century (EP)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Parsons, Tim (November 17, 2017). "Ashe Making Mark On The Electro-pop Music Scene". Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Collar, Matt. "Ashe: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Ashlyn Rae Willson, Born 04/24/1993 in California". California Birth Index. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Willson, Ashlyn Rae. "ASCAP Ace Search". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Fu, Eddie (February 27, 2020). "In Search Of: Ashe's "Moral Of The Story" Is Blowing Up Because Of Netflix". Genius. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Meredith, Karenna (February 12, 2020). "P.S. I Still Love You: I Can't Get the Dramatic "Moral of the Story" Song Out of My Head". Popsugar. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Engel, Lauren (November 28, 2017). "ASHE Interview- religion, marriage, ex-boyfriends, tinder, pop music standards". Sidewalk Talk. YouTube. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  8. ^ July 13, Zara Irshad; July 23, 2024Updated (July 23, 2024). "Niall Horan bringing 'The Show' tour to Mountain View in support of his third solo album". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved October 10, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Glicksman, Josh (March 17, 2020). "How Ashe's Divorce Therapy Song 'Moral of the Story' Became a Hit". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "B-Sides On-Air: Interview – Ashe Talks Beginnings, New Music". B-Sides. April 2, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Montana, Adam (November 6, 2017). "A Chat With Singer Songwriter Ashe". UWM Post. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Petrelli, David. "Nashville Pros: Ashlyn Willson". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Jiang, Ruth (September 19, 2017). "PopCrush Presents: Ashe on Writing For Demi Lovato And Being An "Alt-Pop Girl"". PopCrush. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  14. ^ a b c Peaks on the US and Global Spotify Viral 50:
  15. ^ "Dance Recording of the Year – Juno Awards: Drake, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes Lead With Five Noms Each". The Hollywood Reporter. February 8, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum: Ashe". Music Canada. May 23, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  17. ^ Driscoll, Gillian (January 25, 2018). "Interview: Ashe on Living Your Best Authentic Life". Culture Collide. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  18. ^ "Ashe Joins the Mom + Pop Family". Mom+Pop. June 2, 2017. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  19. ^ Vens, Rachel (August 16, 2017). "Ashe's debut single 'Used To It' gets future pop remix from Aire Atlantica". Earmilk. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  20. ^ Kress, Bryan (November 15, 2017). "EarthGang is Latest Vevo dscvr Artist to Watch: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  21. ^ Ashe [@ashemusic] (April 26, 2017). "my excitement about jumping on the @TheChainsmokers "memories...do not open tour" TOMORROW with @Shaun_Frank & @iamDelaneyJane !!! 👅" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Caminiti, Kasey (November 15, 2017). "Introducing Ashe: A VEVO Artist To Watch In 2018". DuJour. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  23. ^ Chou, Thomas (June 22, 2018). "PREMIERE: Ashe Gets Emotional on Debut EP, 'The Rabbit Hole'". Milk.Xyz. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. ^ Davies, Hayden. "Meet Ashe and her summery debut EP The Rabbit Hole". PILERATS. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  25. ^ Lambert, Eleanor (February 12, 2019). "You're Going to Want to Get to Know Ashe". Teen Vogue. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  26. ^ Yung, Alyssa (April 8, 2019). "Ashe Moves On From a Toxic Relationship in 'Moral Of The Story: Chapter 1' EP". Ones To Watch. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  27. ^ @billboardcharts (March 2, 2020). "@ashemusic earns her first career entry on the #Hot100 this week, as "Moral of the Story" debuts at No. 71" (Tweet). Retrieved February 3, 2020 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Billboard Charts [@billboardcharts] (March 2, 2020). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Moral of the Story created by Ashe: Popular songs on TikTok". Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020 – via TikTok.
  30. ^ "Ashe & Niall Celebrate 20 Million Streams on "Moral Of The Story"". Hard8 Working Group. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  31. ^ a b c "Ashe Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  32. ^ @ashemusic (June 22, 2022). "ASHLYN ERA OVER. LET THE RAE ERA BEGIN. "ANGRY WOMAN" SONG & VIDEO OUT NOW. RAE. THE SOPHOMORE ALBUM. YOURS OCTOBER 14TH. https://ashemusic.lnk.to/Rae" (Tweet). Retrieved June 22, 2022 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Ashe cancels all tour plans to tend to 'struggles and wounds' with mental health". www.audacy.com. February 2, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  34. ^ Shahen Jr., Jim (June 22, 2024). "Concert review: Niall Horan brings good vibe, energy to SPAC". timesunion.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  35. ^ "Ashe announces new album 'Wilson' set for September release » // MELODIC Magazine". www.melodicmag.com. June 28, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  36. ^ Jiang, Ruth (September 19, 2017). "PopCrush Presents: Ashe". PopCrush. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  37. ^ Olson, Cathy Applefeld. "Mind Reading: After Canceling Tour And Retreating To Care For Herself, Ashe Returns With Powerful New Album". Forbes. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Ashe Chart History: Heatseeker Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  39. ^ a b "Ashe Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  40. ^ a b "Ashe Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  41. ^ "Ashe Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  42. ^ "Ashe Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  43. ^ "Discography Ashe". australian-charts.com. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  44. ^ "Discographie Ashe". austriancharts.at. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  45. ^ a b "Ashe Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  46. ^ "Discographie Ashe". lescharts.com. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  47. ^ "Discography Ashe". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  48. ^ Peaks in New Zealand:
  49. ^ "Discography Ashe". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  50. ^ "Discographie Ashe". hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  51. ^ "Ashe | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  52. ^ a b "American certifications – Ashe". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  53. ^ a b "British certifications – Ashe". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 8, 2024. Type Ashe in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  54. ^ "Ashe Chart History: Dance/Electronic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
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