Ashe Ushers in a New Era on Latest Album, Willson
“Some mistakes get made, that’s alright, that’s okay,” sang Ashe on her breakthrough single, Moral of The Story in 2019. Five years on, she’s re-emerging from her time out of the spotlight refreshed, recharged and reinvigorated.
Ashe stepped back from music in 2023 to prioritise her mental health, using the time away to heal, reflect, and rediscover herself. Willson, her first independent release since moving away from the spotlight, is a deeply personal reflection of that journey.
“I’m using all the tools I put in my toolbox while I was gone. I still have to pull those out every day,” Ashe shares. “Every time I post a photo of myself or anything, I have to remember who I am,” she said on the album’s release.
The twelve-track project, which includes four previously released singles like Running Out of Time, dives into themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the emotional process of returning to focus after a period of loss and introspection.
Album opener, Please don’t fall in love with me, starts almost unassumingly – a softly-sung cautionary plea, that reveals to her audience her self-perceived flaws: “Please don’t fall in love with me, I’ll give you almost everything, I’ll melt myself to fit your mould, and carefully chip away my soul.” At first, it’s tempting to take her words to heart, but before long, we’re swept up into the signature anthemic Ashe sound – full of depth and dynamism – that fans have perhaps ironically, already fallen in love with.
Running Out of Time offers a captivating preview of Ashe’s new chapter, one where she fully embraces her artistry and creates music on her own terms. Co-written with Julian Bunetta and Steph Jones (of Sabrina Carpenter’s hit single, Espresso), and boygenius producers Collin Pastore and Jake Finch, the track showcases Ashe stepping confidently into her own, crafting a sound she truly loves.
Yet it’s through the soft, intimate moments of Pull The Plug, Cherry Trees, and I Wanna Love You, But I Don’t, Ashe allows listeners to experience her emotional evolution firsthand. With their gentle melodies and nostalgic lyrics, this trio of tracks evoke a sense of longing and reflection, looking back on simpler times whilst navigating the tension between holding on to cherished memories and moving forward.
Ashe’s new era is unmistakable. If Rae, released in 2022, represented the bold, self-assured coming-of-age journey of a Berklee College of Music student brimming with confidence and unshakable determination, then Willson emerges as its reflective, seasoned older sister. She’s experienced the world in all its imperfections, been bruised by love more than once, and is now carefully gathering the pieces to rebuild the foundation that once supported her.
It makes sense then that I Hope You Die First is a tender, introspective ode to the profound bonds that connect us. Infused with dark humour and striking clarity, its opening line paints a vivid picture of a life rich with laughter and joy.
Willson is a cohesive body of work – an album about navigating personal crises and ultimately coming out stronger, whilst learning to embrace vulnerability and uncertainty along the way. It captures the full spectrum of Ashe’s journey over the last eighteen months, marking the beginning of Ashe’s boldest and brightest chapter yet.
