Stalk Ashley & WSTRN
How it happened
WSTRN are West London royalty: Akelle Charles, Haile and Louis Rei, the trio whose debut single “In2” reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in 2015 — famously knocking Adele off the top of the midweek charts while they were still unknowns — and landed them on the BBC Sound of 2016 longlist.
“Open” & “Deserted” (May 2020)
On Sunday, May 10, 2020, Stalk Ashley debuted two lyric videos at once: the solo “Open” and “Deserted” featuring WSTRN. TRENCH framed the double-drop as “two sides” of the golden-voiced singer — “Open” the seduction, “Deserted” the wound, pain riding a bumping Caribbean rhythm. EARMILK’s review dug into “Deserted”: sultry vocal-like synths and strings over a sensual dancehall riddim, Stalk Ashley switching into her patois register while WSTRN answer with their trademark gruff melodies, telling the other side of the story.
The timeline
Jul 2015 — WSTRN’s “In2” hits UK No. 4 · Sept 2019 — Stalk Ashley’s Stormzy Live Lounge moment introduces her to UK audiences · May 10, 2020 — “Open” and “Deserted” arrive as a double release · Sept 2020 — the full official videos follow.
Who is WSTRN?
West London trio who fused Afro-swing, dancehall and UK rap into one of the country’s most influential modern crossover sounds.
- Debut single ‘In2’ was released on 13 October 2015 and peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
- Akelle and Haile are cousins; the group was nominated in the BBC Sound of 2016 poll.
- ‘In2’ has passed 72 million YouTube views.
Watch WSTRN
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