After a brief hiatus and a marriage of her own, Ashe has returned to the spotlight to crash everyone else’s weddings and unite all of her fellow runaway brides with her new single “Stop The Wedding!”
Ashlyn Rae “Ashe” Willson, a singer-songwriter from Nashville, got her start attending Berklee College of Music and has worked with an impressive lineup of artists in the years since. Best known for her collaboration with Niall Horan on her single “Moral of the Story,” Ashe has secured her own diehard fanbase that has followed her through every part of her journey. She now has three full-length albums under her belt — Ashlyn, Rae and Willson, respectively — and fans are eager to see what is next for Ashe as she makes her return to the spotlight.
Ashe wasted no time springing back into action, announcing she was hitting the road with Benson Boone to open for the Wanted Man Tour that started in July. This is where fans got to hear the live debut of “Stop The Wedding!” before it was officially released.
Ashe has always been very open — both on social media and in her songwriting — about how unfortunate her first marriage was, but this new single feels like a more mature, healed version of themes she’s touched on in the past. It’s easy to see how far she’s come from the version of herself that left that terrible relationship, now having the courage to sing unabashedly about how freeing it is to walk away when you need to.
Starting slow with a simple arrangement of strings, the song resembles a processional as she sings about the exact opposite: “This isn’t cold feet / These are the fireworks.” The pace becomes faster almost immediately, evoking a sense of panic that time is running out. Every bone in Ashe’s body is telling her to listen to that persistent voice that’s telling her to run. This isn’t anxiety, but excitement building in her chest to be able to get out. The feeling of empowerment grows as the chorus builds and the beat evens out, becoming more sure of herself:
“You don’t have to waste your night and wear your heart out / The warning signs are flashing now / Stop the wedding!”
Although Ashe herself is not a runaway bride, it’s beautiful to hear her sing so adamantly about how you can always change your future no matter what situation you might feel stuck in.
The bridge evokes that same feeling of anxiousness as the beat quickens, repeating “Stop the wedding / stop the wedding.” Ashe’s ability to convey the exact moment between fear and freedom within this song is impeccable, leaving the listener with an ache in their chest for what could be.
“If your heart is dreading, hands are sweating / While the sun is setting, you’ll be getting out.”
Ashe has once again proven that she’s a powerhouse with this release. The richness of her vocals and stunning, accompanying arrangement paint the perfect picture of this song’s meaning and importance. In her recent tweet for the song’s release, Ashe left us with a crucial message: “You don’t have to stay in the relationship, the friendship, the hometown, the career, or become who anyone else expects you to be. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop the wedding.”
Catch Ashe on tour here.
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