FEATURE: Spotlight: Stalk Ashley — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Stalk Ashley

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IT can be hard keeping on top…

of all the talent and great artists coming through! One artist who has caught my ear recently is Stalk Ashley. Based in Kingston, Jamaica, I think that she is a name to watch closely. Creating this confident, sexy and compelling music, it is small wonder she has been causing a lot of buzz and excitement! I think that, in the years to come, Stalk Ashley will be a major international star. I want to bring in a few interviews – so that we get to know the rising artist a little better. In August 2020, NOTION introduced an artist who is primed for major things:

“Singer-songwriter Stalk Ashley may have only been releasing tunes for two years, but her sound is highly polished and confident.

Based in Kingston, Jamaica, Stalk Ashley’s style of R&B is blended effortlessly with strands of dancehall and reggae to create a concoction that is uniquely hers. Making her mark with addictive melodies and a self-assured delivery, Stalk Ashley’s lyrics are honest and often pretty steamy. On her track “Sin Sex” she sings: “By anything me mean anything/ See I’m flexible me can do many things, devil tings/ Put you Pon another level things.”

The young artist’s open and honest musical approach to female desire and independence is welcome and refreshing, and it’s something that’s attracting her attention from around the world as her success builds. At the start of “Young” she makes herself clear: “Me so young just a girl having fun sorry fi the misunderstanding jah/ Know mi just a forward mi no ready fi settle down.”

Last year, Stalk Ashley was recruited by Stormzy to cover Beyonce’s “Brown Skin Girl” alongside him at BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge back in September. Recently, Stalk Ashley teamed up with “In2” hitmakers WSTRN for the song “Deserted”, as well as dropping “Open.” The songs are her first releases this year, following a trio of singles last year and a debut in 2018.

We spoke to the up-and-coming musician to hear about the way her relationship with music has changed over the years, the song that makes her smile, and what she’s planning next.

Growing up, what was your relationship with music like? Has it changed since then?

When I was growing up I didn’t really get to make my own decisions on the music I listened to, I just listen to what people around me were listening to I never had the opportunity to really build my own taste until I was much older mainly because I grew up in a really religious household. So my relationship has most definitely changed I have a much closer relationship with music now, I listen to music every single day. I’ve had the opportunity to discover music on my own and find sounds that I love.

If you could, how would you summarise your journey to becoming a musician?

I’ve been singing since I was really young, so I always believed in myself but I could have never guessed I’d be where I am today. I literally just took a leap of faith. I didn’t know anyone in the music industry, I didn’t have any advice from anyone. I just moved to Kingston (Jamaica) when I was 19 and just started to work, I met my team shortly after I arrived. I quickly started to learn more about writing songs and I practised my craft as best as I could, I just did that wholeheartedly. With that, I’ve met some amazing people and have been presented with some incredible opportunities. I’m still at the beginning of my journey I have so much more to do and learn, oh and I definitely want to learn to play instruments.

What are some of the best and worst things about the music industry – from your experience?

Best things about the music industry for me is being able to put out music that represents me and then seeing how people react to it. I love being able to connect to people and grown my supports. Also being able to travel and make and perform music in different places and meet people from different cultures. I’m very much a recluse so I’m cautious about the situation I put myself in and so I don’t really have a situation where I have necessary had any bad experience yet”.

I have not heard of many new artists being based out of Kingston. Many of the artists I feature in Spotlight are based in the U.K. or U.S. It would be interested to explore modern Jamaica and the potential superstars who are making incredible music there. I am not sure whether Stalk Ashley has plans to relocate in the future. It seems that Kingston is suiting her very well at the moment! In their interview from December, THE FACE asked Stalk Ashley about her sound and finding confidence:

“20%: What’s a piece of advice that changed your life?

A piece of advice, from me to me, that changed my perspective was that people are going to talk about you no matter what you do. There’s no way to escape criticism, fuck opinions and live your life the way you see it fit.

60%: When did you find your confidence as an artist?

I found my confidence when I found my voice and learnt its capabilities. I’m most confident about what I’m able to create with whatever resources I have, like making magic every time with just a basic set up in my room. My confidence continuously grows when I see the way people react to my music, and when fans religiously listen to my songs and feen for more.

100%: What kind of emotions and experiences influence your work?

Every single thing that happens in my life influences my work and work rate somehow, this is why I am very mindful of what I indulge in and is the very reason why I protect my energy the way I do. Everything translates into the music. This year has been an emotional rollercoaster for me, I’ve experienced everything from pain and sadness to disappointment with sprinkles of happiness in the midst of it. It’s influenced every song, every beat, every lyric that I have composed”.

I am going to round off things. Even though she is relatively new into her career, Stalk Ashley has admirers in Jorja Smith and Stormzy. It is clear that her music is resonating with fans and fellow artists alike. I wonder whether she has plans to tour this year when things get better. I know there are many in the U.K. that would love to witness her music up-close and personal. I will wrap up by bringing in NME’s recent spotlighting of the fantastic Stalk Ashley. Among other things, she talks about the rise of Dancehall:

“Mandeville-born Stalk Ashley is about to go global. Her reggae-infused tunes have already landed her on BBC Radio 1Xtra’s coveted Hot for 2021 list, while the likes of Jorja Smith and Stormzy have professed their love for the vocalist, the latter inviting Ashley to cover Beyoncé’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ with him for Radio 1’s Live Lounge.

Kicking off her career with 2019’s hot and heavy ‘Sin Sex’, Ashley has been picking up momentum ever since. Last year she teamed up with fellow Kingston resident and dancehall heavyweight Alkaline on ‘Incognito’, as well as Shepherd’s Bush’s WSTRN on the slow-burning ‘Deserted’. She’s more than capable of going it alone too, releasing solo stand-outs ‘OPEN.’ and ‘TIP (The Party)’.

How did you find moving from the suburbs of Mandeville to Kingston?

“It’s a lot more fast-paced and that’s definitely how I operate and create music now. My mind is fast-paced.”

Are you proud of dancehall culture being on the rise?

“I am really proud. I think a lot of people are doing a lot of different things, which is nice. I like to see it because dancehall is usually some people following the books, and their mixes kind of sound the same. But it’s always nice to see new things like me. There’s nothing more exciting to me than when I’m listening to a playlist or when I’m just hearing music and it’s just so fresh. I get really excited. I like to see different things that people are doing right now. People are kind of bending the rules.”

What’s your contribution to Jamaican culture?

“I am just hoping for the best and wishing for the stars. And that’s as much as I can say, you know – I’m doing it for real. I hope I make a great impact. I want to leave my imprint on the world.”

In dancehall there’s a lot of overt sexiness – how do you feel about that kind of hypersexuality?

“It’s one of those genres where people are very forward with sex and I think it’s always been like that. You love it or you hate it. Personally, I feel that people should be able to express themselves. If you want to sing about that – great.”

What are your aspirations for the years ahead?

“I don’t think we can ever predict what’s going to happen, but in five years I really want to be in a different place. I would really hope that my music reaches its potential. I’m just looking forward to expanding and bettering myself. I feel like I could be an actor as well. I’ve always been interested in the arts. I feel like there’s a lot of things that I could do but the focus is music, totally. That’s my priority”.

These are early days, though there are signs Stalk Ashley is shaping up to be a huge name! Her music is hard to ignore and is very much her own – one cannot easily link her to anyone else (maybe there are hints of Rihanna here and there). A salute and nod to one of the most exciting and promising new artists around. If this is the first time you are hearing about Stalk Ashley, then get involved with her music and…