*Photo Credit: Tami Aftab*
emerging recording artist and acclaimed actress, Simone Ashley, has announced her debut EP, Songs I Wrote In New York, via Abbey Road Recordings and available to stream and purchase across all platforms. Marking a significant creative expansion, the project introduces Ashley as a musician and songwriter, reconnecting with her early foundations in music. The EP’s lead single, “FREE,” has been released in conjunction with the full project
Best known globally for her starring roles in Bridgerton and Sex Education, and with highly anticipated upcoming films The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1, 2026) and A24’s Peaked, Ashley’s move into music is not a reinvention, but a return. Before acting took center stage, music and performing were her earliest forms of creative expression.
Developed over 18 months, Songs I Wrote In New York was created in close collaboration with producer Fraser T Smith (Adele, Celine Dion, Britney Spears). In addition to Smith, Ashley joined forces with a celebrated roster of esteemed songwriters and producers, including Diane Warren, Amy Wadge, Dan Edinberg, and Toulouse.
“I’ve been working with Fraser over the past 2 and half years, in the studio and sharing ideas whilst I’ve been traveling. Though there were many experiences that influenced the sound of this EP - moving to New York City felt like a catalyst in the journey of these songs and the lyrics” says Simone. “I’ve found a confidence in knowing what kind of woman and artist I want to be - that feeling really kept me company whilst in the studio writing and recording these songs. Free was written in a few hours in a studio in Brooklyn with Dan and Tolu. It rolled out my heart very easily and wasn’t something I had to search for or think too much about. For the world, I hope it translates into whatever people want it to be. Maybe just the feeling of hope and freedom when something new floats into your life.”
The EP draws from a collection of letters Ashley wrote to her future self as a teenager, forming the emotional backbone of the project. Sonically, Songs I Wrote In New York sits within a modern soul-pop and R&B-leaning space, blending soft, effortless vocals with Latino-inspired rhythms, warm basslines, and subtle, syncopated grooves.
