LOS ANGELES – Bridgerton star Simone Ashley has officially entered the music world with her debut EP, “Songs I Wrote in New York.” The actress sat down with Hollywood Authentic to discuss her passion project, marking her music debut. The star explored her first EP with Greg Williams, who joined her during two studio sessions as she discovered her sound.
At The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere, Simone’s producer Fraser T Smith spoke on the actor’s switch to the music industry. “We got together doing some film stuff, and then we wrote a few songs, and to me it was apparent that Simone should make an album. So we talked about it, and we’re making the leap. It’s going to be amazing,” he said.
A New Sound: Soul Pop
Simone spoke more about her music with Williams, highlighting the writers involved in the project and the inspiration behind it. “This is more soul pop. And we’ll play you another one that I wrote with Amy Wadge, who’s just amazing. She does a lot of Ed Sheeran’s music,” Simone shared.
Inspired by a New York Summer
She added, “A lot of these songs were inspired by a summer that I had in New York when I first moved there. Working on The Devil Wears Prada 2 was intense – this was the original cast, the original producers, in New York. It was summer in Manhattan and I was in New York, and I was having the time of my life. That really affected how I wrote the songs.”
Collaborating with Diane Warren
Williams also revealed that Simone is hanging out with musical maestro and 17-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren at her “Realsongs” studio in Hollywood. Warren told Hollywood Authentic, “I’m excited. She’s [Simone’s] an amazing singer. It’s very exciting to see the magic of when the right artist finds the right song.”
The award-winning songwriter also spoke on Simone’s existing fame. “You already have an audience built in that loves you, and loves you from your other work. But once you hear this song, and they hear you sing these songs, you’re going to have a whole other thing going,” Warren said.
Childhood Memories and Musical Roots
Simone also discussed her childhood and the memories from where her love for music evolved. “When I was a kid, my dad used to play vinyl all the time, just 24/7. So I grew up listening to music when I was a baby, and I could list a million different bands, solo artists, and so many different people,” she shared.
On Her Own Timeline
The actor also spoke on her career in the film industry, emphasising being on her “own journey with her own timeline.” Simone is well-known for her success with acting, having starred in Bridgerton, Sex Education, and the upcoming sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Analysis: A Natural Transition
Simone Ashley’s move from acting to music is a natural transition for the British star. Having gained a massive global following through Bridgerton and Sex Education, she has a built-in audience eager to support her musical endeavours.
The involvement of Fraser T Smith (a Grammy-winning producer who has worked with Adele and Sam Smith) and Amy Wadge (Ed Sheeran’s frequent collaborator) suggests that Ashley is taking her music career seriously. The collaboration with Diane Warren, one of the most successful songwriters in music history, is a significant endorsement.
The EP’s title, “Songs I Wrote in New York,” and its inspiration — a summer in Manhattan while filming The Devil Wears Prada 2 — gives the project a personal, autobiographical quality.
As Ashley noted, she is on her “own journey with her own timeline.” For fans of her acting, the EP offers a new dimension to her artistry. For the music industry, it introduces a new voice.
