Ashely Anne is one of the most exciting new voices in country music, cementing her stay in the genre with her latest EP, call me when you land.
With her keen sense of storytelling and whimsical voice, it isn’t hard to see how Anne has won the hearts of so many country fans, joining country artists like Charles Wesley Godwin onstage and her unforgettable CMA Fest debut on the Hard Rock Stage this past June.
Upon releasing her viral hit, “dear dolly,” a heartfelt, open-letter to the country icon, Dolly Parton, Anne is back with a new collection of songs that are bound to be your new go-to’s. With a short and sweet tracklist packed to the brim with Anne’s touching lyricism, call me when you land shines as a sincere exploration of the feelings felt while on the cusp of a romantic relationship.
Each track on call me when you land unfolds like a chapter in a budding romance, addressing the raw and often messy emotions that arise as we open our hearts to someone new. Kicking off with songs that explore themes of apprehension and introspection, the EP transitions into stories of blossoming affection and trust, illustrating Anne‘s knack for capturing moments that resonate universally.
Of how she came up with the EP’s title, Ashley tells Celeb Secrets it was inspired by a text message she received from her boyfriend when traveling.
“I wrote down that title when my boyfriend texted me ‘call me when you land.’ We were in that stage of really getting comfortable with each other and growing closer. It was still a nerve racking stage for me, so I took the idea and put a twist on the commonly used phrase,” Ashley shares with Celeb Secrets. “I feel like the phrase itself is used as a security blanket, in case something good happens (they land), or in case something bad happens. The situations go hand in hand whereas being in a relationship, it could really go either way.”
We spoke to Ashley about her writing process, her upcoming songs, and her rise to fame. Keep scrolling for the full Q&A and don’t forget to let us know if you love Ashley’s new music by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
Celeb Secrets: Congrats on releasing your new project! How does it feel knowing that something you’ve worked so hard on is finally out for people to hear?
AA: “Thank you! In all transparency, creating these songs and the vision of this project was healing for me. Once I release music, I leave it to the world for healing. I feel relieved now that it is in other people’s hands.”
CS: Off this latest EP, what do you think is going to be your favorite song to perform live?
AA: “We’ve been performing these songs live for a bit this year and I think the full band behind me, ‘drive you anywhere’ has to be a personal favorite for the band and myself. As far as the solo acoustic, more intimate shows, ‘i can be a woman’ is a really special one live.”
CS: Can you take us through some of your favorite concept albums that inspired you to arrange your album like the stages of a new relationship?
AA: “There was honestly not much thought to the concept of this project, my team may kill me for saying that (laughs). But I really threw the idea together very casually considering the songs were organically cohesive to each other; it was a no-brainer for me. Therefore, there weren’t really any inspirations to do so, it just felt right to me.”
CS: Can you tell us a little about the story behind the title, “call me when you land?”
AA: “I wrote down that title when my boyfriend texted me ‘call me when you land.’ We were in that stage of really getting comfortable with each other and growing closer. It was still a nerve racking stage for me, so I took the idea and put a twist on the commonly used phrase. I feel like the phrase itself is used as a security blanket, in case something good happens (they land), or in case something bad happens. The situations go hand in hand whereas being in a relationship, it could really go either way.”
CS: What songs are you most proud of on this record?
AA: “I’m really proud of all of them for different reasons. If I had to choose, I would say ‘I can be a woman’ considering it was a solo write. I wrote it in my backyard and I had been teasing all of the other songs on the project on social media and kept hitting brick walls. The second I teased this song for the first time it went viral. That just tells me that people resonate with it the most, which fills my soul like nothing else.”
CS: The release of “call me when you land” will be your sophomore EP. How long have you been working on this story?
AA: “This project has technically been in the works for a little under a year, but I didn’t know it would all be brought together into a project until this summer.”
CS: What’s the overall message you’d like listeners to take after hearing this project?
AA: “The overall message I want people to take away is that there is a way out of the uncertainty, self doubt, and fear that is starting a relationship and learning to trust again. There are countless emotions and thoughts captured in each song, and my hope is that everyone can pick at least one to hang on to and feel heard.”
CS: Your music video for “American Dream” was great! Are there any plans for music videos with this upcoming EP? What song would you like to see made into a music video?
AA: “There will be a visualizer/lyric video for the title track ‘call me when you land.’ I can’t wait for y’all to see it!”
CS: Over the last few months, you’ve shared the stage with some country legends. Who is one country star that you would love to collaborate with?
AA: “Charles Wesley Godwin would be a dream collab because I admire not only his music but his character and lifestyle. He is so kind, so hard working, and a family man. I look up to him a bunch and am blessed to have gotten to work with him on the road.”
CS: Do you have any goals for next year? If so, can you share them?
AA: “My goals for next year are to dive deeper into me and my past/childhood. I want people to know what brought me to where I’m at, the pretty and the ugly. Whether it’s through music or through another outlet, I want y’all to know me better and feel connected to me, like you have a friend. That is my goal is every year.”
CS: What’s next for Ashley Anne?
AA: “Hopefully healing more and more people song by song! More shows, more face to face with my listeners, more music, and more stories to share!”
CS: Since we are Celeb Secrets, can you share any secrets (fun facts) about the album or any of the songs on the album?
AA: “All of the songs are written about the same person and were written in order of each other throughout a real timeline of events! That’s about as real as it gets!”
LISTEN TO “call me when you land” HERE:
