Ashlyn Rae Willson, known professionally as Ashe, is an American singer-songwriter born in 1993 in San Jose, California.
She rose to wider recognition with her 2019 single “Moral of the Story,” which gained massive popularity after its inclusion in the Netflix film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020).
Ashe blends elements of pop, indie folk, indie pop, and alternative pop, often delivering introspective lyrics about love, heartbreak, personal growth, and loss.
She began piano and vocal lessons as a child. She grew up listening primarily to Christian radio.
She credits her grandfather with introducing her to artists such as Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Jefferson Airplane.
After attending Berklee College of Music, where she majored in contemporary writing and production and graduated in 2015, she moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting before establishing herself as a solo artist.
Siblings
Ashe has one publicly known sibling, her older brother Ryne Willson.
He played a formative role in her early musical development by exposing her to indie music beyond the conservative environment of their San Jose upbringing.
He also encouraged her to explore beyond their local bubble through trips and shared listening experiences.
Their relationship was complicated and marked by his long struggle with addiction spanning roughly 14 years.
Ryne achieved several years of sobriety before relapsing and died of an overdose in September 2020.
Ashe has spoken openly about the grief, regret over unfinished conversations, and the impact of his loss on her life and creative work.
She dedicated the piano-driven track “Ryne’s Song” from her 2021 debut album Ashlyn to him.
She also dedicated “Love Is Letting Go” from her 2022 album Rae, a collaboration with Diane Keaton that addresses experiences of losing brothers, to him.
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Career
Ashe began her professional career in the mid-2010s after graduating from Berklee and relocating to Nashville.
She initially focused on writing and singing demos.
She gained early attention as a featured vocalist on tracks such as Ben Phipps’ “Sleep Alone” (2015), Whethan’s “Can’t Hide,” and Shaun Frank’s “Let You Get Away.”
She also co-wrote Demi Lovato’s 2017 single “You Don’t Do It for Me Anymore.”
After signing with Mom + Pop Music, she released her debut solo single “Used to It” in 2017.
She released her first EP, The Rabbit Hole, in 2018.
The 2019 EPs Moral of the Story: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, largely produced by Finneas O’Connell, marked a significant step forward in her career.
The title track “Moral of the Story” became a viral hit following its Netflix placement.
The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped boost the EP onto the Billboard 200.
Her debut studio album Ashlyn arrived in 2021. The album included the Finneas collaboration “Till Forever Falls Apart” as well as “Ryne’s Song.”
The follow-up album Rae was released in 2022.
Rae featured “Love Is Letting Go” with Diane Keaton. After a period of reduced activity, she returned with the independent album Willson in 2024.
In 2025, she and Finneas formed the band The Favors. The Favors released their debut album The Dream in 2025.
She has toured as a support act for artists including the Chainsmokers, Louis the Child, Lauv, Whethan, Kelsea Ballerini, Gracie Abrams, and others.
She has also headlined her own tours, including the Fault Line Tour and the Trilogy Tour.
Later developments included additional solo releases and a move toward further independent and collaborative projects.
Accolades
Ashe received a Juno Award nomination for Dance Recording of the Year for her collaboration with Shaun Frank on “Let You Get Away.”
The song was later certified gold in Canada.
“Moral of the Story” earned recognition including a BMI London Award for Most-Performed Song.
The song also received an iHeartRadio Music Awards nomination for Best New Alternative/Rock Artist.
“Moral of the Story” achieved commercial success with chart placements across multiple countries, strong streaming performance, and certifications in various markets.
Her work has also been highlighted on “artists to watch” lists, including placements by Vevo and Amazon.
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