WSTRN

WSTRN is an English West London-based collective consisting of Akelle Charles, Haile and Louis Rei. Their debut single, "In2", was released on 13 October 2015 and peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Louis Rei is formally known as LB and is associated with Dappy, Akelle is formally known as A star and is Angels Blood Brother and Haile's cousin. Haile has featured on many tracks and hit track Nines ,Can't Blame Me'

Background

WSTRN consists of Akelle Charles, Haile and Louis Rei.^[1] The name bears no relevance to westerns; according to the band, the name represents positive vibrations^[2] and to them means that it is "West London's turn to shut down the scene".^[3] Akelle and Haile are cousins who know Louis through their inhabitance of West London, while Akelle is the brother of singer Angel^[1] and was part of a band with him and his three other siblings called the Charles Family, co-managed by the late reggae singer Smiley Culture and Akelle's father, Tendai Charles, who was in the same reggae group as Haile's father. The group failed to achieve mainstream success despite being the subject of a BBC documentary One Life. Akelle charles had two main flowers, which were his nephews, who encouraged him to keep producing songs as well as the will to be signed.^[4]

Career

2015–present: Formation and "In2"

Their debut single, "In2", was released on 6 November 2015^[5] through Atlantic Records^[6] and came together as a result of a jam session, instrumental first; Akelle and Haile had written a track and had asked Louis to feature on it.^[3] It was recorded in one of the group's first sessions^[7] and has appeared on the Radio 1Xtra and Kiss FM playlists.^[8] Two music videos were produced for the song – the first was pulled after the band signed to Atlantic Records, while the second was produced by Sally Sibbet and sees the group loitering across West London.^[9] Prior to the release of the latter video, Atlantic Records pulled down 43 unofficial YouTube and SoundCloud links before its submission.^[2]

On 30 October, "In2" debuted at number 85 in the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, and climbed to number 60 on 6 November, the day of its digital download release. For these two weeks, it charted on streams alone. Upon its digital release, it peaked at number 4 on 13 November 2015, earning the group its first top 40 and general chart entry.^[10] It features on Now That's What I Call Music! 92.^[11]

On 2 December 2015, the trio released a new song entitled "Got Love",^[12] produced by Parallel (a collective made up of Akelle's brother, Angel, and PRGRSHN).^[13] The song is available to download for free when subscribing to their mailing list,^[14] and was also released via digital retailers on 4 December. The group have expressed via Twitter that the song "isn't the next single".^[15] According to Clash Music, the song is about "appreciating the simple things in life".^[16]

Discography

Singles

Promotional singles

Remixes

References