Silver Lining

Silver Lining is the third studio album by British/American pop singer and songwriter Ashley!, set to be released on August 19th 2013 via Fusion Records. The album was written throughout 2012 and 2013 and has a more positive feel than her previous albums. Ashley worked on a more personal level for the album, writing all the tracks bar two, especially compared to her previous efforts with Exclamation Declaration and New York Dreamer.

Upon release, the album gained mainly positive reviews, with critics noting the increased positivity to enhance the listening experience and many others stating the significant difference in contrast to the previous albums, as well as the diversity of fusing different genres into the album, such as jazz, rock and country, whilst still remaining under the heavy influence of pop.

At the beginning of the album campaign, Ashley stated that she hoped to release many of the tracks as singles from the album, as she wanted to get the 'best out of it' and suggested that as many as six singles many be released from the first edition of the album. Light Up The World, written by Crystal Barker served as the lead single from the album and was released one week before the album on 12th August 2013. A week before this however, Ashley released title track 'Clouds (Silver Lining) as a promotional single to help support the album. After the release of the first single and album, it was announced that it was between 'Hershey Kisses' and 'Let the Boys In' for the second single to be lifted, but it was stated that both would receive single treatment 'somewhere along the line'. After the album charted at number one, it was confirmed that 'Hershey Kisses' would be the second single, released on October 8th, along with the launch of her boutique 'Sugar Rush'.

Upon release, the album stormed in at number one, selling 136,325 copies during the first week alone. The lead single charted at number one the week prior also. This is the first era where both the lead album and single have charted at number one.

Background
It was originally rumoured that Ashley would be re-releasing a full scale version of her sophomore album Exclamation Declaration including all new tracks, but these rumours were dismissed and it was released only with one brand new track as well as a live album from her 'Ashley: The ! 2013 Tour' to make way for brand new material as Ashley felt it was 'time to move on'. She began writing immediately after the release of the last album in June 2012 and became full immersed in the song writing side of the album, something which many critics had slated Ashley for not being involved deeply in. She used her experiences from the tour and success of her previous album in her writing. After a short break and the filming of Identity (which co-stars fellow artists such as L.E.X and Benjamin McAllister) whose soundtrack she is to be featured, Ashley announced her plans to start the third era.

Leading up to preparation for the third album, Ashley stated that she indeed to work with more of a variety of producers, but wanted to restrict the songwriters more to have more of an input in the material she writes, having only used some of her own work on rare occasions. This was to combat the negative reviews that Exclamation Declaration suggesting that Ashley was just 'a pretty face with a good voice' opposed to any input into her own work.

Recording
Ashley began recording in the Fall of 2012, both in the UK, mainly in London and her home-country in New York and L.A. Ashley has previously been quoted as saying "there is an equally beautiful difference of recording in the UK and the US. They're both completely different environments which get completely different results. I like to change between the two because a song that may sound great produced in the UK, may not in the US and vice versa".

Ashley stated that although she trusted the producers she previously worked with, she wanted to try 'something new' for album number three, for it to be fresh and continue to appeal to people. She worked with a range of producers from the likes of Dr.Luke, Benny Blanco and Max Martin to Butch Walker and Al Shux, all which brought 'fresh, unique and eye catching ideas to the table'. Ashley reportedly recorded around 45 songs for the album, which was then whittled down to twelve for the main album in a 'heated meeting', Ashley recalls. "Everybody has their favourites which made making the final tracklisting very complicated indeed".

Ashley wrote the majority of the album, except for 'Light Up The World' and 'Let the Boys In', which were written by Crystal Barker and Bella May, respectively. Ashley praised the girls on the submissions stating 'when you write the majority of the album, it can become very monotone without you even realising, so the girls helped me keep it fresh and vibrant, and the girls have put me to shame as they are easily two of the standout tracks from the album".

Composition and Influences
Like her previous albums 'New York Dreamer' (2010) and 'Exclamation Declaration' (2012), Ashley continued to channel her pop sound, enchanting the 'feel good' side of the music but 'in order to revive a falling pop industry' fused in different genres into the album, to help keep it 'fresh and unique'. Drawing influences from the jazz, rock, country and indie genre, Ashley felt a sense of pressure to help keep pop music popular.



The opening track and lead single from the album 'Light Up The World' was written by Barker and produced by Dr.Luke, Benny Blanco and Max Martin. Lyrically, the song focuses on a relationship you feel safe in, without having to pretend and using your happiness to pass a message onto other to 'light up the world'. The second track 'Hershey Kisses' was written by Ashley and produced RedOne is described as a 'sweet and sour' and 'naughty and nice' track and is a play on the brand Hershey which is renown for it's 'kisses'. Ashley suggested it meant 'sweet love'. The third song is the title track 'Clouds (Silver Lining)' written by Ashley and produced by Max Martin. Lyrically speaking of 'looking for the positive (silver lining) in everything you come across and experience in life, it was described as an 'uplifting journey of positivity' upon being released as a promotion single. The fourth track, and first collaboration of the album is 'Love in your Eyes' which was written by Roberts and produced by Butch Walker. It features Eoin O'Neill and is described as a baby of 'pop and country music'. Lyrically, it speaks of two lovers who, when deciding to give up on love, are thrown together and see what true love exactly is. Many noted the chemistry between the two on the track.

'Let the Boys In' is the fifth track on the album and the second not to be written by Ashley. Produced by Benny Blanco and Kool Kojak and written by Bella May, the track is proudly described as a 'cheesy summer anthem' which would not be out of place in any Ibiza nightclub. For an upbeat track, the song was noted as a fan favourite from the album. 'Take Your Breath Away' is an dance-electro pop track and the sixth on the album. Written by Ashley and produced by The Invisible Men and DJ Fresh, the track was described as 'exceptionally amazing' and lyrically talks about an obsessive girlfriend who has everything planned from the start and is obsessively in love with a man who jumps ship when he realizes what he is getting in to, but ultimately, a song of obsession presented in a fun, carefree way. The second collaboration and seventh track on the album is 'The Three Words I Can't Say' and features Anna Jones, lyrically speaks of being unable to say 'I love you' due to being hopelessly in love and not risking becoming desperately attached. Described as having a garage rock inspired guitar riff, it is a faced paced pop rock song from an 'ultimate dream team'.

'Target', the eight track on the album was produced by Emile Haynie and Al Shux and written by Ashley, is described as a 'pop indie/alternate' track, and tells of the story of the breaking down of a relationship due to exposure in the industry. It was described as a follow up from Privacy and hinted to be a potential single choice. 'To The Top' is described as a response to the previous track, and lyrically described combatting negative criticism. It was produced by pop factory Xenomania and written by Ashley. 'Sweetheart' is a collaboration with Darren Clarke and is the tenth track from the album. It is a jazz track with the pop slant of the producers Xenomania. The eleventh track on the album is 'Without You' which was again written by Ashley and produced by Nellee Hooper, which is the first time the pair have worked together, it is a pop love song. Closing track 'Rise From The Ashes' is a dramatic track produced by Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou and written completely by Ashley who talks about the struggles she has faced and conquered. Of the track, Ashley said "I hope it inspires people to fight through any difficulties and barriers life may throw at them, it was such an easy song to write, but such a hard song to sing".

Critical Reception
The album gained very positive reviews across the board from both critics and fans, with the main point of praise commenting on the diversity of the tracks and Ashley's ability to successfully fuse other genres, yet still remaining with the very pop orientated album. Jenna Hugrow from BBC Music noted the progression from her previous albums (Exclamation Declaration and New York Dreamer) and had developed an all round strong album. Allmusic reviewer praised the consistency of the album with no 'dips' in the quality throughout and till the very end remained a track you could listen to on repeat without skipping a track. They also went to praise Ashley's involvement in the album, noting it as refreshing to see her developing her songwriting talent and although she 'wouldn't be picking up the awards (for songwriting)' she showed she isn't a one trick pony.

Commercial Performance
During it's first week, the album charted at number one, selling 136,325 copies, where it remained the following week. It sold far higher than both of her previous albums in the first week, bettering the debut album's chart position and matching Exclamation Declaration's position. Throughout it's chart run, the album returned to the top five on a number of occasions, and ended 2013 at number four, having sold 1,333,112 in just 19 weeks.

Release and Promotion
Promotion for 'Silver Lining' began shortly after her previous album, Exclamation Declaration fell out of the charts, and began through a 'coming soon' countdown on Ashley's official site, which saw the announcement of her debut fragrance, Light up The World single announcement, and the album unveiling at the end of the week, which revealed the cover and track list to both the standard and deluxe edition of the album.

Live performance
Ashley is confirmed to be playing at the UrapsFest on the main stage, meaning she will be performing a slightly extended set list of five tracks.

Tour
Previously stating that her favourite thing to do as an artist is to tour, Ashley hoped to take 'Silver Lining' on the road during 2014, and hoped to go even bigger than her previous Ashley: The ! 2013 Tour. It is suspected she will take the tour worldwide, and will continue to tour arenas in the UK and Ireland. After the release of the album's second single, Hershey Kisses, Ashley announced she was taking the Silver Lining Showcase on the road, with the first leg hitting UK arenas, America and Canada throughout May, June and July.

Chart Run

 * Week 1: #1 - 136,325
 * Week 2: #1 - 254,446 (+118,121)
 * Week 3: #2 - 360,299 (+105,853)
 * Week 4: #4 - 425,468 (+65,169)
 * Week 5: #8 - 475,508 (+50,040)
 * Week 6: #4 - 542,806 (+67,298)
 * Week 7: #6 - 585,613 (+42,807)
 * Week 8: #3 - 659,975 (+74,362)