Let The Light In

Let The Light In is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ashley! released through Fusion Records on October 20th, 2014. The album is viewed as a progression from her previous album, Silver Lining (2013), whilst keeping the same positive outlook. The record is mainly pop, with other influences such as rock and power ballads. Using a number of past collaborators, the singer also worked with new producers to help develop on the sound of her previous records. The majority of Let The Light In revolves around themes of positivity, love, light and self-empowerment.

Upon release, the album gained overwhelming positive reviews, with critics praising the overall collection's positivity and unity, commenting on Ashley's ability to 'slot tracks together to give the happiest listening experience possible'. Many commented on the fun, yet matured lyrics and production of the album as a whole. Some slightly mixed reviews suggested that the album was too similar to her previous efforts, which Ashley brushed off in refusing to fix 'a record that wasn't broken'.

Ashley collaborated with three artists on the record; Syd Wolfe, Violetta Dinozzio and Regina Harper.

The release of the album was concurrent with lead single Glitter, which featured Ashley's boss and friend Syd Wolfe, which topped the chart. Prior to the album and singles release, Ashley released two promotional singles to support the album, and put it to the fans to decide the order they were to be released in. Rainbow won with an overwhelming majority and was released on September, followed by In This Moment on October 6th. Both topped the album chart. Bonus album track Blank Pages as a free download in partnership with Starbucks and iTunes. One Kiss Before Midnight was released as the album's second single, which was then followed by I Think I'm In Love in the summer.

At the end of 2014 during the annual '12 Hits of Christmas', Let The Light In was announced as the highest selling album of its release month, alongside lead single Glitter and promotional single In This Moment, becoming the only artist to 'sweep' the three categories of a month. The album was supported with Let The Light In Live (World Tour), beginning in April 2015 in the UK, and travelling across America, Europe and Oceania.

Background
Following her third studio album release, Silver Lining in 2013, Ashley began working immediately on a potential re-release, due for Summer 2014. Whilst on her Silver Lining Showcase however, these plans were scrapped, as the album has already performed well, exceeding all expectations, and going on to be one of the biggest selling albums in Uraps history. She decided then, fuelled with the large quantity of music written and ready for release, to release a complete new collection. Rise From The Ashes was the final single from the album, where Ashley began dropping hints at a new album coming in Q4 of 2014. It was announced after the fifth and final Silver Lining release, that the new album and single would be released in late October.

Recording
Recording for Let The Light In began in late 2013 during a session to create a b-side for Love In Your Eyes, a collaboration with Eoin O'Neill, and ironically ended during the pair's second collaboration Atmosphere ten months later, with the final song submitted, a submission from O'Neill, just days before the album was due to be pressed. In April 2014, it was announced that Ashley has been back in the studio with Crystal Barker, who penned her biggest hit to date (Light Up The World). She also confirmed us that she has been working with O'Neill for a few tracks and had a writing session with Kleo to inspire some ideas.

In June 2014, the album was suggested by Adams to be finished, although it was announced the next month that she had 'spring cleaned the album' and gone back for re-records, re-writes and to find 'new light'.

Composition and Influences
The album's lyrics explore themes of empowerment, positivity and letting the light in and finding happiness in everything that you do. Musically, the album is pop, with various other sub-genres being infused to give a range of sounds and directions. The album opens with the lead single, Glitter featuring Syd Wolfe, which is a power-pop track containing elements of arena rock and glam rock and lyrically is about letting your colour shine. 'I Think I'm In Love' is described as 'pure pop' with 'heel-clicking positivity' and 'sugary hooks'. 'See The World' was described as the most diverse sounding track on the album, with 'pop tribal beats' and lyrically talks about wanting to see the world with the person you love the most, interlacing with imagery of the wonders of the world. 'One Kiss Before Midnight' is the fourth track, and loaded with 'enough emotion to make even the strongest break'. One of the darker tracks on the album, it talks about wanting a lover to come home, rather than having to look at the same places without them.

The album continues the album's fifth track, 'Found The Love', which is an upbeat, positive, self-loving track with an electro pop/rock edge. 'Quicksand' features vocals from Violetta DiNozzio and is another pop track laced with further tribal drums and RnB tones, and lyrically speaks about being positive and confident, sticking up for each other and girl-power. 'Fire In The Sky' follows featuring Regina Harper vocals, and speaks about friendship and standing by the people you love. Musically, it is a pop track with influences of acoustic sounds and features Ashley playing the guitar for the first time. 'Exist' contains a more soft and sombre approach, and is essentially a mid-tempo power track. Lyrically, it talks of not truly living life due to self-restricting and subconsciously caring about what people feel about them, using stimulant to numb the pain of judgement.

'In This Moment' is a pop-central sound, but with a slight rock edge and talks about removing negativity from your life and living in the moment, sticking to the positivity theme laced throughout. 'Neverland' is another of the album's darker, slower tracks, and lyrically talks about the transition from life into heaven, and takes inspiration from the J.B.Adams novel 'Peter Pan', where the place is used as a fictional place that children go to to never grow up. It takes inspiration from Ashley's own personal story, with her sister's disappearance in her childhood. 'The Sweetest Music' is about love and friendship, finding a soul mate who compliments you perfectly. It is a mid-tempo pop track, with acoustic influences. 'Rainbow' is another pop track incorporating elements of rock, speaking about not being able to guarantee anything in life, but urges that after the rain comes a rainbow. 'Over and Out' is the final track on the standard edition of the album. Lyrically, it talks about saying goodbye, and references both her last album (Silver Lining) and one of her most successful singles (Hershey Kisses). Despite it's mid-tempo sound, it is a happier, positive take on a goodbye.

Critical Reception
Upon release, Let The Light In received positive reviews, with critics once again commending the singer's 'overwhelming positivity but variation in material style and substance'. Digital Spy gave the record almost full marks, settling for 4.5 out of 5 stars, noticing the 'growing up' she has done over her career, praising her 'sweet but not sickly' transformation by letting the light in' and improving on the mistakes made previously. The Guardian gave the album full marks, noting 'Glitter' and 'I Think I'm In Love' as well as the ballads as the stand outs form the album, adding that the album allows for a spectrum of love, light and music. 'One Kiss Before Midnight' was noted as the favourite between the majority of critics, who added that it stood out as a more sombre moment on an album of positivity. Rolling Stones were extremely positive about the album, calling it 'by far her strongest, and most prismatic work", nothing that I Think I'm In Love was a single waiting to happen, and Over and Out was a 'nice nod to her previous work'.

One mixed review, commenting on the lack of progression with the themes and imagery of the album, and even compared the titles of the current and previous album as a metaphor in looking for the light, suggesting she should have waited longer to find more inspiration for the collection, but added that the material was 'strong enough to forget the similarities for a while'.

Commercial Performance
Upon release, alongside the album's lead single, the album premiered at the top spot with 116,207 copies sold. This was lower than previous album, Silver Lining, although expected, due to the general 'slump' in album sales at the time but noticeably higher than sophomore album, Exclamation Declaration. The singer also managed success in the States, with the album peaking at number four, her highest to date in her home country. In the UK, during it's second week it fell to number two, where it remained for three weeks before falling again to number five. It was certified Silver in it's third week on chart. It sold an average of 100,000 copies per week in it's first four weeks on chart. It returned to the top spot following the release of second single, which also marked sales of over 1,000,000 copies and spent a prolonged period and sale spike after the release of the third single.

Live performance
It was announced that Ashley would be the headliner for the opening night of iTunes 30-night free music festival, starting on September 1. During the lead up to the show, and shortly after the final release from the previous album, it was announced that Ashley would be premiering new music on the night - which was later proven to be eventual promotional single 'In This Moment' and bonus track and eventual b-side 'Blank Pages'. She also appeared on a number of shows, giving the exclusive performance of lead single 'Glitter' on The X Factor, the day before the single's official release. She also performed on Radio One's Live Lounge, performing an acoustic version of the lead single and a cover of Enrique Iglesias 'Hero'.

On the day of the album and singles official release, Ashley held an official, invite-only album launch party i collaboration with vH1's 'Storytellers', which told the story, influence and inspiration behind some of her favourite tracks form the album. The event was premiered the week after on the channel, with a number of repeats following. This launch saw her perform a number of songs for the first time live, and had only a small audience of 250 close friends, family and fans. The show also acted as a launch to a brand new Winter range of her 'Sugar Rush' confectionary store.

Tour
It has been alluded to, that preparation and planning for a tour to support the album has begun as early as six months before the official album, due to Ashley's love and dedication to performing live. It was announced two weeks after the album's release that Ashley would be touring with, Let The Light In Live (World Tour). In November, three legs were announced. Leg One taking part in the UK in April 2015, Leg Two in North America in May and Leg Three in Oceania.