Ashley Cooke delivered two new tracks from her highly-anticipated sophomore studio record on Friday (July 24).

Cooke’s “famous to frances” and “johnny ’n june” are the latest previews of her self-titled project. She wrote the songs with Johnny Clawson and Kyle Sturrock; and with Lauren Hungate, Emily Weisband and Will Weatherly, respectively. A press release announcing the tracks’ debut on Friday morning describes “famous to frances” as “witty but confessional,” and “gorgeously melancholy. ...each track explores heartbreak from a distinct angle, together embodying the raw emotional truth at the heart of ashley cooke.” The two new songs arrive shortly after Cooke revealed the track list and other album details. The Florida-born singer-songwriter, 29, produced some of the songs, along with Dann Huff, Will Weatherly, Jacob Durrett, Joe Fox and Spacecamp. She’s also released “high school sweetheart,” “baby blues,” “excuses,” “the hell you are” and “xs” from ashley cooke:

“if i’m being honest” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock) ^
“high school sweetheart” (Ashley Cooke, Boy Matthews, Cleo Tighe, Lauren Hungate, AFTERHRS) *
“baby blues” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Joe Fox, Kyle Sturrock, Seth Ennis) *
“famous to frances” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock) *
“johnny 'n june” (Ashley Cooke, Lauren Hungate, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly) *
“excuses” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock) *
“dance around it” (Ashley Cooke, Jacob Durrett, Trevor Rosen, Emily Weisband) #
“sleepless in seattle” (Ashley Cooke, Lauren Hungate, Matt Roy, Johnny Clawson) *
“man behind the glass (feat. JP Saxe)” (Ashley Cooke, JP Saxe, Emily Weisband, Scott Krueger) + ♡
“i'm up and i'm down” (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Mark Trussell) *
“the hell you are” (Ashley Cooke, Chase McGill, Emily Weisband, Seth Ennis, Joe Fox) *
“between the lines” (Ashley Cooke, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose) *
“xs” (Ashley Cooke, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly) *
“when we’re 30” (Ashley Cooke, Will Weatherly, Kyle Sturrock) *
“the girl who cried wolf” (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Lauren Hungate, Joe Fox) ~ ♡

Produced by Dann Huff *

Produced by Will Weatherly ^

Produced by Jacob Durrett #

Produced by Joe Fox ~

Produced by Spacecamp +

Produced by Ashley Cooke ♡

The album “documents a chaotic period of self-discovery, showcasing a truly singular songwriter reaching a whole new level of complexity and confidence,” states a press release issued earlier this month. “Written in real time as she processed a number of formative life experiences, ashley cooke opens up about falling in love, spiraling, searching for clarity, and coming to terms with her own self-sabotaging tendencies. But while the 15-song LP embodies an unflinching honesty, Cooke speaks her truth with equal parts sensitivity, sharp wit, and breezy irreverence — an element perfectly echoed in the album’s coastal-Country sound and ’90s-inspired aesthetic.”

“This record feels like a coming-of-age record disguised as a relationship album. I wrote a lot of it dead in the middle of real-life situations where I learned quite a bit about myself, so you're getting the real, unpolished, recently-realized-truths in 15 tracks,” Cooke said in a previous statement. “It's messy, self-reflective, indecisive, filled with honesty, double entendres and emotional duality (I'm a Gemini, duh). Overall, it's my perception of love and allllll the chaos it entails.”

Cooke’s sophomore record will arrive on August 14. Listen to “famous to frances” and “johnny ’n june” here:

Michael J.

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