Catching Up With WSTRN

Around this time last year, Complex was there to chart the organic, spontaneous rise of West LDN crew WSTRN. We also rightfully predicted they would dent the charts with breakout debut single "In2", and that they did, smoothly sliding in at No. 4. Since their chart invasion, Akelle, Haile and Louis Rei have been keeping the temperature bubbling over with street singles and mixtape cuts. Rounding out a summer of extensive touring, and with tickets for their debut headline show on Nov. 8 finally out, we got word WSTRN were planning to finish off the summer with another full scale assault on the scene. With all this in mind, it was only right we had a quick catch-up with the hardest working pop-R&B-rap trio in England right now. 

How have the last few months been for you guys?
Akelle: The last few months have been crazy! We've just been thinking what we can share with the supporters, 'cos it's not just us, and they've had a big part to play. It was a random day, and we all we just thought: "You know what? Let's just put some music out." So we got the tracklist together for the WSTRN Season mixtape and just threw it out there.

"Social" is getting a lot of love right now.
Akelle: Yeah, "Social" and "On The Go" were the two we wanted to just send out and see how they do. "Social" ended up getting a huge response and people were taking to it; I'm guessing from the kind of Caribbean vibe it has to it. It was the right vibe and energy at the time—the sun was out—and we just wanted to see what happened with it.

Louis, you dropped "Salary Rap" and "SOTW" this summer on a solo tip—do you have anymore solo material coming?
Louis Rei: I'm currently working on my third solo album. I definitely have plans on releasing solo material when the time is right, and I know the boys feel the same way. We all have individual influences and styles that a lot of people aren't even aware of yet. I can't wait for the people to hear them.

How do you guys structure time for solo material in between touring and recording as a group?
Louis Rei: We all have our own small studio setups so it's pretty straight forward. We can pretty much record anywhere. I love to write and record; there's 24 hours in a day, so there's always time.

Akelle: We each have our own vibes and that even helps us to record group material. We can put all of our minds together and then create something special.

Haile: My most important ingredient when writing and recording is the melody, really.

Akelle, we were recently in the studio with your older brother, Angel, and he told me he felt the current single "A-List" should have been your follow-up, instead of "Come Down". Did you all want to go with "Come Down" at the time?
Akelle: I wanted to go with "A-List", too, in fact. We all were at some point and then, nearer the time, we all switched and agreed that "Come Down" was the one. In terms of why, I reckon the label felt we should hold on to "A-List" and drop it mid-summer. Both were up in the air, but I'm happy we went with "Come Down" and then "A-List". Timing is everything.

Do you feel like you're under any pressure to chase the success of "In2" because the previous single couldn't replicate it?
Akelle: Nah! Never. I don't think it'll ever be like that for me, or us. It's just what we do; all the music we make, we don't think we need to make a hit out of any of it. It's all about vibes and energies for us, so if it's the right vibe and energy then we'll put it forward.

Back when we spoke a few months ago, you mentioned people making the joke about you on the Wireless line-up, like: "Are WSTRN gonna perform 'In2' for 30 minutes?" Now you've obviously got a string of tracks under your belts, how did you feel festival season went for you guys this summer?
Akelle: [Laughs] Yeah, I remember all that. I think it went really well. I won't lie, though—we were a bit nervous. Wireless was scary but until I got on stage, I didn't feel like I was actually there because the year before that I was actually in the crowd. That's partly the reason we let out WSTRN Season beforehand, so we let people know we've got some tunes in the bag. 

Haile: The highlight of my summer has to be performing in Wembley Stadium at The Summertime Ball.
 
Looking back on your journey over the past year, if you knew then what you know now, what advice would you give yourself?
Louis Rei: It's been a ride! What I'd tell myself is just to enjoy it all and take time with it. That's always been the goal.

Akelle: Patience and persistence. That's what I've been saying since forever; you have to have patience, but, at the same time, you have to be persistent. Those two words, always.

Plans for the rest of the year?
Haile: Just gonna brush up on the album, then it's the headline show. We're just keeping it moving. 

Akelle: The list is long; it's just a matter of working to the order and to the concepts.