Ashe Captures the Multiplicity of Life in "Cold in California"

image

To cut to the chase, the past year has seen rising singer-songwriter Ashe release some of her finest and most moving work to date. From her lauded Moral of the Story: Chapter 1 to "In Disguise," a song we championed as the very definition of timeless songwriting, Ashe is in the midst of building a catalog prepared to stand the test of time. The Los Angeles artist's latest is living, breathing evidence of that very notion.

"Cold in California" is breathtaking, heart-rending, and eye-opening all in the same breadth. Executive produced by FINNEAS, the sonics pierce the heart like an unexpected scattered storm on a sunny California day; it is June gloom personified. More than just a beautiful collection of stirring percussion and delicately weaved guitar chords, it is the depth of Ashe's emotionally-laden songwriting that truly makes "Cold in California" such a lasting, deeply human affair.

"Don't mind what anybody told you/ It still gets cold in California/ See everbody thinks they know you/ They're only seeing what they wanna," Ashe confesses in a chorus for the ages. And while California is undoubtedly the central figure of Ashe's moment of introspection, the realization is far more universal, as the rising singer-songwriter expanded upon when speaking on the underlying meaning of the song,

"I love California and I also despise it. I'm from California and in many ways, this song is more about me than the place itself. I suppose that says I love and also despise myself as well. Nothing is ever one-sided or perfect or right all the time. I tried to explain this feeling in 'Cold in California.' It's the best way I've personally described my love/hate relationship with myself and Los Angeles so far."

In the span of just over three spellbinding minutes, Ashe touches upon the inherent multiplicity of life - the notion that there cannot be joy without pain, pain without joy. "Cold in California" is a song for those existential moments of contemplation, where even under the beating sun, you feel a strange cold emanating from within.

Listen to "Cold in California" below and be sure to catch Ashe on her Ones To Watch - presented 'Mom's First Headline Tour' this fall:

Related Articles

Tiffany Stringer Turns Heartbreak Into a Breakout Hit in Major Label Debut "Bullet"

Tiffany Stringer Turns Heartbreak Into a Breakout Hit in Major Label Debut "Bullet"

February 13, 2026 “‘Bullet’ is the pop country SMASH I wrote after finding out my cheating ex got married.”
Author: Alessandra Rincon
pop
EMELINE Confronts Her Past in Dark-Pop Single, “Dance With My Demons”

EMELINE Confronts Her Past in Dark-Pop Single, “Dance With My Demons”

February 13, 2026 EMELINE isn’t just acknowledging her demons, she’s inviting them to the dance floor.
Author: Hillary Safadi
pop
panicbaby is Making Weird Girl Internet Music and her Debut EP “f u jonathan” is Living Proof [Q+A]

panicbaby is Making Weird Girl Internet Music and her Debut EP “f u jonathan” is Living Proof [Q+A]

February 12, 2026 There is a chance you’ve seen Tumblr style video montages of coquette aesthetic, girly pink movie scenes and angelical clips circulating on TikTok– the song tying them together is non other than “Claw Marks”, the viral debut single from Berlin-based, soft pop artist panicbaby.
Author: Daniela Waizel Rule
pop
q+a