Bridgerton star Simone Ashley sat down with Hollywood Authentic to discuss her passion project Songs I wrote in New York, marking her music debut. The star explored her first EP with Greg Williams, who joined her during two studio sessions as she explored her sound.

At The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere, Simone’s producer Fraser T Smith spoke on the actor’s switch to the music industry. “We got together doing some film stuff, and then we wrote a few songs, and to me it was apparent that Simone should make an album. So we talked about it, and we’re making the leap. It’s going to be amazing,” he said.

PHOTO: Hollywood Authentic

Simone spoke more about her music with Williams, highlighting the writers involved in the project and and inspiration behind it. “This is more soul pop. And we’ll play you another one that I wrote with Amy Wadge, who’s just amazing. She does a lot of Ed Sheeran’s music,” Simone shared.

She added, “A lot of these songs were inspired by a summer that I had in New York when I first moved there. Working on The Devil Wears Prada 2 was intense – this was the original cast, the original producers, in New York. It was summer in Manhattan and I was in New York, and I was having the time of my life. That really affected how I wrote the songs.”

Williams also revealed that Simone is hanging out with musical maestro, 17-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren at her “Realsongs” studio in Hollywood.

PHOTO: Hollywood Authentic

Warren told the Hollywood Authentic, “I’m excited. She’s [Simone’s] an amazing singer. It’s very exciting to see the magic of when the right artist fights the right song.”

The award-winning prodigy also spoke on Simone’s fame. “You already have an audience built in that loves you, and loves you from your other work. But once you hear this song, and they hear you sing these songs, you’re going to have a whole other thing going,” Warren said.

Simone also discussed her childhood and the memories from where her love for music evolved. “When I was a kid, my dad used to play vinyl all the time, just 24/7. So I grew up listening to music when I was a baby, and I could list a million different bands, solo artists, and so many different people,” she shared.

The actor also spoke on her career in the film industry, emphasising being on her “own journey with her own timeline.” Simone is well-known for her success with acting, premiering on Bridgerton, Sex Education, and the upcoming sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2.