Ashley Ray Simon – Vaya Con Dios (2026)
Inspired by life, love, and everything that comes with adventure, nomadic singer-songwriter Ashley Ray Simon is known for his gritty, soulful music that touches listeners across the globe. Spending most of his childhood on the island of Jersey, UK, Simon currently lives between the UK and Portugal, but his soul and sound are sculpted by his travels across South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Despite Simon already turning heads since 2022 with ‘All Night’, this is our introduction to the artist. Join us as we take a look and listen to his most recent release, ‘Vaya Con Dios’.
Vaya Con Dios – a greeting I generally hear in the various westerns I constantly watch; however, it’s not just a phrase, it has profoundness and weight in three little Spanish words. How did Simon come about it? I’m not too sure it was in westerns. Instead, “vaya con dios” – translated as “go with God” – was repeated by a passenger during a real-life experience. During a surf trip in Indonesia, “…where a sudden storm left Simon and his crew exposed to the elements. As the ocean grew unpredictable, one passenger repeated “vaya con dios” as a grounding mantra… it mirrored that sense of surrender and trust.” Inspired by this moment and the words, Simon chose to re-release one of his earlier works, which is featured on his revived EP, How Well Do You Know This Place.
Produced and recorded with Rohin Brown, much of How Well Do You Know This Place was tracked live; the rawness and honest emotion evident in ‘Vaya Con Dios’. Simplistic and barebones, a steady guitar matches subdued drums like a sonic river ebbing and flowing into a small rock pool. Laidback and tranquil, the track is charming with ease in its arrangement; however, Simon’s rough vocals simultaneously enhance its elegance and insert a sliver of delicate vulnerability. Moreover, his dulcet voice offers the feeling of a dear friend holding your hand as you gaze across the water with contented calm.
Find out more about Ashley Ray Simon on his Threads, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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