3 Feet High & Rising: Ol’ June & The Ashburns Share Debut Singles “What’s Her Name” B/W “Can’t Let Go” (LRK Records)

Ol’ June of Ol’ June & The Ashburns (photographer unknown / SOURCE: Facebook)

Ol' June & The Ashburns deliver timeless Soul with a modern edge. Their new single, "What's Her Name?," is a slow-burning groove conveyed in 6/8 time, built on lush instrumentation, warm analog textures, and heart-felt story-telling. Inspired by “the golden era” of Soul, the track captures the mystery of a fleeting moment—the glance of a woman who lingers in memory long after the night fades. A soulful, cinematic journey for fans of vintage grooves and contemporary Soul alike, new single release "What's Her Name?" B/W "Can't Let Go" by Ol' June & The Ashburns is a modern Soul ballad with a timeless 70’s feel. Driven by a steady groove and heart-felt vocals, the song tells the story of a man torn between leaving and holding on to a love that's both beautiful and destructive. Nostalgic yet raw, it's Soul music that lingers long after the last note. Julian Wilcoxson AKA Ol’(e) June is a Soul singer, song-writer, producer, and short-lived former rapper from The Midwest (well, technically, Cincinnati, Ohio.) June’s childhood was punctuated by back-of-the-school-bus commutes immersed in the comfort of song-writing escape. Since stepping out of his shyness and into the public arena, collaborators consistently take note. Jonas Aschenbrenner AKA Johnny Ashburn is a Soul/Hip-Hop producer and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Ingolstadt, Germany whose current projects include LXNA & The Ashburns, Rathuna & The Ashburns, J.R. Holmes & The Ashburns, Slow Butter, and, of course, the aforementioned Ol’ June & The Ashburns, as well as his own music attributed to either Johnny Ashburn and/or The Ashburns. To my understanding, Ol’ June & Johnny Ashburn “met” online and have collaborated solely online through direct messenger, email transmissions, and audio file swapping 100% Jaylib/The Postal Service-style and have yet to actually meet in-person!

While “What’s Her Name?” B/W “Can’t Let Go” is their official debut on Cambridge, UK-based imprint LRK Records, Ol’ June & The Ashburns previously collaborated together late last year “unofficially” on The Ashburns’ seasonally-appropriate holiday single, “Please, Come Back This Christmas,” alongside aDUBta. Together, Ol’ June & Johnny Ashburn/The Ashburns have created their own new style/genre tag, effectively blending and melding both old and new elements dubbed The New Vintage, otherwise known as soulful moods inspired by the timeless smooth sounds of the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s. “What’s Her Name?,” Side A of Ol’ June & The Ashburns’ upcoming 7-inch/digital single, was fully produced and mixed by Ashburn at The Oak Room, collaboratively written by Ol’ June & Johnny Ashburn, features saxophone played by Wolfgang Böhnel, along with trumpet embellishments by Floria “Flo” Kögler, and mastered by Umberto Echo. Not too dissimilar from “What’s Her Name?,” B-side “Can’t Let Go” is equally silky smooth, endlessly soulful, and slightly more subdued than its Side A counterpart. Together, these collective seven minutes of Neo-Retro R&B/Soul-Funk effectively show what Ol’ June & Johnny Ashburn are capable of and I’m excited to hear more from these two talented cross-continental collaborators! Ol’ June & The Ashburns’ “What’s Her Name?” and “Can’t Let Go” are both currently available on your preferred digital streaming platform, while shiny skinny slices of black-and-orange wax are currently available for pre-order (and super-limited to 300 copies!) on 7-inch vinyl ahead of its March 20, 2026 wide release/”street” date. While you wait, please, sit back, relax, and enjoy these slices of New Vintage-laden Soul as part of the latest installment of The Witzard’s 3 Feet High & Rising! I would strongly suggest you stay tuned to our social media channels, as well as Ol’ June, Johnny Ashburn, Ol’ June & The Ashburns, and LRK Records’ pages, as we’re working on cookin’ up something bigger, better, and even more Soulful together!!!