WSTRN

WSTRN is a West London collective made up of Akelle Charles, Haile and Louis Rei. The group’s debut single, “In2”, is released in 2015 and reaches number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Louis Rei is also known as LB and is associated with Dappy, while Akelle is also known as A Star.

Akelle and Haile are cousins, and both know Louis through their connection to West London. Akelle is the brother of singer Angel, and the two are linked through a family group called the Charles Family, which also includes three other siblings. That group is co-managed by the late reggae singer Smiley Culture and by Akelle’s father, Tendai Charles, who performs in the same reggae group as Haile’s father.

Haile appears on a number of other tracks, including Nines’ “Can’t Blame Me”. The name WSTRN is not a reference to westerns; it represents positive vibrations and, in the group’s own terms, “West London’s turn to shut down the scene”. The Charles Family is the subject of a BBC documentary, One Life, although it does not achieve mainstream success.