Spotlight: asia mei

Music Promotion via MusicSubmit.com

Webpage: http://www.asiamei.com
Location: Northampton, MA, USA
Description: melancholy rock pianist/singer/songwriter
Biography: When pianist/singer/songwriter asia mei (pronounced ah-sya) takes the stage her smiley offstage personality gives way to an intense performer and melancholy songwriter who leaves audiences moved. Her classically-honed piano interlaces with emotive singing, confiding moments of loss, nostalgia, and uprooting. The themes of social disconnection and the search for a center stem from asia’s experiences of a cross-cultural upbringing. Born in a small Russian town, she grew up in the turbulent 90s in Jerusalem, Israel, experienced the 9/11 American trauma as a student at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, dealt with the economic collapse as a New York City resident and finally followed her husband and fellow musician, Andres Wilson, to his grad school studies to Northampton, MA. asia’s ability to effortlessly blend genres and inspirations sets her sound apart from the clutter. She seamlessly combines expressive piano, rock guitar, jazz crooning and raw blues in one catchy, melancholic and distinctive sound. For the sake of categorizing, asia often describes her sound as “moody piano rock” and recommends her music to fans of Muse, Antony and the Johnsons, Jeff Buckley, Tori Amos, Regina Spektor, Radiohead and Coldplay. Outside of her singer/songwriter life, asia has garnered some impressive credits as a composer, a string arranger for Annie Gallup and John Wesley Harding, a pro-tools editor for Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt and Moby, and a classical chorus member with performances in Carnegie Hall and Andrea Boccelli’s Tour "shards" , asia’s debut album was released in ’06 and was described as “mature beyond her years” and “showed kaleidoscopic ability”. The single “big apple tree” – released in ’09— was co-produced by David Seitz (Jeff Buckley, Dar Williams) becoming an instant fan favorite. A second album "introverse" was released on June 11, 2011 after a successful fan funding campaign and is already getting overwhelmingly positive reviews for its artistry, originality and soul.
Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Melancholy Rock artist asia mei releases" introverse" 06.11.11 - DIY pianist/singer/songwriter asia (ah-sya) mei releases her second album, "introverse". "introverse" is the kind of album you want to accompany your melancholy drive on a rainy day. Showing an unusual musical versatility that’s surprisingly cohesive, the album ranges from eerie, vulnerable and introspectiveballads to intense rock that draws influences from blues, classical, drum and bass, jazz and even tango. It is asia mei’s mastery as a writer that brings those elements together as an extension of one, developing emotional thought. Recorded once she followed her husband from NYC to quiet Northampton, MA the contemplative selections speak of social isolation, lack of center, disappointments and the yearning for connection and belonging, themes that can often be on the minds of transplants to NY and citizens of the world in general. "introverse" was funded directly by fans. Reluctant to be categorized, the moody, indie piano-heavy sound captures fans of Jeff Buckley, Muse, Tori Amos, Antony and the Johnsons, Coldplay and Regina Spektor. Look out for catchy choruses on “maps” and “big apple tree”, impressive piano on “a bus to sunshine” and “i dream” and stunning string arrangements on “saved” and “you (wedding song)”. While introverse has the DIY artist writing, playing, singing, producing, programming, arranging and editing, there are also noted collaborations; Hiroshi Sembon designed beats from Tokyo, husband Andres Wilson lent his phenomenal guitar skills and David Seitz (Jeff Buckley, Suzanne Vega) co-produced “big apple tree” and “your answer” and mixed half the record. The stunning artwork was designed by Malaysian threadless designer, Flying Mouse. asia (pronounced ah-sya) mei was born in Russia, grew up in Jerusalem, Israel, moved to Boston to study at the famed Berklee College of music, worked as a pianist, composer and string arranger in New York City and currently resides in Northampton, MA with husband and fellow musician, Andres Wilson. introverse is asia mei’s second full length release after debut album shards (’06) and single big apple tree (’09), which is also included in the album. for more information and to contact asia mei directly please visit www.asiamei.com