HuffPost Review: Asa - Asa

Asa's American release of her self-titled album will, hopefully, introduce another world famous talent into the US market and lexicon. Alternately claiming Nigerian and French heritage due to her upbringing, Asa (pronounced "ah-sha") has collected international raves along with huge initial success from tracks such as "Jailer" and "Fire on the Mountain," the album already hitting No. 1 in France and selling over 100,000 copies. She was influenced by the likes of Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Sunny Ade, and Lauryn Hill, and made her mark in England by guesting on Jools Holland's series, appearing on the cover of Music Week, and being the spotlight artist on Good Morning, Sunday on BBC2 while having "record of the week" on BBC1 Xtra's Mista Jam Show. In the US, NPR pushed "Jailer" on All Songs Considered, and her debut is being distributed by Downtown Records' new imprint, Mercer St. Records. Her performances include opening for acts like Akon, John Legend, Beyonce, and Snoop Dogg.

With what sounds like a gathering of Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff reggae, Erika Badu phrasings, Joan Armatrading and Suzanne Vega acoustic guitar strumming, and Tracy Chapman lyrical sensibilities, the album Asa immediately grabs you and respectfully requests you pay attention. Unlike pleasant-sounding artists that are more interested in soothing than serving, Asa writes and records songs such as "Jailer," with alert lyrics like "Am in chains, you're in chains too," and that attitude moves righteously into her socially-conscious "360" that says, "We live in yesterday, many today waste away, but nevertheless, it's never late." The song also addresses the concept of change, one this country is just now getting familiar with. With a soundscape containing intelligent percussion, Hammond organ, reggae-infused bass, and flutes by Magic Malik, Asa also features love songs filled with unique melodies and slightly barb-wired messages, though she's at her best with aggressive subject matter like that of "Fire on the Mountain." "I wake up in the morning, tell you what I see on my TV screen, I see the blood of an innocent child, and everybody's watching." Brutal, but real. She also performs Nigerian language songs like her "Eye Adaba" whose translation of "I see doves in the sky" again brings home the politics within a prayer for peace. Her press release reads, "Asa crafts protest music that calls not only for change in a society as a whole, but for personal change," though the listening experience is intoxicating, not at all indoctrinating.

Asa performs tonight at 7:00 sharp at Hollywood's Hotel Café on Vine Street. The below are here internationally-acclaimed videos for the singles "Jailer" and "Fire on the Mountain."

Comments

[moonpipe]

Nice piece Mike. Glad to see a new artist getting coverage...and I think your comparisons are very accurate. Love the "Fire on the Mountain" video.

[ragz2008]

Thanks for checking it out, moonpipe! She's an artist to watch, for sure (double meaning intended)...

[bradlib]

great stuff, mike! asa is excellent. looking forward to hearing more. do you happen to know where i can find that jools holland show? he's such a strange dude, but that show is awesome! another great african artist i've been obsessed with lately is Amadou and Mariam. they're a blind male/female duo from mali. it's a bit more driving of a beat than asa (produced by manu chao for nonesuch records), but really beautiful music. checkitout!

[ragz2008]

Not sure about Jools, BBC America probably doesn't broadcast it so...youtube? Thanks for the Amadou and Mariam info, will check it out...