Rabbit Radio Interview With Asta

​Asta was just 17 years old when she took out triple j’s Unearthed High in 2012. She has since released a string of singles including two triple j Hottest 100 charting hits, ‘My Heart is On Fire’ (#50, 2012) and ‘Dynamite ft. Allday’ (#47, 2015) and impressed with a soulful rendition of the Whitney Houston classic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ for triple j’s Like a Version. Now 22, Asta feels as though she’s finally found her sound. “Having been discovered in high school by triple j, I had to do some living before I had enough to say for a debut EP. I think I've scrubbed enough dishes, eaten enough tofu and broken a few hearts now to deserve a party. " 

We got to have a chat with Asta right before her Brisbane show: 

S: G’day Asta, thank you so much for taking the time out to talk to us, how are you going at the moment?

A: Yeah I’m really good, I’m just packing my bags to go to Brisbane tonight, it seems quite hot in Brisbane I think so I’m packing a bunch of dresses.

S: This is good, it’ll give you a chance to suss out the weather before the new EP out on 17th February and February/March national tour are underway in less than two weeks! Walk us through how you’re feeling at the moment?

A: Yes, its preparing me so I can get my costumes ready for the weather! I’m feelinq really excited, I can’t wait to tour this is going to be the biggest tour I’ve done, I’m just trying to prepare myself and get fit mentally. I bought a skipping rope!

S: Can you tell us we can look to expect from this new show, any surprises?

A: I’ll be playing by new record and new songs, I’ll just be doing my thang dancing onstage, and there will be lights, hopefully I can get some people dancing with me!
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S: You definitely plan on giving the people what they want! If the new track “Shine” is any indication of what the new EP will sound like, it sounds like you’re expressing this infectious, synth-y pop sound that’s just bursting with energy, how would you describe the creative direction and how its evolved?

A: I think my sound has evolved over the past few years, working with different producers is always really fun and its been important to find the right people and collaborators. When I did Dynamite, that was really spot on from me and that was my thing, because it was such a simple song and had such a groove, and that’s where I can jam out and do my thing and that style is really fun. When I met Yeo who produced this album, he’s got a lot of funk influences and RnB, and I wanted to tap into that and make infectious, fun songs that people can dance to and feel good!

S: You wouldn’t be the only one dancing and having good vibes when we hear you! How does it feel to have this new album and tour on the horizon, what will the rest of 2017 hold for you?

A:  I just hope to travel the world, that’s my big dream! I’m just so excited to get a record out finally, people have been waiting a long time and I’m also so nervous! This is a bunch of songs I’m putting out and I can’t change them and they’re ready to go out, I’m not sure how it’s going to go down but I just really hope people will love it.

S: I reckon that they definitely will! Since winning Triple J Unearthed you would’ve experienced new heights, do you think your creative direction has been affected by that moment?

A:  Oh, for sure! When I won that competition I didn’t really think that putting a song on the internet would blow up and people would love it, I didn’t really know who I was really when I did that, I didn’t really have a sense of direction I just thought that this song with my acoustic guitar was cool. Its definitely been a time of developing over the past few years and figuring out what my thing is, so yeah my sound has definitely changed.

S: Definitely keen on hearing the new sound! Now, your originally from Tasmania and I was wondering if the music scene affected your unique sound?

A: Tasmania is such a beautiful place and especially to grow up in, an environment like that is so nice, everyone’s willing to help a brother out! I just remember playing down at my local pubs when I was young, there’s a really good rock scene and indie folk music as well, so I was definitely influenced by my hometown!

S: I’m sure they’ll be rooting for you while your touring the country!

A: Hopefully, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them!

S: Definitely! Is there anyone on the horizon you’d like to work with, and is there anyone you feel particularly inspired by?

 A: I’ve been such a big fan of Mark Ronson since I was young, I just remember listening to his record while riding my bike home from school everyday. His music really influenced me in a way, it would be amazing to work with him, and speaking of Mark Ronson, another artist, im just naming these huge pop artists haha, I think Bruno Mars has kind of creeped into my life, he’s really cool I love his stuff.

S: You’ve definitely picked a few groovers in that list so I reckon you’re on to a winner there! Thank you so much for taking the time out to talk with us! Good luck with the tour, I can’t wait for the new EP and album to drop on 17th Feb!

A: Thank you so much!

Interviewer: Sherwyn Dutt