“Oakland-based non-binary artist, Asha Wells, brings the self-assuredness of a classically-trained voice to the unfettered freedom of a self-taught instrumentalist. Their arrangements are unlimited and yet laboriously braided. Forming a cathartic amalgam of art folk and chamber pop with a new age sonic twist.”
Straight off the bat, I am getting Zero 7 vibes, and I am saying this as a significant compliment. There is a serenity and calmness here that reminds me of that band. Still, in Zero 7, the singers were basically furniture (sorry!), and even though the performances were outstanding, it didn’t feel like a personal connection was there between the artist and the music.
In the case of Asha, it is the opposite, as it sounds to me that they are connected to every single note sung. The great voice reminds me of Jonna Lee (imagine Scandi Kate Bush, without the hysteria), a very expressive voice and the kind of whispery singing that I really like.
“Ophelia” is wonderfully dark, with some twists and turns on the vocals that are quite folky and at times flirt with Middle Eastern/Mediterranean scales and riffs, like fado or (for our Anglo-Saxon friends!) Grace Slick in White Rabbit.
“The Lesson” features Stephen Seinbrink, whom I didn’t know of, but what a match! Their vocals complement each other gracefully in both harmonisation and call-and-response.
A beautiful and short EP that could be listened to as a long track that goes on a journey!
Written by Spiros Maus
