Quick Hit Artist Interview: Asa Ey

Asa Ey at Madame Siam

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

What's the story behind when you knew you wanted to pursue being a singer? I always felt you can communicate so much more with music and singing. My parents split up when I was 3 years old, and grew up with so many feelings about it, I couldn’t express it any other way. Singing and writing songs became my therapy.

Do you have a message or objective behind your music? If so, what is it? As a band, our main objective musically is to write songs that feature guitars and bring live instrumentation back into the mainstream. Lyrically, we want to write songs that tell stories and explore human nature. We want to get people to reflect inward, being able to recognize the patterns in yourself and others. That’s the key, to create life how you want it and not live according to a program.

Madame Siam: Kevin, Cuffed Up, Tom Speight and Asa Ey

I went to Madame Siam to catch Kevin and Cuffed Up. Why? I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to Kevin. And one of the members of Cuffed Up is Sapphire Jewell who I first came across in the band Gypsum and I'm addicted to all things Gypsum.

Though those were the bands I went to see, I have to say that I was also blown away by the first artist up, Tom Speight. He was joined on stage by Lydia Clowes. As I was listening to his set, I immediately started to think of the movie Once. The music was just that beautiful. Unlike the movie, Tom mentioned that Lydia and him are not dating.

There were plenty of references to pop culture. He mentioned that his music was featured on Love Island in the UK and the Bachelor in Germany. And when he had some guitar strap issues, he told the crowd, "I wish I had one of those Men in Black zappers so that you could forget the last 3 minutes."

Tom Speight

Cuffed Up hit the stage with some sped up rock sounds. Lyrics are spit out quickly. Music is like being in a car that has the horsepower to push you back into your seat. And then the best moments are when Sapphire takes her fingers and just slides up and down her guitar strings.

Cuffed Up

Kevin plays their sets in different configurations. Sometimes Kimi and Quincy play next to each other and other times they play on different parts of the stage. I think I love them most when they're playing next to each other. There's just a joy with how they play off each other. They both brought out the synths for this set and there were a couple times when they stretched over, playing the other's synth -- with their shoes.

Kevin

Asa Ey had the sex appeal going. Two female friends showed up, dancing away throughout the set.

Asa Ey

Tom Speight, Cuffed Up, and Kevin stepped off the stage for their sets - a nice trend for the night. Tom Speight had the early crowd surround him and turn the lights from their phones on. Cuffed Up and Kevin danced in total abandonment.