takin' care of business

only 6 days to first single release!!

with mixing almost done and artwork complete, i am moving away from the artistic process i enjoy and into the business promotion side i don't.

but, even so, i decided to embrace that aspect of a record release in order to ensure that the hard work i have put in to it will not go to waste and will actually reach people, and hopefully even get me paid... 

so, #1 - booking a tour. 

i played a lot of different types of venues. some make you be an entertainer where you need to fight to grab the audience's attention, others let you be an artist and feel comfortable expressing yourself in an honest and intimate way. there's a time and place for both, but for this tour i wanted to find the right venues for what i do as an acoustic performer. there's nothing i hate more then singing a personal ballad while the guys at the bar watch football and yell out in the middle.  

throughout the process i have encountered so many booking people; from the condescending ("well i like your attitude, so why not") to the overwhelmed ("i will get back to you in two months" and a 3 month later response of "we're closed that day") the flaky, to the nonexistent to just plain frustrating. there have been a few that were actually nice.

after 2 months of research and hundreds of emails, i have 10 dates on the east coast, during June and August, with a few more pending. to me it's a huge achievement, and so far the most extensive tour i've done.

check out my website or facebook for the schedule, and to see if i'm coming to your area.

#2 - starting a record label/publishing house.

as a DIY artist, this is part of the game. it's good to put a professional name and face (or logo) to the business side of things.

after voicing my frustration about not fitting a niche, and that there should be a "no box, just music" festival, i decided "no box music" would be a great name for me and what i do. hey, perhaps i'll sign on a few more artists down the road! one release at a time though...

check it out here

#3 promotion strategy. 

more on that next time, starting with releasing the 1st single, which i decided to give out for free.

join the mailing list (to the left) to get a free download.

cheers and 'till next week

- asia

photoshoot, darling...

if tyra banks has taught us anything, it's that you should squint your eyes, do a zoolander face and try to project an emotion from the inside...

as an introverted artists who prefers to let her sound do the talking, taking photos is not something i enjoy too much... my look is not part of my gimmick and my promotion doesn't exactly depend on selling sex appeal...
but nevertheless having a good looking image that suggest exactly what you're going to sound like is a huge part of a new release, and the photos are used on the CD, for press coverage, website and posters.
...and so once again i've embarked on a task i'm not so comfortable with.

a few lucky things fell into my lap:
- andres's school colleague, davey bendiksen is actually a fantastic photographer who likes vintage equipment and even breaks new cameras to make sure 60s lenses would fit. he most graciously agreed to photograph.
- after (with some balls) approaching the UMass concert hall for a photoshoot request, i was met with a surprising yes, since they were just going to take photos of the hall anyway for their website. and so, i was presented with a chance to photograph on an amazing stage. for free.
hurray resourcefulness!

i also asked a few girlfriends via internet (since none live in northampton) to help me out with wardrobe.
thanks ladies!

even though "blue steel" and making love to the camera has never been my thing, i am more then comfortable accessing all the needed emotions while playing and singing, without feeling fake or posy. davey documented a variety of expressions, angles and moods.

for a few shots, you're welcome to visit my facebook page or check out this video, #7 in my series of video updates:

now the cd artwork is basically complete, and i'm just waiting to finish mixing which hopefully will be done within the next couple weeks.
and then....


FIRST SINGLE RELEASE - APRIL 20!!!