Aster - There We Were, In A Frame
ASTER is a singer/songwriter based in Glasgow. After moving to the Scottish Highlands from Canada, ASTER began songwriting in her late teenage years, inspired by the storytelling centred work of Folk artists: Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
After moving to Glasgow, she has been honing her musical style, attracted by the rich Glasgow indie scene and influences such as Bon Iver, Big Thief, Julia Jacklin and Weyes Blood.
In 2019 she released Cool Luminscence and Middle of Spring, and this was followed up in September this year by Unaware Bliss, which is the lead single from her debut EP There We Were, In A Frame which was released today, Wednesday 14 October, after being self produced while in lockdown.
The opening track Unaware Bliss is a great track, it’s got a dreamy melody, with its reverb guitars and floaty synths, it certainly piques your interest.
ASTER’s vocals are hauntingly beautiful, giving the track a melancholic tone describing the breakdown of a relationship and drawing Imaginary pictures with her descriptive lyrics.
This is followed by Untied and this is another song of meandering beauty, the vocals of ASTER really shine in the track as it floats between the rhythm guitar, before hitting us with surging synths and an explosive drums and then dipping in and out each as the track plays along to its thrilling climax.
Kelvingrove changes the pace of the EP, it’s an emotive homage to her adopted city of Glasgow. The track is driven by some very powerful strings, backed up the lead synth which gives the song its underlying melody. ASTER gives a very different vocal performance, much more emotional and heartfelt acceptance of her present.
The closing track is a collaboration between ASTER and Stranded (Optimo Music, UK, Homage, NYC, USA), which re-imagines the opening track Unaware Bliss and surrounds it with some heavy dance floor disco beats.
It’s the perfect ending to the EP it seems fitting that it should be framed by two versions of its lead track.
There We Were, In A Frame is an outstanding debut EP, it not only demonstrates the variety in ASTER’s accomplished songwriting but also showcases her considerable vocal skills. I also have to give a huge thumbs up to the bravery of transforming the dreamy floaty vibes of Unaware Bliss into an unashamed dance banger.
Tracklist
Unaware Bliss
Untied
Kelvingrove
Unaware Bliss - Stranded Remix
Give There We Were, In A Frame a stream now:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3wUCz7uCzJMBDdfOxhXsDO?si=V9mj8cqgSUCRbwkBnV0NdQ
ASTER can be followed on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify pages:
https://www.facebook.com/asterglasgow/
https://instagram.com/asterglasgow?igshid=a6x5pnp0iyd
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2SWlaqQ6y5npv7VUlKQxt7?si=DA29gzSlRS2hbX8N78IZXA
