ASHA JEFFERIES RETURNS WITH A NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR ‘BREAK’
Credit: Joshua Tate
"A gorgeous return that will weave its way into your heart..."
- Declan Byrne, triple j
"...Somewhere between Jack River, Alex The Astronaut and even Paul Kelly, her weapon of choice is her guitar and her impeccable knack of telling great tales through her songs.."
- Purple Sneakers
"Once you get a taste of Asha Jefferies, you won’t be able to stop."
- Happy Mag
Brisbane raised indie-folk artist Asha Jefferies returns with a confessional new single and video for ‘Break’. Produced by Ian Haug, guitarist and songwriter for both Powderfinger and The Church, ‘Break’ is a coming to. From a musician for whom artistic and personal work are inextricably linked the song plays like a lifted veil, as relationships are seen for what they are.
Premiered on triple j's Home and Hosed, the new single was written in a time of intense change and uncertainty for Asha. She explains, "I was clinging to ideas, realities and relationships that weren't working. The more I wished for harmony, the more I felt like the world was working against me. But everything is always unfolding as it should. I had to break myself open and learn how to trust in that.” The song sits in an uncertain space as Asha breaks off, breaks down and breaks through. Ambiguous, the song exists in a gloaming half-light with the way forward unclear.
Asha continues, “When you’re in an emotional state, so much pain comes from the resistance to feeling what you need to feel. The message behind my music is that you can be at peace with your vulnerabilities, anxieties or trauma. You don’t have to be at war with yourself." This feeling is reflected in the song’s production. The drums are a slow pulse behind a rumble of muted synths, working to support a voice that weaves through ambivalence and discomfort. Asha owns her vulnerability, plotting it with a deft hand.
The video for 'Break' was filmed and edited by Joshua Tate and Cody Wood. On the conception of the video, Asha explains, "'Break' was written from the perspective of feeling like I'd just been dumped by a heap of massive waves, so the concept was clear. We had such a peaceful yet turbulent time filming this video - we nearly lost all the footage as the camera got wet and we couldn't get the tape out!"
‘Break’ follows on from the success of Asha’s previous releases, ‘Bad Kisser’, ‘If You Were My Hero’ and ‘Everybody Talks’, which were added to rotation across triple j and triple j Unearthed. Asha featured on Noah Dillon's latest single 'Knievel Daredevil' and has previously shared the stage with Julia Jacklin, Lime Cordiale and City and Colour. As well as playing festival slots at Bluesfest, Woodford Folk and Mullum Music Festivals. Asha has won a prestigious Queensland Music Award, triple j Unearthed's NIDA Competition and has been shortlisted for the Vanda & Young’s Songwriting Competition.
Asha is set to play a special release day show tonight (Thursday 4 Feb) at The Woolly Mammoth in Brisbane. Tickets and info HERE.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR 'BREAK' HERE