Asta Bria – singer/songwriter/musician – has reached a defining moment in her career. Her musical journey has positioned her to create a stunning collection of songs filled with joy and warmth, showcasing her diverse talents as a composer, virtuoso violinist, and lyricist. Asta Bria has never been happier or shone more brightly as an artist, embodying the spirit of her songs which resonates deeply in her performances. Influenced by artists such as George Michael, Elton John, and The Beatles, Asta Bria’s study of music in her teenage years exposed her to the broader world of jazz, pop, and classical music. Her creative process is instinctive, allowing her songs to evolve naturally. Asta Bria is a born story-sharer, plucking pockets of life and turning them into glorious musical tales, that ooze into our very being through the melody Asta Bria creates. Exploring profound questions about happiness, love and sadness, Asta Bria traverses the full spectrum of emotion through her wisdom-woven pockets of rousing pop.
With “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” out now, we took some time to hear from Asta Bria. Read below to learn more about Asta Bria, the story behind “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and what’s to come.
Hi Asta Bria! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Bria is a short version of my middle names Brigita Maria (christening names). First two letters from Brigita and last two from Maria.
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I am from a little village called Gargźdai in Lithuania and since 2008, I do live in London.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I don’t think of it as a career at all as it isn’t work, for me. I’m following my heart and my creative passion, rather than a set path of determination and climbing a career ladder. It all started at the age of 7 when my dad took me to a music school to start learning violin, I was instantly hooked…dad’s a smart man, I’m so glad he could see my dream and gift of music when I was so young!
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
My music comes from the heart. I create a sound that I hope radiates an emotion that can reach out to others to make an invisible connection with them. If I needed to put my sound into a nutshell, I’d say gentle and a little ethereal.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I guess understanding how little time we really do have here in this dimension helps with creativity. I aim to live every moment the best I can, and with gratitude. I don’t have “hobbies” as such, more I’d say that I spent my time enjoying the things that I love to be involved with, which is arts and music and dance (I do ballroom dance). It’s important that we live life and get out into the big wide world to experience all that life has to give, so I love being around nature, travelling, live concerts and theatre. I’m also involved with many charities, helping others brings me loads of joy. Oh and I’m learning to play guitar at the moment! I’m accomplished on the violin, so I’ve decided to move onto another string instrument. And, being with my family is SO important. Cherish every moment.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Radiohead, Bjork, Enya, Coldplay, Anne Lenox, Nina Simon, The Beatles, Keith Jarret and Bach, Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Brahms Beethoven, Paganini and so, so, so many, many more, just to name a few.
Who would be a dream to collaborate with?
My dream music collaboration would be with Radiohead and Bjork. It’d be wonderful to connect with Pharrell Williams as I admire his work with gospel choirs, which I do and love as well, there are so many more musicians and various genres that I want to explore and collaborate with…watch this space!
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
Each song that I write and record is a mini achievement, being able to create something which did not exist before is so liberating in any form of art.
More recently reaching No.4 in UK dance chart with my previous track, “Dragonfly,” that was a lovely moment.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
To value time. Really appreciate time and health, and time spent with family and beloved people. Living fully and not thinking of the past or the future, just like really being in every moment is so important.
Now onto “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” What prompted you to make this cover song?
During the first COVID lockdown, our community in Notting Hill would gather in the garden and play some songs we all love, that helped us going and keep some positivity. Some neighbours would play guitars, some would bring percussion, and I’d get my violin, and we would be “preparing” for the road (that was our dream when we couldn’t even leave the house during those lockdown times). Very quickly the rest of the neighbours would come out to listen, and then they’d just sing along. It was our very own Covid sing along over the garden fences of London.
That’s the first time that I actually heard that song and loved it. I kept re-playing in my head all the time, as it’s sweet and cute and super gentle, and then I thought why not to record it properly.
How does your version differ from the original?
It’s all based on guitars, there’s only a little bit of double-base and my violin solo. With my version, I took a very different approach to the original and previous cover versions, mine is more mellow and at ease.
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”
I think the cover artwork looks a little folk and bright, sunny, positive. I hear that song as a positive, sunny song. I wanted an image that was bright and fresh, smiley and happy, rather than a sad desperate cry for love. “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” to me is more a statement rather than a question, just a little internal conversation.
What was the creative process like when making “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”
Super simple. Hugh Burns, the guitarist behind each George Michael, track including my favourite song, “Faith,” right away set up a mood to the song. And, it was so effortless without too much thinking, we were just trying to express the lightness of the song. I wanted to keep it stripped back to show the beauty of the lyrics and melody, without too complicated arrangement.
How long did it take to complete “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”
It was rather effortlessly easy with this lovely song. Hugh came up with the “groove” for the guitars and was building up layer after layer, while still keeping the simplicity with a tiny touch (literally a few notes) on double bass. Vocally, my approach was to deliver a beautiful poetry and the melody, with a solely acoustic sound. We decided that the violin was needed as we wanted to achieve a fleck of folky/country sound. But it was rather a quick and floating process as the song is so sweet.
What do you hope fans take away from your music?
I’d hope that people who listen, or happen to listen, or came across my music accidentally, would take away joy and hope and light-heartedness. Throughout the whole of life, there’s always dark and light, as Nina Simon once said, “we live in a very difficult times and what we see now, we live in a very difficult times as well.” Seems that times are always difficult, but we need to see hope and joy as well, and at least try to focus on positive during turbulent moments. Music helped me to survive, and I listen to so many and such diverse music, and it always inspires me. I want fans to take away the same feeling of positivity from my music.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I’ve just finished a big body of work, and that’s coming out in October, it’s the launch of my new album called Invisible Connections. The plan is to release it on a 9 October (my birthday). I’m also in the process of working on a few more cover tracks, then a gospel festival in Lithuania at the end of April. There’s a few more projects in the pipeline, but mainly my focus at the moment is to create a beautiful vinyl album and to start writing again.
Where can we follow you on social media?
On Insta and FB is Asta Bria and website, www.astabria.com.
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
