Music Q&A:
Liz Asaro

What informs your music and songwriting?
I’m fascinated with human nature, so I tend to write about stuff that might make the listener think a little about why things happen or why we feel things that are not obviously explained: past lives, political climate, addition, childhood experiences. Then after I write a bunch of thinkers like that, I’ll will write a song that’s just straight up about sex or being high, cuz it’s all just human nature! You’ve got to think about why people are the way they are, so you can act from an informed standpoint, but you also have to let go and just address simple human needs and/or desires. Instrumentally and stylistically I am a rocker at heart, so I like the music to be edgy, percussive and I like it to dig in and make you want to move.

How have you evolved as an artist over the years?
I literally knew no one in the music industry seven years ago. I took a rock band class, for real, and just kept networking from there. Long story short, I’ve now gotten to play with some of the best musicians around. I have learned that if you are passionate, talented and driven to get things done, people believe in you and are willing to work with you. You have to be real, but realistic about it. Once my confidence was there, it was a lot easier to hone in on what my strengths were and what I wanted the music to sound like. I learned to write more for my voice. I listened to what was speaking to people in the music, and I am now able to better highlight that. I know how a great song makes me feel, and nothing is better than delivering that to a listener.

What are you up to at the moment artistically?
I am just writing as much as I can, with as many people as I can. I have an EP coming out within the next two months and I have much more to come! I will be in London in April to film a video, for an upcoming single off of the EP and I will be writing while I am there as well. Hoping to have some shows booked late spring, early summer.

What’s on your rider?
I am pretty low maintenance! Once someone actually asks me what I want on a rider(lol!), I’d ask for tea, sour gummy candy, and a meal with some lean protein. I can hardly eat on days of gigs! After the gig though, I’ll take a margarita…

Tell us your most embarrassing or surreal experience.
I’m gonna go with surreal. I am big believer in past lives, soul journeys and the spirit world all around us. After a very good friend, and extremely special person, died of cancer a couple years ago, I was at an event celebrating her life. One of her favourite songs came on, and I swear she was all around me, in me, and she stayed with me for about a full minute. I was almost suspended in the spot I was dancing until I felt she released me. It was one of the happiest and most exhilarating feelings I have ever experienced. She was one of the most supportive people I have had with me in this music journey of mine.

What song do you wish you’d written?
Jolene.

What’s your worst lyric?
Well, I just wrote a song called Black Betty and in it I drop the F bomb like eight times in the choruses. So depending on who’s listening, those could be the worst, or the best!