Latin roots, reggae riddims, activist intent and strong female vocals coalesce on Renee Asteria’s rockin’ new release RazteRia (Asteria Records). Drawing inspiration from all over the world Renee pulls disparate fragments from the air, the seas, the trees and the breeze and puts them to work in the human environment with intuitive intent and elusive ease. Standout tracks include “Work It,” “Soul” and the effervescent “Rain.” Using her heart like a guidance system and her voice as a tuning fork she confronts real life issues on “2 Faced,” “Illegal,” “Soul” and “Risk” (presented in two mixes) and leaves you longing for more with “La Baja.” The result is soulful, rock-solid and recommended.
–Chuck Foster, Reggae Central, KPFK-LA
Biography
The Story
A Fusion of Steel Pulse, No Doubt and Sade. Uniting Reggae, passionate Latin grooves and Rock, powerful messages and musical genius…
Described as “musically adventurous” and “a one of a kind breaking of all rules” (C. Foster, Reggae Update, getthebeat.com), Renée Asteria’s songwriting reflects her life experience, multicultural background (US-born, Bolivian-Dutch heritage) and strong commitment to justice.
Though currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Renée Asteria has planted musical seeds through out the Americas (Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, USA) and Europe (France, Switzerland). Renée Asteria’s second release “Faces of Agent Double E” (2007, master demo format, CD/Digital) produced with UNIVERZOO (Argentina), marked a stylistic transition by taking her Latin-folk style and weaving it into Reggae.
Released June 1st, 2010, “RAZTERIA”, an ASTERIA RECORDS production. This album features performances by Waddell Bell (bass), Lou Neuburger (drums), Joe Bressler (keys, RIDDIMBANK), Luke Thomas (guitar, Eenik, Los Angeles) and Mbutshu Yindja (harmonies, Congolese American singer, aka Godé).
RAZTERIA feature tunes include: “ILLEGAL” – a Roots-Reggae, Abyssinians-style tune dedicated to the struggle of immigrants and “RISK”, a Reggae tune promoting a message of safe sex and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Instrumentation
Voice, Guitar, Producer & composer: Renee Asteria
Harmonies: Mbutshu Yindja (aka Gode)
Bass: Waddell Bell
Drums: Lou Neuburger
Guitar: Luke Thomas
Keys: Joe Bressler
Also appearing:
Gina Madrid aka Raw-G - Risk Remix
Dan Tino - Guitar - Forget
Rahman Jamaal McCreadie - Trumpet on WOrk it
Anthony Dellavalle - Saxophone on Work It
Rob Ewing - Trombone on Work it
Rain coproduced with Matias Martyn (UNIVERZOO, Argentina) with Pablo Prosello (drums), Gonzalo Goitia (bass), Federico Mocchegiani (guitar)
Artwork by R. Asteria
Cover photo by Jamie Soja - Sojamusicproductions.com
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