Child of Rhyme - CD

Child of Rhyme

Debut Album - November 2008

On her debut album, “Child of Rhyme”, Asetha delivers beautifully original songs steeped in carefully crafted lyrics, playful melodies, and soul-stitched vocals. The result is a roots-based album with clear connections to folk, traditional, rock, country, pop and lullaby. This album has a child-like charm that is grounded and bold. Asetha’s voice, with an angelic quality most often compare to that of Alison Krauss, is spun with gold.

Upon receiving a 2006 F.A.C.T.O.R. grant, Asetha worked with Jason LaPrade – a Toronto based producer, sound engineer and musician (dobro, lap steel, acoustic and electric guitar, banjo) - to capture her original songs. LaPrade exquisitely fashioned each song with the help of Murray Foster (Great Big Sea, Moxy Früvous) on bass, Adam Warner (White Cowbell Oklahoma) on percussion, Rosemary Phelan with backing vocals and Tessa Lewis on fiddle.

Asetha could not have been more humbled by the timelessness and beauty of each song and the musicianship, shared passion, and vision with which her debut album was achieved.  She is forever grateful to the talented musicians, bright souls and gorgeous hearts that contributed to and inspired “Child of Rhyme”.

Newfoundlanders thoroughly embraced Asetha’s first album, “Child of Rhyme”. Eight of the eleven songs on her debut album received considerable and sustained airplay on CBC St. John’s and This is Newfoundland. Additionally, Asetha was interviewed by local radio arts programs such as “Liner Notes” with Angela Antle and “In the Spotlight” with Donna Randell. One thing has always been clear, Asetha is without a doubt a proud Newfoundlander and distinctly spirited crafter and performer of songs.

Asetha wrote and recorded “Child of Rhyme” while living in Ottawa and Toronto and working as a research analyst for various federal government initiatives, including as lead writer for The Homeless Hub (www.homelesshub.ca), on issues related to housing instability and homelessness. The emotional toll of her work, and her own homesickness, inspired Asetha to write songs that would create awareness of the kinds of issues that contribute to homelessness and help to heal her own heart.

While recording the album, Asetha experienced a personal health crisis - a flare-up of a previously diagnosed chronic pain condition called Fibromyalgia - that forced her to step away from working, recording, and performing. “Child of Rhyme”, although it was mostly written before Asetha’s health crumbled, conveys the universal precariousness of life, the inner strength we all have to carry on, and the simple importance of taking care of ourselves and each other. It was as if the album was a prediction of what was to come and a celebration of the fortitude that would be Asetha’s saving grace.