Asha Jefferies debut album Ego Ride drops today via Nettwerk Music Group, recorded by Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music) at Prawn Records, Brisbane. It follows two EPs and some significant career achievements for the Brisbane based artist, including appearances at Bigsound and Bluesfest, and making the shortlists for both the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition and the International Songwriting Competition (ISC).
With an indie-folk-pop style and a melancholic voice that puts me in mind of Billie Eilish and Leah Nobel, Jefferies’ Ego Ride, is a moody breakup album full of poetic story-telling songs. Throughout the ten tracks, Jefferies showcases her unique and impressive vocals, hitting that emotional range with her high notes.
The album follows a fairly linear narrative of a breakup. Opening with ‘Stranger’, which captures the initial feeling of growing distant from your partner, Ego Ride explores the different stages of heartbreak and moving on, as well as the self reflection that follows every breakup.
Track number two is the catchy ‘Keep My Shit Together’. Its simple and relatable lyrics and addictive melody make for a perfect song to pump up in the car while driving on a holiday.
‘Baby Don’t Fight It’ and ‘Golden Hour’ are two slow and sexy tunes, with the latter being my favourite pick out of the ballads. Using her elusive vocals Jefferies captures heartbreak beautifully, and showcases some lovely lyrics along the way: ‘nothing persists like a love that doesn’t exist anymore’.
To follow is the uplifting, girl-power song ‘Tank Tops’, written in just half an hour and inspired by Jefferies’ experience of falling in love with a woman. It’s a perfect listen for those early dating days, in between partners but maybe there’s the fluttering of something there.
In ‘Spinning’, Jefferies starts to reflect, talking to her younger self, and in ‘Brand New Bitch’ she is reborn with a badass beat, ready to let go and start again.
The carefully layered vocals in ‘Reply’ really stayed with me. The song has a very settling energy to it. The chattering crowd at the end has a particularly strong effect capturing that feeling of being surrounded by people while deep in thought.
An upbeat ode to your own intuition that brings back some simple, good vibes, ‘Cruise Control’ is an easy listen, while the album finishes strong with the reflective title track ‘Ego Ride’.
Reflective and relatable, Asha Jefferies’ Ego Ride takes you on a journey through all the feelings, spitting you out fresh and satisfied.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Asha will be touring following her album release. Catch her on her upcoming shows:
Fri 26th April – Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne
Sat 27th April – Waywards, Eora/Sydney
Fri 3rd May – Valley Loft, Meanjin/Brisbane
Tickets and more info HERE
