A musician with roots in classical training is bringing an unusually wide-ranging show to Colorado Springs this weekend. Asano is set to perform at The Black Sheep, with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $25 and are available through blacksheeprocks.com and ticketweb.com.
Asano studied the Suzuki method beginning at age 5, later participated in the Denver School of the Arts orchestra program, and earned a dual degree in performance and professional music from Berklee School of Music. That foundation, however, has not kept her within any single tradition. Classical, new-age, metal, country, and industrial music all factor into her repertoire.
Her cover selections span considerable distance, ranging from The Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" to The Dropkick Murphys' "Shipping Up to Boston" to Mark Snow's "X-Files Theme." Asano said the Daniels track holds particular meaning for her. "I have a special place in my heart for 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,'" she said, noting it serves as the show's encore. "I've loved that song my whole life."
Asano said she appreciates artists who feature the violin and gravitates toward musicians who "can tell a great story," even as she ranges widely across styles. She has also cited heavy acts capable of vivid storytelling, including German metal group Rammstein, as influences. Her original material leans into that narrative instinct as well. Her forthcoming album, titled "Lore," features original songs drawn from American folklore, including material inspired by Bigfoot.
Asano credited her formal education with shaping the unconventional performer she has become. "I put in a lot of hours at Berklee," she said. "I learned how to be a jazz musician. The jazz training made me a better musician. I wouldn't be playing 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia' like I do without that training."
A release date for "Lore" has not yet been announced publicly.