Since moving to San Diego in July of 2006, Astra has appeared in the pages of City Beat, The San Diego Reader, The NC times, and The SD Troubadour. She’s been heard on Java Jams (CTN/Channel 4), FOX ROX (Fox Channel 6), KUSI Good Morning San Diego, on the air at 94/9 with Tim Pyles, and on 102.1 KPRI where she DJ’s their Saturday night local music show, The KPRI Homegrown Hour....plus she was nominated for Best Acoustic Artist in the San Diego Music Awards.
She was born in Marvel, AR. and delivered by Dr. Wise. Her early interest in music was fueled by family jams, school choirs and formal music studies. Her universal solo style has developed into a sound she calls acoustic soul. It is a rich fusion of her Chicago roots in acid jazz, funk and blues, merged with acoustic rock and folk elements. Her lyrics read like poetry, speaking of emotional transformation and personal freedom. Many times armed with only an acoustic guitar, her delivery is an intensely powerful expression of equal parts joy and pain, balance and struggle. Add gritty guitars, bass and drums, driven by impeccable vocal wailing and she is a force to be reckoned with. She has toured extensively over the years, both as a solo performer and as a member of various other projects. She’s also versed in the art of improve. She was a major player in the acid jazz explosion in Chicago with the band SUMO who never rehearsed once in 31/2 years and yet packed houses every single week. She continued this tradition with the group FLY during her time in Santa Fe, NM. Her work in the music industry has included managing recording studios, graphic design, promotions/booking and industry consultation for songwriters/bands, and now on air radio personality and promotional support.
Since 1996, Astra has released four records on her Rockaway record label, including the 2004 EP in conjunction with producer/composer, Bob DeMarco (Primary writer for Paramount TV). In addition, she can be heard on a number of regional and national artist’s recordings and regional compilations, most recently, WC Handy award winner Eddie Turners “Rise.†“Rise†was produced by famed composer/artist, Kenny Passarelli (Joe Walsh, Elton John) who lends his extraordinary bass stylings to some of Astra’s new tracks (forthcoming on a full record release). She performs live freequently, solo/acoustic, and with her band. She hosts a Monday night showcase at Dublin Square in the Gaslamp District featuring some of San Diego’s best local bands and songwriters, as well as their Wed. night open mic.
Astra reached a major turning point a few years back when she skidded on some black ice on the way to a gig in Colorado. Her tour van rolled and she landed upside down on a set of train tracks. In the light of the full moon with her posters and CDs scattered along the highway, she grabbed her guitar and got to safety just in time to watch a train charge down the tracks and crash into her tour van. This symbolic moment on her musical path launched her into a new wave of creativity and she has emerged with strong new material for these curious times. (see full story in blog..."The Crash")
Throughout the years, Astra has had the privilege to open for such acts as: Stanley Jordan, Meshell Ndegeocello, David Wilcox, Widespread Panic,
The Freddie Jones Band, Leon Russell, The Marshall Tucker Band, Jeff Healey, The Samples, and members of Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
RECENT PRESS:
San Diego Reader "List" by Michael Hemmingson
North County Times: Interview with Randy Dotinga
San Diego Reader: BLURT by Jay Allen Sanford
San Diego Citybeat by Bart Mendoza
PRESS QUOTES:
"Astra Kelly practices a hard-edged, yet folkish, ever-so-slightly jazzy brand of emotional exorcism"
David Prince - The Santa Fe Reporter
"The music is hard-driving, strumming acoustic guitar, supported by a wide variety of instruments on different tracks. The lyrics are like poetry, with phrases that find permanent homes in your head. Throughout her music, Astra strings sentences together that connect as something universal." - John Abbott, Diversity (Wright College of Chicago)
"Astra Kelly has released an EP of incredibly well crafted and thought provoking songs. This is by far one of the best local albums I've heard in a very long time." - Steve Maes, Transmission Magazine, NM
ALBUM ART:
EP 2004
Acoustic Soul Live 2000
Subtown Rituals 1999
Stones, Bones, and Boxes 1996
SNAPSHOTS:
