Zachary Aasman is currently touring Canada in support of his new album, a tour which rolls into 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer tonight.
Aasman said the new album is one he thinks turned out very well.
"I am more than happy with the CD," he said. "Of course there are a few songs that take a bit of a lead over others. Some that stand out are 'Selfish Heart' 'Tombstone Grave' 'Mountain Bluebird' and "High Road'.
The disk is one which came together quickly in terms of recording.
"The CD was recorded in the span of a weekend mid-August at my family cottage near North Bay," he said. "It's a property with 100-acres of cliffs forest and beaver ponds. The actual cottage itself just got power run to it about five-years ago. My friend Pete and I went up with a laptop and a few mics and got a really cool feel off the room. It comes across in the CD and gives it a whole new depth."
As for writing the material, Aasman said he really doesn't have a set routine.
"The writing process is a funny thing," he said. "I believe for everyone there is a different process. In my case there is none. Most of my songs just seem to come out of nowhere, or if they do come from somewhere it's a sight on the road, a line in a song, or a theme in a book.
"I constantly write songs in my head and then if I remember them down the road I figure they are good enough to put out there.
"The material for this album came along in the span of a month. Of course I sat on them for a while tweaking them. Up until two months before recording this album, the track list was made of completely different songs, the album artwork was entirely different, and the CD was called something else.
"I just had a sudden change of heart with the songs I had and wanted a new direction so my mind went into overdrive and I came out with a bunch of songs that I like much much more."
Aasman said he also draws from those he has listened too as he has developed as a musician."A few of my musical inspirations would definitely be Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Iron & Wine," he said, adding, "I play folk music that usually leans towards the more indie aspects of folk. I always play solo though I am looking at putting a backing band together. I play and record all the instruments for the CD and would love to let people hear the full sound of the album live as well."
Some of the influences go back to his childhood.
"I grew up in a fairly musical family, growing up under the influence of Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, and CCR," said Aasman. "My parents always had music playing no matter what time of day.
"I grew up in a small town near Hamilton, Ontario called Millgrove. At the time when I was young it was still considered out in the country. I always was more enamoured with music and literature then I was with sports or any other past time. My parents agreed that I could take up an instrument when I was 13 but I couldn't wait that long for lessons so I ended up teaching myself, trying chords and such until something sounded right."
As a result Aasman has been playing music for years.
"I've been playing music since I was 12, though I always jump at the opportunity to learn a new instrument or a new way of playing an instrument," he said. "You never stop learning music. I've now been on tour tours of Ontario and Quebec and am now on my first cross Canada tour in support of my first full length album."
Along the way there have been some notable moments.
"A few highlights would be playing the Rainbow Blues Club in Ottawa and finding out that BB King once played on the same stage," said Aasman. "Another was opening for Fred Penner in Oakville at Sheridan College and then having him ask me to come play back up for him on a few songs."
Aasman will be performing in Yorkton with Pet Van Dyk (see related story this issue).
