Currently on the road together, and continuing their tour in Brisbane this weekend, we asked Asta and Hayden Calnin to take some time out from their busy schedules to interview one and other about their music, themselves and much more. The results are as interesting as they are entertaining. Check it out and then check out the pair on the road!
HAYDEN INTERVIEWS ASTA:
What’s your full name and where does it come from / is there any special significance to any part of it?
My full name is Asta Evelyn Binnie-Ireland. My parents made up it up when they were at the peak of their hippy phase, and to follow that, they named my sister ‘Coco’! A lot of stories have been tossed around as to where the name ‘Asta’ really came from. A flower, a star? By 1st grade I was sick of it and remember begging my mum, crying on the floor to change my name to ‘Britney’ as I was somewhat obsessed with the pop star, Britney Spears at the time. Well I’m glad that never eventuated!
Where were you born and what does your birthplace mean to you personally?
I was born in a rocking chair up in the mountains in a small country town, South of Tasmania, called Cygnet. My birthplace is really special to me because it’s a place I feel most comfortable in. I don’t get to visit there all that much, but when I do it feels and looks just the way I left it.
What was the first song you ever wrote, what was it about and do you still perform it?
My first song I ever properly wrote, was a song that went a bit like this, ‘give me a key, you can open me, give me a bird, so it can fly away, give me a sign, it will be okay, just give me a key, to me’. It’s hard to know what was going on in my head at the age of 7, but I still have the song written down on paper, so perhaps one day I will polish it up and perform it!
What’s your favourite song on the radio / Internet right now and why?
I am terrible at keeping up to date with the current music and artists that are on the scene, but a song I am hooked on at the moment would be a track called ‘When a Fire Starts to Burn’ by Disclosure. It’s just so funky, and I love the power in the vocal sample. I’m pretty sure they got it from a motivational tape or something, but it makes me feel good!
If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
I would be a Giraffe, because I would be able to see across the horizons, and reach food no one else could. They seem like happy creatures.
Name 3 Australian artists that you admire or have been influenced by:
Sarah Blasko and Missy Higgins made the biggest influence on my music as a young teen.
What’s your favourite song of mine… 😉 ?
I remember loving a track of yours called ‘Kensington’. I would listen to it on the walk home from school all the time!
What can fans expect from your performances on the Synergy Tour?
High energy, big sound, dancing and diversity!
ASTA INTERVIEWS HAYDEN:
What’s your full name and where does it come from / is there any special significance to any part of it?
My full name is Hayden Richard Calnin. I think the Calnin part originates in Wales, but i could be totally wrong. My middle name Richard was given to me as it was a popular name in my mother’s german side of the family, she has a brother called Richard, and an uncle i do believe… Hayden has no relevance to anything or anyone, I’m not named after anybody, I guess mum and dad just thought it rolled nicely off the tongue. I found out a while ago that the definition of Hayden is ‘a valley with hedges’….. hmmm
Where were you born and what does your birthplace mean to you personally?
I was born in Clayton, Victoria. and i haven’t been there since. I spent my first few years in Camberwell and Brighton. Brighton certainly has a soft spot in my heart. i have good memories of the house we lived in, and that time in my life. I always get a little excited driving down cochrane street (the house which my house was on) and look for the house to see how its changed.
What was the first song you ever wrote, what was it about and do you still perform it?
The first song i wrote was a song called ‘Hubba Bubba’, and I wrote it with my mate Tait when we were really little, maybe 6 or 7, and it was basically about our obsession with the chewing gum. We wrote, performed (to our parents), and forgot it in a day.
What’s your favourite song on the radio / internet right now and why?
Definitely ‘Open’ by RHYE. Im listening to it every day. If you haven’t heard it, get on it! It’s hard to say why i like it so much, but i think it’s just because its so easy to listen to, and always puts me and a really lovely mood. I thought the singer from RHYE was a female for a long time, but i recently found out it’s a guy, so that blew my mind a little bit too. His vocals are incredible.
If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
I have always been fascinated with tiger’s. They’re so majestic and unique, and the real king of the jungle. Plus it’d be fun to be able to just lie around like a cat all day, and just do things when you feel like it. And i like the rainforest. Yep, i definitely want to be a tiger.
Name 3 Australian artists that you admire or have been influenced by:
Sleep Decade – they are a mates band from Melbourne, and always put me in a trance whenever I see them perform. Just a brilliant bunch of musicians.
Oscar + Martin – their album blew my mind and opened me up to experimenting with a whole bunch of new things, especially vocally.
Whitley – brilliant songwriter and always beautiful composition. His albums are works of art.
What’s your favourite song of mine… 😉 ?
Tough one! hmmm, i would say ‘I Need Answers’, 🙂
What can fans expect from your performances on the Synergy Tour?
Hopefully to be a little chilled and relaxed before they start dancing to you! I’ll be the calm before the ASTA STORM!’
SAT 28TH SEPTEMBER – BRISBANE – BRISBANE POWERHOUSE
AFTERNOON ALL AGES SHOW
TICKETS ON SALE VIA http://brisbanepowerhouse.org
SAT 28TH SEPTEMBER – BRISBANE – ALHAMBRA LOUNGE
EVENING OVER 18’s SHOWS
TICKETS ON SALE VIA OZTIX http://www.oztix.com.au/
FRI 4TH OCTOBER – MELBOURNE – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB
EVENING OVER 18’S SHOW
TICKETS ON SALE VIA CORNER BOX OFFICE http://www.northcotesocialclub.com
SAT 5TH OCTOBER – MELBOURNE – PHOENIX YOUTH CENTRE
AFTERNOON UNDER 18’S SHOW
TICKETS ON SALE VIA OZTIX http://www.oztix.com.au/
FRI 18TH OCTOBER – LAUNCESTON – ALCHEMY
EVENING OVER 18’S SHOW
TICKETS ONSALE VIA OZTIX http://www.oztix.com.au/
SAT 19TH OCTOBER – HOBART – MONA
EVENING ALL AGES EVENT
TICKETS ON SALE VIA http://www.mona.net.au
