Astrid

"It’s a lean and exceptionally well-recorded collection.... Here in the rain forest, we have to find beauty in even the most muted and grey moments of life. The atmospheric moodiness of Full Life, especially on the inside pairing of ‘This Silent Heart’ and ‘Full Circle’ captures those moments like a Group of Seven painting. Meanwhile, the carnivalesque title track which follows takes us on sonically literal carousel of life. Fans of Cinematic Orchestra and lounge-stylings by projects like Thievery Corporation and Massive Attack will appreciate the floating sensations of Full Life."

Cal Koat World Beat Canada

Astrid’s highly anticipated 2nd album Full Life brims with dreamy avant-pop-jazz. The disc weaves together songs about love, passion and celebration with vibey intimate vocals and sultry ambience juxtaposed with sequencing, samples and orchestral overtones.

The EP ranges from the epic Breathe In Breathe Out to the Felliniesque Full Life and in six songs showcases the breadth of her reach as a composer. Full Life is sure to generate the same critical praise of her debut Red Umbrella which was extremely well-received in Canada and Europe and went to #7 on the Earshot National Jazz charts.

Astrid has again assembled some of Vancouver’s finest on this disc; Budge Schachte, guitar, Glenna Powrie, piano; Chris Gestrin, piano; Jack Velker, accordion; Russell Scholberg, bass; Shawn Soucy, drums; and both her sons, Tim Sars on baritone and Nathan Barret on trumpet. The disc was co produced by Astrid and David Sikula and recorded and sequenced by Kerry Galloway, NOR Productions at Purple House Studio in Vancouver.

Astrid has performed locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Some of her music has been used for documentaries The Return and The longed for knowing by Fumiko Kiyooka. Northern Lights by Craig McCaw (Planetarium music), The lesson a short dance film by Jennifer Mascal. Astrid’s compositions have been used in film and television. Her song The Key from Red Umbrella was licensed to Global/TV Series Shattered Feb 2011, Canadian TV Series The Guard in 2008, the MTV/Logo television series EXES and OHS and for the TV Series Bloodties 2007.

Praise for Red Umbrella

“Astrid is one of the more experienced artists on the Vancouver jazz-lounge scene, and her recording is a sophisticated stylistic blend, characterized by tight arrangements, smooth vocals, and sultry ambience.”

Tony Montague The Globe and Mail

"As a vocalist, Astrid is kind of a cross between Bebel Gilberto and Sade: she'd be at home at a Brazilian carnival or an urban lounge."

Mark Andrews The Vancouver Sun

"As genre-hopping goes, this combination of boss-nova and jazz is confident and stylish"

Tom Harrison The Province