Asti-Loren: Help her attend Musicians Institute in Los Angeles

Building a strong foundation, gaining knowledge and experience in many facets of the music industry will ultimately help me to achieve my goals to become a highly successful and credited songwriter and performing-recording artist.

I have recently been accepted into the prestigious Musician's Institute in Los Angeles. I start studying my Associate Of The Arts Degree there in January 2018. My total tuition costs are $47,990 USD which is equal to $70,000 NZD. I would really appreciate any help to go towards my Uni Fees.

Since the age of 10 I have been working towards my goals, In order to achieve them; I started singing with a Christchurch based Sweet Adelines group where I learnt a huge amount of harmony singing, pronunciation & stamina. We went to Carnegie Hall in New York to preform in a showcase of the top international chorus’s in 2011, when I was 12 years old.

I then moved from New Zealand to England at the age of 14 to attended the prestigious ‘Susi Earnshaw theatre school’ as 1 of 56 full-time students. After, going on and staying on in London to have a development deal opportunity with a record label in Soho, which lead me to writing and producing a solo 9 debut song album at the age of 16. This was a concept album, I also wrote a novel with a chapter accompanying each song on the album.

The song ‘Psychedelic Rose’ from my debut album, received a funding grant of $10,000 from New Zealand On Air to film a music video in Aug last year, which went on to gain over 155,000 youtube views and 340,000 iTunes/Spotify downloads, gaining radio time and 6 live national television performances promoting the release. I released this song, and 2 others myself, making an executive decision not to release the remaining 6 songs on the debut album until a later date when I make the right contacts and connections to ensure the releases success. I am self-managed, I also run my own social media following of around 70,000. I am a brand ambassador for Trelise Cooper, and have worked with her clothing lines for the past year and a half.

I have recently had the opportunity in February this year to be invited to record and write a mini-album in Wales, UK with Martyn Ford and Jayce Lewis- ('Call Your Girlfriend'- Robyn, between them having numerous number ones in the US, UK and NZ) These experiences have opened such an amazing world to me of the endless possibilities and paths that Performing and being a independent artist could lead me.

In February 2016 I was personally invited by Scarlett Johansson to be a featured Japanese anime character in her recent movie ‘Ghost in the Shell’. A unreal experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Last month I was invited by Bic Runga- (Bic is one of New Zealand’s most notable singing artists recently gaining entry to the New Zealand Musican’s Hall Of Fame at the 2016 NZ music awards- alongside artists such as Lorde) I was invited to be her guest artist for her 20th anniversary tour of her album ‘Drive’, I also was given the opportunity to sing onstage with her. This was a very big honour for me. Her concert was held at the prestigious Issac Theatre Royal in my hometown, Christchurch.

In the words of Bic Runga- 'And then Asti-Loren, who’s only 19, in Christchurch. But again, she does everything herself. She’s way bigger than me on the internet. She’s one of those kids that knows how to do all that stuff that I had to learn. But I really admire her (Asti-Loren’s) conviction too. That’s so cool- to have duets with three woman that I admire’.

I have also been busy networking, building relationships within the industry with the aim of building exposure, attending EXPOs such as ASCAP expo (LA), MUSE expo (LA) and Going Global Summit 2016, as well as social media conferences. Creating contacts and building relationships with some of the industry leaders- such as Burundi Partlow (6X Grammy award winner associated with Kanye West, Beyonce, John Legend), Malik Yusef (6x Grammy award winner, Kanye West and Beyonce's Lemonade album), Monte & Avery Lipman- Co-founders of Republic Records in the USA- and I have been in contact recently with their chief of A & R- Jason Jordan.

I also enjoy mentoring and inspiring my Instagram younger followers ( Currently I have over 41,000)- giving them advice, tips and I often meet up with aspiring 13-16 year old girls in my Hometown of Christchurch for a milkshake offering them advice on the music industry. I am also mentored and have many thanks to give to many industry people from around the world and NZ who message me offering advice, and encouragement. For example Devin Gibson- who works for Universal music group in the US, working closely with Arianda Grande, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift, who DM's me with amazing advice. A surreal experience for me to be noticed and complimented by such incredible people. I hope to in the future be able to give back and be in a position to inspire many other people in the future, and offer support.

Personally I believe that attending professional Expo’s and Conferences, attending Musican's Institute in Los Angeles- completing a associate of the arts degree in Vocal Performance, and learning from teachers/panels crafted of industry leaders inspires me to strive to gain the knowledge to work my way to the top. The aim for the future is to be a recognised, respected identity in the music industry. Releasing, recording my own music and being successful in doing so.

I believe a Associate of the Arts qualification from Musican’s Institute in Vocal Performance and independent artist studies will lead to opportunities that will ensure my success in going to the ‘next level’, This will play a very important part of my journey working toward my end vision.

One of the obstacles I foresee; being a younger person in the music industry of New Zealand, I feel I do not have the experience needed for group collaboration, in terms of theory knowledge, co-writing skills or how to write for other artists. I feel I will be held back from opportunities offered without more knowledge in this area, which is why I am over the moon I have been offered a place at Musician's Institute for Winter 2018, and cannot wait to start attending and to start connecting with future industry leaders at Musician's Institute, and of course industry leaders in LA.

The Vocal program and Musicians Institute will give me the skills and knowledge to overcome this obstacle and will be crucial for my development and credibility. I will be learning to express myself musically, write with a more planned approach and gain the experience of working on collaborative projects, as well as meeting and creating a bank of valuable contacts.

Even though I have a very supportive family, and am a very independent person funding is an obvious obstacle. This is an issue that an enormous amount of people have studying abroad, relocating and setting up in a new country.

I am incredibly excited at the prospect of moving to LA and attending Musician’s Institute. The experience will help me gain more confidence and knowledge which will help reach my goals and aspirations. I would be unbelievably grateful to anyone who decides to support me, and I would love the opportunity to give back, sing at your events or for your charities if you are to donate to me.

MEDIA COVERAGE & LINKS TO VIDEOS/SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:

https://www.instagram.com/asti_loren/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIYUn8R29Zg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLHcauyiLR8

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/201802455/lordes-in-waiting

https://nzmusician.co.nz/features/asti-loren-newman/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/7310893/Chch-singer-wins-place-at-prestigious-school

http://tearaway.co.nz/interview-asti-loren/

https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-dominion-post/20160805/281835758080786

http://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/bic-rungas-awesome-special-guests-announced/

https://www.muzic.net.nz/news/6925/bic-runga-announces-three-awesome-women-and-one-supercool-man-to-join-her-onstage-during-her-new-zealand-tour.html

https://www.indiependent.co.uk/exclusive-blue-asti-loren/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/art-and-stage/visual-art/98021341/whats-on-in-christchurch-this-week

https://issuu.com/the.star/docs/115338sm

https://issuu.com/the.star/docs/115324cs

Asti-Loren