Asa Elliott getting into the swing of things with album
ACTOR AND SINGER RECORDS FIRST ALBUM OF CHRISTMAS FAVOURITES
FOR many people, Christmas is about traditions and for Asa Elliott there is nothing like a good old seasonal song to get him in the mood for the festivities.
While he has promised himself for years he should put out his own Christmas album, pantomime roles have tended to get in the way for singer and actor Asa.
But the coronavirus pandemic has brought him opportunities that would never have been possible in other years, such as enjoying life with his first-born son and the chance to finally record an album of 14 of his favourite seasonal numbers.
“I started recording in August to get it in in time for Christmas,” said Manchester-born Asa, who moved to his wife Natalie’s home city of Hull.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years, but I’d normally get to October and the pantomimes would come along and I’d think, it’s too late, I’ve missed out.”
Asa is a veteran of festive productions Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White and last year appeared in Peter Pan at the Liverpool Empire with fellow Benidorm star Tony Maudsley.
“This year, I have had plenty of time to plan the album,” said Asa.
“It is all traditional songs – I used to listen to a lot of Phil Spector albums and I liked how easy listening they were – and I have recorded them very much like the originals, nothing too out there.
“They are in the same vein as the Rat Pack, or Michael Bublé style.
“I think my own favourite from the album is All I Want For Christmas, the Mariah Carey song, it’s the only one I’ve treated a little bit differently from the rest, but it’s all very easy listening.”
Asa first found fame on the talent show Stars In Their Eyes, in 2002, where he performed as Bobby Vee singing The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.
Between 2012 and 2014, he appeared as himself in 13 episodes of the hit ITV show, Benidorm, penned by Hull writer Derren Litten, who tweeted that he was feeling “all Christmassy” after listening to an advance copy of Asa’s The Christmas Album: Volume 1.
“I called it Volume 1, there is no Volume 2, but it has put me under pressure to record another album next year,” said Asa.
The album, which includes all the usual Christmas crooner contenders, is available via Asa’s website.
It includes the classics It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and White Christmas.
Copies will also be on sale at Bridlington Spa on Saturday, December 19, when he is due to star in a special socially-distanced Christmas Cabaret.
“People will be served Christmas dinner at tables of up to six people who are in that bubble, in the beautiful Spa Royal Hall.
“It will be lovely to do a show so near to Christmas.”
Over the summer, Asa has been performing live shows of “music, laughs and irreverent nonsense” on Facebook.
“I called it Lockdown TV, it’s been keeping a lot of people going,” he said. “There’s been some general chit-chat and singsongs.”
At the start of lockdown, Asa and Natalie welcomed baby Buddy into the world, at Hull Royal Infirmary.
“I thought I’d only have a couple of weeks with him before I was away working again – in January, I was away on cruise ships doing shows – but I’ve been able to spend nearly every minute of Buddy’s life with him over these past months.”
Asa said: “My industry is full of positive people and as we soon as we start back, it will be full speed ahead.”
Visit asaelliott.com for more information.