From humble beginnings, Astariel started out in a smalltown ruined by Thatcher. With starry eyed enthusiasm, he packed his bags, moved to London where the streets are lined with urine and heroin needles.
After stints in indie bands, Astariel decided the maxim "If you want something doing, do it yourself" applies to all aspects of life, including music and set about recording and writing his own material. Taking influences from the electroclash scene, Bowie, Kate Bush, Manics, Mansun, Suede and many other weird and obscure artists, Astariel put together a mish mash pastiche of rock star and vulnerable artist.
Always lively in performances, Astariel has appeared in anything from a kimono to a kilt onstage, and is always vaguely sexual, a little narcissistic, and a little insightful. Astariel tries to pack intelligent lyricism to a pop sensibility against a cool glam-electro backdrop.
Astariel says "You can hate me, as long as you're paying attention and I can hate you back I don't care. People sometimes find me aggressive and dramatic, but on the whole I think audiences enjoy what I'm doing, and are listening to the message behind the music. I never wanted to be one of those people who writes 'You know that I love you, and there's nothing I can do' and so on and so forth. I don't treat my listeners like idiots, and I will never be able to write a vacant love song. I think it's a refreshing change to the usual dross that even indie bands produce nowadays"
A natural performer, Astariel has played in full arrangement and flair at The Pleasure Unit, The Pink Festival and The bull and Gate, as well as doing acoustic sessions at The Sun and Monkey Chews.
"A little bit Marc Almond, a little bit Billy Mackenzie, Astariel is the mystery man of glam electro"- Hand Shandy Fanzine |
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