Asha Jefferies Trusts Her Body on “Cruise Control”

Today, Brisbane-based artist Asha Jefferies shares her newest single “Cruise Control,” Produced and mixed by Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music). The release also announces her signing to Nettwerk Music Group. Listen to “Cruise Control” (via Nettwerk) HERE. 

“Cruise Control” follows Jefferies’ distinct way of writing glowing idiosyncratic sounds that lie between classic folk arrangements, melancholic pop songs similar to Angel Olsen or Big Thief with a sense of fun and optimism that could be put alongside to Sheryl Crow. With such a wide range of influence and comparison, the songs of Asha Jefferies beg you to listen again as you realize her arrangements, down to the clever percussion and the expert use of a live band for engaging pop music, make for something we haven’t quite heard yet. Coming from the most vulnerable depths of a young woman learning to express her queerness, Jefferies’ songs are euphoric in more ways than one. 

Of “Cruise Control” Jefferies shares, “To be in cruise control is to ride steady and smoothly through the storms of rough climate, harsh roads, lame parties, and undesired romantic gestures. It’s a phrase I have kept close, after a lesson learned on testing my boundaries and finding the confidence to trust my gut. It’s a growing-up anthem, cultivating comfort in my own skin and exercising what feels right and what doesn’t.”

Of the video, Jefferies continues, “The clip was inspired by one of my favourite films, 500 Days of Summer and its expectation vs reality split screen scene. Both Cody [Wood] and I love how split screen’s can tell a story of different versions of the self. We filmed over two nights and features my older sister Tiana, who has taught me a lot about finding my own voice and trusting myself.”

Asha Jefferies has shared stages with Julia Jacklin, Noah Dillon, City and Colour, Paul Dempsey and more, and has played Australian festival slots at BIGSOUND and many more. Asha Jefferies is highly lauded in her home of Australia for someone so early in their career, and has won a Queensland Music Award, triple j Unearthed’s NIDA Competition and has been a finalist for both the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition and the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Her previous single “Tank Tops” became one of 2022’s most celebrated local tracks and a queer anthem, with the song exploring self-discovery and finding new love.

“Cruise Control” by Asha Jefferies is out now, listen here.

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