Interview and video by Emily Verdouw
Asta has no interest in writing love songs. Or about heartbreak. There's enough sadness in this world, she tells The Huffington Post Australia.
And with that, her debut EP Shine has been released, just over four years after winning 2012's Triple J Unearthed High.
"I really wanted to make a record that was happy, and inspiring and uplifting," she explains.
"It's definitely a mid-day sun record."
Music was an inevitable career for the young Aussie singer and songwriter. Growing up in the small town of Cygnet in Tasmania her parents were the creative types.
"My parents had these monthly jams where they'd get people from the community to come over and they'd have jam sessions with instruments and people would bring just whatever," Asta told HuffPost Australia.
"Yeah, the music was definitely in my blood from a young age."
Sitting in her inner-west Sydney apartment, Asta plays one of her latest tunes Doing What You Want.
As the title suggests, it's about ignoring the critics in your life and, well, doing what you want.
"I've been through some crazy times, I've been quite lost," she tells HuffPost Australia.
"That song really sums it up. It's about being who you want to be and not being too influenced by anyone or anything."
Triple J's Unearthed has an impressive list of alumni's with the likes of Missy Higgins, Flume, Rufus and Gang of Youths, but Asta's powerful voice blends right into this talent pool.
As she belts out this new tune, it's just her voice and a guitar, so there's no doubt this woman is pure talent.
"It feels good to sing, I feel relaxed now," she tells HuffPost Australia after wrapping the song.
Listen here to the entire acoustic session played for HuffPost:
Asta's debut EP 'Shine' is now available on iTunes.