Asi Kemera
Primary Genres
R&B, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Dream Pop
Overview
Asi Kemera is a 25-year-old artist who has had different eras of creative expression. Initially starting out in 2019 as an Indie R&B artist, she has since delved into Dream Pop and Indie Rock. Her aesthetic has taken a darker turn since she debuted; what was once a lighter, playful sound has become a toned-down, dark approach. Her lyrical content is frequently themed around emotional content, putting vulnerability at the forefront. This comes paired with her newer, hazy-sounding instrumentals from 2022 onwards. She has stated that her music has had some Ethiopian and Bollywood influences, citing culture as an important element for her. She remains active at the time of writing, but with no new releases in 2026, we’re still waiting for our first release of the year.
Early releases
At the beginning of Asi Kemera’s career, she had a DIY R&B sound. Very underproduced songs with fun, catchy melodies. The homemade sound to the music gives it an authentic sound. It doesn’t sound like she’s taking herself too seriously, more like she’s having fun making songs that are smooth on the ears. Little Solos, like a saxophone in her first-ever single, ‘I’ll Be Fine’, brings some personality to the tracks with sounds we don’t hear too often anymore. Although not the most challenging songs, they have a certain charm to them which you can’t really get in more attentive tracks.
Her debut EP ‘Daydream’ followed in the same footsteps as her first singles. Similar homemade-looking artwork for the cover and a smooth R&B sound. However, there is one slight difference. The tracks feel like they were made with a little more intent; the production comes together to make a more layered project. My personal favourite off the EP is ‘Oh, Honey’. I’m a big fan of the chord progressions with the different vocal tracks stacked on top of each other. The chorus is a high-pitched delivery ending with a subtle display of her vocal ability. In fact, that’s one of the best ways to frame the track, every detail works together in tandem, even though they’re very subtle. The outro of the track is an orchestral one with a simple fadeout, still not breaking boundaries, but bringing her sound together bit by bit.
Asi Kemera’s second era
However, during her next stint of singles and an EP, her sound began to completely change. There were still fairly noteworthy traces of her original R&B influences, but with a completely new landscape. The groovier melodies and basslines were switched out for a more Indie Pop/Rock sound, and the atmosphere was morphed into a much airier one. This run is my personal favourite style of hers. It’s a transitional period between her old sound and new sound, where she has her hands dipped in every stylistic direction. The DIY element has left her music almost entirely by this point. The detail in the songs sounds much larger than a bedroom session.
My favourite song from this era is ‘wish on a star‘, although it’s actually a feature. The track is by Heart, Heart, who only have two official appearances, both of which are with Asi Kemera. At its core, it’s a soft Indie Rock/Pop track. Although it isn’t Psychedelia, it does give off a similar feeling to me. The production choices aren’t jam-packed with loads of different things, just a few set elements that work together very cohesively. For example, it’s a shorter track with the vocals being mixed into the beat rather than being distinctly layered above it, and the guitars/drums aren’t grand, but they shift in and out of the beat alongside the vocals. All of these factors are what make it feel a bit psychedelic despite the actual production being rooted in Indie Rock/Pop.
Her debut album
Her third era, and what would be considered her current era, came with the release of ‘Do Your Angels Start To Sing’. This was released in 2024 and saw her first attempt at the darker aesthetic. From the album art alone, there is a very apparent shift in tone. The project is quite the rollercoaster with many highlights and lowlights, but it’s an impressive run for a new sound in a debut album. The R&B DNA is practically gone at this point, but it shares many similarities with her previous project instead. The Rock influence has been turned up a bit more; still timid, but much more noticeable than before. I do think this is my favourite overall sound from her, even with the inconsistencies, the highlights are the best in her career so far.
It’s harder to pick a singular favourite for this project, but I think ‘Would You Run As My Only Saviour’ would be the pick for me. This song directly shows the Rock influence the most, but unfortunately, it’s only 2:08 in length. It doesn’t have enough time to explore its sound fully, but during the runtime, it impresses me.
Standout tracks
A collection of our favourites
