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ASIA Featuring John Payne
12-18-2012, 10:27 PM
ASIA Featuring John Payne Announces First Single and Video from Forthcoming Album

“Seasons Will Change” is the new release from the noted prog rock outfit

Los Angeles, California – AOR/Prog rockers ASIA Featuring John Payne are set to make the music industry stand up and listen with their first single release “Seasons Will Change” now available as a digital single on iTunes and other mainstream online media outlets. Co-written by John Payne and Erik Norlander, “Seasons Will Change” is the first track unveiled from the band’s forthcoming album “Americana”, scheduled for release by Sony Music Japan in 2013. To promote the single, ASIA Featuring John Payne has released a promotional video for “Seasons Will Change”:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr6JDq6XX3o

John Payne explains: “’Seasons Will Change’ showcases elements of both vintage and modern rock music with notable characteristics of both the progressive and AOR genres, a tightrope that this band expertly walks with confidence and swagger. In an endless sea of bubblegum, disposable, three minute, computer driven music, we take our lead from the masters of the 1970s. In that time, bands released extended length singles separate from an album release. Epic songs like ‘Hotel California,’ ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven’ still live with us today due to this strategy. It’s time to lead and not follow. We’ve all waited long enough for a return to this classic approach.”

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Progressive rock aficionados will enjoy the layers of genuine analog synthesizers deployed by keyboard wizard Erik Norlander. Veteran ASIA drummer Jay Schellen’s dynamic drumming delivers confident power and subtlety. The dual guitar harmonies of six-string virtuosos Jeff Kollman and Moni Scaria will delight classic rock fans. Long time fans will recognize John Payne’s powerful vocals and evocative lyrics.

ASIA Featuring John Payne has been touring North America since 2008 and playing to enthusiastic fans across the USA and from Canada down to Mexico. A high-powered spinoff of the original ASIA group formed in 1981, ASIA Featuring John Payne consists of John Payne (lead vocals, bass), Jay Schellen (drums), Erik Norlander (keyboards), Moni Scaria (guitar) and Jeff Kollman (guitar). While Payne, Schellen and Norlander have been working together since the band’s inception, the current lineup with guitarists Scaria and Kollman was finalized just this year in 2012.

John Payne became the frontman of the supergroup ASIA in 1992 at the invitation of keyboardist Geoff Downes, replacing vocalist/bassist John Wetton. With John Payne fronting the band, ASIA released 8 stunning studio albums, several live albums, a live DVD, and toured the world extensively for 14 years.

In 2006, Geoff Downes left the band to reform the 1982 line up for their 25th anniversary. On the 9th of May 2006, John Payne, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe contractually agreed that John Payne would continue his 14 year legacy with ASIA as “ASIA Featuring John Payne.”

iTunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/seasons-will-change-single/id586372718

ThomasKDye
12-18-2012, 11:22 PM
As much as I wish this would be released under the GPS name, I will end up buying this. Thanks for sharing this, I really liked it.

ASIA Featuring John Payne
12-18-2012, 11:50 PM
Thanks Thomas. GPS is a different animal; though for a time it may have seemed to some that GPS and AFJP were the same.

GPS is John Payne, Jay Schellen, Guthrie Govan and Ryo Okumodo. There is desire from everyone in GPS to make another album and some material has already been written. For now the priority is AFJP; perhaps after "Americana" is out then GPS can come back out again.

The Fantastic Progo Rican
12-19-2012, 12:23 AM
Nice catchy tune, good job JP, looking forward for the new album...

bRETT
12-19-2012, 12:29 AM
Good song, interesting arrangement, strong singing and playing. Nothing not to like here!

ThomasKDye
12-19-2012, 01:13 AM
Thanks Thomas. GPS is a different animal; though for a time it may have seemed to some that GPS and AFJP were the same.

GPS is John Payne, Jay Schellen, Guthrie Govan and Ryo Okumodo. There is desire from everyone in GPS to make another album and some material has already been written. For now the priority is AFJP; perhaps after "Americana" is out then GPS can come back out again.

Thanks for clarifying that; I wasn't sure GPS still 'existed' in its original format anymore. It's good to know that they do.

However, as I said, I will definitely be buying this! It's very solid stuff!

Dan Roth
12-19-2012, 02:15 AM
After all these years of seemingly-non-activity on the album front, I was feeling pretty skeptical about this band, but I enjoyed that a whole lot! Definitely looking forward to the whole album now!

And thanks also for clarifying the AFJP/GPS deal.

ASIA Featuring John Payne
12-19-2012, 06:39 AM
Thanks Dan and everyone for the comments. It hasn't looked it but we've been busy. Fact is we have the most fun either recording or playing live, so if we're not doing either it means we're occupied with something less fun. There have been any number of challenges getting this band to this point - legal - business - etc but we've come this far and we have a lot of good music in the pipeline. With the climate of the music industry these days, we especially appreciate everyone's support - nothing is for granted anymore.


After all these years of seemingly-non-activity on the album front, I was feeling pretty skeptical about this band, but I enjoyed that a whole lot! Definitely looking forward to the whole album now!

And thanks also for clarifying the AFJP/GPS deal.

maribor
12-19-2012, 06:55 AM
That was excellent! I hope to be able to do another interview with John about the future release, he's just such a nice bloke. I think we have 2 very strong Asias right now and I don't really care about the legal issues. I just think both bands are better off with the current arrangement, both releasing great material. Seasons Will Change definitely has an Arena/Aura vibe, which is perfect in my book.

bondegezou
12-19-2012, 09:53 AM
Reminiscent of much Payne-era Asia, unsurprisingly, but not really to my tastes. (The band misses Govan in my opinion: two guitarists and not a guitar line of interest in the song!) This has not left me excited for the album.

Henry

80s were ok
12-19-2012, 10:00 AM
I just hope they don't pospone the concert scheduled for New Hope PA next year. I think it was originally scheduled for 2011!

ASIA Featuring John Payne
12-19-2012, 01:16 PM
We'd love to play out there - the postponements have been due to the venue.
I just hope they don't pospone the concert scheduled for New Hope PA next year. I think it was originally scheduled for 2011!

ASIA Featuring John Payne
12-19-2012, 01:17 PM
Send us a message with your contact details and thanks for the comments.


That was excellent! I hope to be able to do another interview with John about the future release, he's just such a nice bloke. I think we have 2 very strong Asias right now and I don't really care about the legal issues. I just think both bands are better off with the current arrangement, both releasing great material. Seasons Will Change definitely has an Arena/Aura vibe, which is perfect in my book.

Innerviews
12-21-2012, 01:58 AM
Looking forward to the rest of the album guys!

ASIA Featuring John Payne
12-26-2012, 06:56 PM
We have 3 shows set up for 2013 so far (more to come):
Feb 1 at Morongo Casino (near Palm Springs, CA)
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0900497B869E3181?artistid=734464
March 20-25 Moodies Cruise with Moody Blues, Greg Lake, Prog Collective (Billy Sherwood/Tony Kaye), the Zombies, the Strawbs and more:
http://moodiescruise.com
June 7 at Havana in New Hope, PA: http://havananewhope.com

We'll be playing "Seasons Will Change" and possibly more new tracks in the set. Thanks to everyone for the support, the response to the new single has been tremendous.

albertjohn3
12-31-2012, 07:41 PM
Great song. Great to have new music from the better side of the two Asia's. Hope to see you in the PA area this year.

Scott Bails
12-31-2012, 07:57 PM
FINALLY had a chance to listen to this and, wow! I really like it!

Can't wait to hear the full album!

ASIA Featuring John Payne
01-01-2013, 04:10 PM
We'll be in eastern PA - June 7 at Havana in New Hope, PA http://havananewhope.com - near Trenton, NJ, about an hour north of Philadelphia and about 90 minutes south of NYC.


Great song. Great to have new music from the better side of the two Asia's. Hope to see you in the PA area this year.

Harbottle
01-01-2013, 05:54 PM
Perhaps my favourite ASIA album is Arena, and this sounds like it could have come from that album. Sounds goods.

ASIA Featuring John Payne
01-10-2013, 07:51 PM
The ARENA album was a great project that just didn't get the exposure it deserved. It was nice to bring out the track "Arena" live in the 2000's and perhaps we'll incorporate something into our new setlist for 2013, since we're adding new material. If you're a fan of the album there's a little known radio interview done live with Virgin FM in 1996 with Elliot Randall, GD and JP who played a couple of the Arena tracks acoustically.


Perhaps my favourite ASIA album is Arena, and this sounds like it could have come from that album. Sounds goods.