Summerlin singer plans love-themed concert
What’s the secret to a budding singing career? Tonsils, or the lack thereof, and passion. Ask Ashton Zyer.
The 33-year-old Summerlin resident plans a concert titled “Love and Other Obsessions” at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Summerlin Library’s Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. “Love and Other Obsessions” will encompass jazz, alternative rock, folk and adult contemporary and feature Kirk Rustman on drums/percussion, Johnny J Rivera on guitars, Kasey Carmondy on classical guitar, Ron Suffredini on bass, Joel Hales on cello and Marie Leatham-Davis on background vocals.
Zyer comes from a musical family. Her father plays trumpet and drums and appeared in a couple of Rose Bowl parades with the Santa Monica College marching band. Her mother plays clarinet and piano.
She said she’s wanted to be a singer “ever since I was 14, but nobody wanted to hear me sing. My sister was a better singer than me … I ended up doing the harmony parts.”
All that changed in 2001. Zyer found her voice had improved after a medical procedure.
“I had these huge tonsils, too big for the sound to resonate,” she said. “Whenever I’d go and see the doctor, he’d take a look at my tonsils and go, ‘Whoa, those are planet sized … I’ve never seen tonsils that big.’ “
The tonsils were removed. Her voice came into its own. That hurdle jumped, she began chasing her dream, with the goal to become a prominent songwriter and go on tour.
She released her first album “Silently” in 2004. Its genesis was her former day job working with victims of domestic violence. The songs were inspired by the stories she heard.
“Here we were (as a country), working hard to end the war, but we’re not working hard to end the wars in homes,” she said.
Zyer kept pushing her music. She came to the attention of Ajay Shah, a music producer, mixer and sound engineer previously with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds of Yab Yum Records, a part of Edmonds Entertainment Group.
“It was the power of networking that did it,” Zyer said. “I had a friend who knew his wife he became a mentor. We all need mentors.”
When they met, Zyer said there was an instant bonding through music. What was it about her sound that caught his ear?
“She had this very unique and attractive tone to her voice,” Shah said. “You can’t teach tone … You either have it or you don’t.”
Bart Doerfler is her director/choreographer. He has worked for Universal Studios, Hard Rock Theme Park, Disneyland, MGM, FOX, ESPN and the House of Blues.
“In this day and age, it seems there must be a gimmick … the gimmick (with Zyer) is that it’s all her — the voice, the playing and the beautiful personality,” Doerfler said. “I do not see this triple threat as much these days.”
In 2006, Zyer joined Ajay Shah and Melodic Entertainment group and moved to Las Vegas as a writer and associate producer.
She now divides her time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Her latest project, “The Naked Public,” was released in late 2009 as an interactive online music series, where members become part of the writing process.
“I’m so passionate about the show, passionate about giving people an experience where they leave going, ‘That was awesome,’ ” she said.
Tickets for “Love and Other Obsessions” are $16.50 at ashtonzyer.com or $20 at the door for cash or check only.
Contact Summerlin/Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.
‘Love and Other Obsessions’Summerlin resident Ashton Zyer plans to present the concert “Love and Other Obsessions” at the Summerlin Library’s Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets are $16.50 online or $20 at the door by cash or check only. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ashtonzyer.com.
