> a s t r a <

About the artist:	Roman Astra is a unique artist. Delivering a multi-faceted mix of ethnic, eastern and western sounds and styles, he likes to leave it to the listener to categorise his work. "My influences come from all over the place", Astra admits." Folk, Funk, Celtic, Classic - it’s all music to me." Born in Vienna, Roman Astra learned to play the piano at the age of six. At fourteen he picked up the guitar and later trained to sing. He started to learn to play the Sitar 21 years ago and gradually developed a taste for and some skills on other exotic instruments too. Astra mostly plays original music but enjoys covering some of his favourites which he rearranges with his quirky humour. Nowadays, the centrepiece of Astra's music is the Sitar. Guitars, an Esraj (Srilankan Violin, a Pipa (Chinese Lute) and the odd synth can also be heard. A couple of vocalists make sure all the possibilities for harmonies are covered. On stage a mix of mesmerising drones and funky grooves make sure that the audience is an active part of the performance and there is always time for some tongue-in-cheek humour. Astra has been a part of the national festival scene for numerous years now, both solo or accompanied by season musicians. Astra’s music has been played on local FM radio stations and is available through www.indie-cds.com. He had positive responses from both the press and producers of the ABC’s World Music programs and his work is currently forwarded to record and promotion companies. Beside his love for rhythms and grooves there is also a strong aspect of ambience in some of Astra’s work. His atmospheric recordings are certainly reminiscent of Brian Eno, Michael Brooks or some of Ry Cooder’s music. So it is no surprise that the local film industry is increasingly showing an interest in Astra’s recordings.
2008	Trio ‘CHILLFAKTOR 3’ ‘performing at ‘Cygnet Folk Festival’ and at ‘Apollo Bay Music Festival’, solo CD 'MagiCarpeTrip' to be finished
2007	Trio ‘CHILLFAKTOR 3’ established with Nik and Damien Stolp, 1stCD recorded and performances at ‘Falls Festival 2007’ and ‘Cygnet Folk Festival’ performances at ’10 Days on the Island’ and Moonah Arts Center with ‘MASALA, Apollo Bay and Cygnet Folk Festival with BABYLON BICYCLE, release of ‘MASALA’s’CD 'Rhythm & Raga', distributed by 'indie-cds.com', performance on ABC radio with Joel Rheinberger
2006	performing at 'Amplified Festival 2006', part of Nigel Hope's 'Bass Jump2', BABYLON BICYCLE present recital ‘Marco Polo’ at Cygnet and Nat. Folk Festival, performance on ABC radio with Trevor Jackson, Tasmanian support act for national touring band ZARAFFA Austr. Nat. Film & Recorded Sound Archives files 3 of Astra’s CDs,
2005	performance at '10 Days on the Island’ with ‘MASALA’ performance at Tasmania’s showcases ‘Rip Snort’ and ‘Amplified’, Duo BABYLON BICYCLE established with Jules Witek and recording of 1st CD, solo performances at Tasmanian Music events, presenting recital ‘Silk Road’ solo at the Nat. Folk Festival, distributed by 'indie-cds.com' showing of ‘The Dream of King Janaka’ at Moonah Arts Center, part of Nigel Hope’s show ‘Bass Jump1’ at Moonah Arts Center, performances on ABC and local FM radio
2004	performance at various Tasmanian Music Festivals solo and with MASALA, recording of solo CD ‘Silk Road Sermons’, distributed by 'indie-cds.com' presenting ‘Spice and Sound’ at the Moonah Arts Center with MASALA, appearance on ABC radio and interview with Tim Cox
2003	MASALA performs at Tasmanian Music-Festivals, Recording of solo CD ‘Sitar Lounge’, distributed by 'indie-cds.com' Presenting ‘From Bombay to Belfast in an Hour’ at Moonah Arts Center, performance on ABC radio and interview with Trevor Jackson, soundtrack for Bruno Col’s movie ‘Children of the shipwrecked coast’
2002	Trio MASALA established and recording of CD ‘Crossing Boundaries’ with David Cleaver and Jules Witek, performing at Tasmanian Folk- and World-Music Festivals and on local FM radio stations
2001	recording of Roman Astra’s ‘Light on a Lily’, distributed by 'indie-cds.com' performance on ABC radio’ and interview with Tim Cox, appearance on ABC-TV for ‘Indian Culture Day 2001’ soundtrack for Matt Newton’s ‘Mattsuyker Island’ shown at ’10 Days on the Island’