“A multi-dimensional sound that combines rootsy-soul, folk, world music, and pop, without compromising that singer-songwriter essence. A crowd-pleasing artist onstage accompanied by a musically talented band, Chris Assaad’s performance style and charismatic energy deserves everyone’s attention.”
(Lonely Vagabond – Exclaim Magazine)
“Chris Assaad talks Bay St., Kanye, Ben Harper and Canadian Music WeekMusic with Substance”
OnTheGOinTO by Graeme O’Neil (March 2nd, 2011)
Chris Assaad didn’t start playing guitar until his early 20s, but now there’s no turning back as he’s quit the Bay Street life as a lawyer and is a full-time musician. He’s been touring Canada and Australia for the past couple years in support of his debut album, Glory Fire and OnTheGOinTO talk to him about the 2 gigs he has during Canadian Music Week before he heads back into the studio to work on a new album. Read the whole interview.
“Music with Substance”
Canmore Leader Feature by Hamish MacLean (November, 2010)
Chris Assaad didn’t start playing music until he was in his early 20s and he admits that for his creative goals to “blossom,” it took a while, but now that they have, his vision is clear.
Assaad speaks about peace love and inspiration in his music. It’s a part of his life.
“I really sort of view music as a medium for healing,” he said. “You can read that in my bio. I speak about it often.”
“What draws me to music is — what drew me to music so much at the outset — was just that. And so I think that will always be something that my music has to offer to the listener.”
When he spoke to the Leader from North Vancouver last week, he didn’t shy away from the description of his music as the sonic equivalent of comfort food. Read the whole interview
Interview and playlist: Chris Assaad
OGLE Toronto Feature (March, 2010)
When it comes to life, most people require a map to help them navigate throughout it. This map offers them direction and comfort. Then there are the people who decide not to follow any type of map. Instead, they trust their heart and follow their passion. In doing so, they create their own map that’s completely unique. Such is the case with musician Chris Assaad; he doesn’t follow a map. Instead, he follows his passion for music and lets his heart lead the way. So far, his passion has lead him to the creation of his debut album, Glory Fire, and more importantly, his own distinctive path in life and in music. We managed to catch up with this emerging artist before he left for a tour in Australia to support his album. Read the whole interview
S.C.E.N.E. Festival Live Performance Review
Fazer Magazine (June 2009)
There are a good number of great ambient, acoustic based acts that come out of The Golden Horseshoe and area. Chris Assaad has been at it for a few years now and has just released his first full-length album.
He walked onstage at ON81 as an unassuming, calm guy, his band walking in the same steps. He left the stage later that hour with an air of authority and a bunch of jammy tunes reverberating in the heads of every listener present for his set.
The music that Chris has crafted has a great blend of acoustic, jam and prog-rock, drawing some obvious influences from great musicians like Ben Harper, Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young. Read the whole article