Asher Laub is a versatile musician who can effortlessly jump from genre to genre.
This comes as no surprise to the listener because he started learning classical violin when he was two and even played the Buffalo Philharmonic by the time, he was thirteen years old.
What sets him apart from the other soloists is his trans-genre improvisational skills and his abilities as a performer. When he is not breakdancing on stage with his electric violin, he is an able DJ and a producer.
His latest release is a remake of Andrea Bocelli’s song ‘The Prayer,’ originally made for the movie ‘Quest for Camelot’ in 1998 and even received a Grammy nomination.
To recreate and reinterpret a song that is loved by all is often a daunting task. This is where Laub’s musical prowess shines. He captures the essence of the music: the melancholic simplicity and uses his instrument to tell the story like it were his own.
In the description of the music video, he explains his choice to cover this song by stating that “The Prayer is a song with such soul, and I think the violin instrumental brings this tune to the masses in a way that lyrics don’t.”
This is true on many different levels. Apart from the universal cliché that music is truly a universal language and sometimes an instrument such as a violin can express an emotion a lot more effectively than mere words, it also brings attention to the fact that not all of us speak the same language. This often stops us from being able to connect to a song truly. Laub thus takes this classic song and gives it a universal appeal. For those of us who may not understand Italian or English, the music is now more accessible to people worldwide.
The arrangement of the song has been kept simple. The beat is sparse and placed at sporadic intervals. The layers are lush and add to the richness of his primary melody instrument: the violin. A good producer knows where to draw the line. Adding too many elements often strips a song of its beauty and makes it hard to focus on the best parts. Perhaps this is why the original is so well-loved, for its simplicity.
When playing their versions of a seemingly simple song, musicians often fall into the trap of over-playing. They add unnecessary frills in parts that don’t require them. But not Asher Laub. There aren’t any moments in the track that feel out of place. He keeps his playing heartfelt and straightforward. He emotes through the violin, and when the song ends, one cannot help but reach for the replay button. Apart from being one of the most challenging instruments to play, the violin can be very difficult to extract a good tone out of. Laub’s training in classical music shines in the way he can emote so profoundly through the violin. This is a skill that not many violinists possess.
Now that live performances are slowly starting to happen again, one cannot help but wonder that watching Laub perform this song with his production, which includes special effects and a wall of video display, would be more wholesome. But until he’s playing at a venue or festival near you, feel free to check the music video out on youtube or stream the song on platforms such as Spotify.
Asher Laub also composes and performs his own music. He is electrifying to watch live, and if his rendition of ‘The Prayer’ is anything to go by, then you’re not going to be disappointed with his discography so far.
Listen to Asher Laub’s ‘The Prayer’ on:
