Asherov, who moved to the U.S. in 1994 to attend the Berklee College of Music, has had her songs published and recorded by many celebrated Israeli artists. Her best known song, lyrics and music, “Along the Sea” (“Le’Orech Ha Yam”), was recorded by Ofra Haza in 1994, and is one of the most recorded songs in modern Israeli musical history.

On this album, Colors and Shapes, she worked with producer Mark Bryan (of Hootie and the Blowfish), who produced the album in his studio.  The album features Charleston musicians Quentin Baxter, Charlton Singletone, David Haywood, Tom Breznik, & Bryan as well.  Colors and Shapes, with 10 original tracks, was inspired by Asherov's life in Charleston and longings for her native home, Israel. Asherov recorded the album between June and October 2014. Matt Zutell of Charleston-based Coast Records engineered the recordings. 

"As an immigrant, completing an album with English lyrics was an accomplishment for me,” Asherov said. “Between writing lyrics in my second language and working with Mark as the producer, Colors and Shapes has been an incredible challenge, Mark pushed me to write and sing more powerfully than I ever thought I could, and I’m thrilled with the result.” 

Asherov and Bryan met at the College of Charleston, where both teach courses in the School of the Arts. “Ayala's classical background as a pianist and composer, along with her cultural perspective, made for one of the most unique recording experiences I've ever been involved with.  She is an endless fountain of creativity, and we share a knack for melodic hooks.  I thoroughly enjoyed helping her arrange it all, and playing with her and Quentin Baxter." Bryan said.

Asherov received her Bachelor's of Music from Berklee College and her Master's of Arts from the University of North Carolina: Winston Salem. Colors and Shapes is her third  album of original works, preceded by Crossing the River (2007) and Cycles of the Moon (2013). 
Asherov performed with her own material and a band in Picollo Spoleto of 2008, 20013 and 2014.  Asherov received the 2012-13 South Carolina Film Commission Indie Grants Award for PencilPoint, an animated short film with orchestral score performed by the College of Charleston Orchestra. In 2014 Asherov composed an original piece for the Magnetic South Concert Series, a partnership between the College of Charleston and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and she spearheaded an original project, Music Tells the Story, in collaboration with Communities In Schools (CIS), a Charleston-based dropout-prevention organization, to enhance elementary students’ education through music.

Learn more about Asherov at her website, Ayalaasherov.com. She can be reached at Ayalaasherov@mac.com. 


Ayala Asherov