Singer belts out from his soul

By Eric Scharf

scha0120@algonquincollege.com

“I deliver music straight from the soul and it is always a sincere heartfelt experience,” said guitarist Chris Assaad.

He is a Bay Street lawyer from Toronto who gave up the high stress world of law and turned to music full-time.

“At that time, I was also on a very different course, studying to become a lawyer and join the race,” said Assaad.

“ I went as far as I could with it but music kept on calling and so here I am.”

“It began six years ago when my undiscovered love for music smacked me across the face and said hello,” he said.

When he picked up his guitar and began to truly get into music he discovered something was not right.

Assaad was diagnosed with audiosclerosis, the same hearing impairment as classical music legend Ludwig van Beethoven. 

“Chris wasn’t prepared to let that stop him,” said Stefania Moretti, Assaad’s press agent, in an e-mail.

He was able to obtain corrective surgery to save his hearing.

“Thankfully I was able to have surgery to correct the condition and was given what I believe was a second chance,” said Assaad.

His first musical experiment was the rock-reggae group I.An.Eye.  The band was formed in 2002 by Assaad and his cousin Andrew Hanna in Toronto.  They sold out several shows across Ontario but it was time for Assaad to take a shot at the industry alone.

He took his solo act on the road and played The Observatory on Oct. 22.  He played an energetic soulful acoustic set.  Perched on a stool on stage with nothing but his acoustic guitar he rocked out songs from his upcoming album Glory Fire which is set to be released in early 2009.

“I am in the midst of recording an album and am treating myself to a live show,” said Assaad.  “It is fun for me and a way to test what I am working on in studio on a crowd.”

Assaad, who names Ben Harper, Kings of Leon and Red Hot Chili Peppers as some of his biggest influences, believes that lyrics and song-writing are vitally important to music.