Azure Ray
Encyclopedia
Azure Ray is an American
dream pop
duo
, consisting of musician
s Maria Taylor
and Orenda Fink
. The pair met at the age of 15 at the Alabama School of Fine Arts
. They fronted a band called Little Red Rocket, often compared to Veruca Salt
, in their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama
in the mid and late 1990s and released two albums with the band on Tim/Kerr
records.
Azure Ray started in Athens, Georgia
, but relocated to Omaha, Nebraska
and joined the music scene there. Taylor and Fink are also in another Saddle Creek band called Now It's Overhead
, with Andy LeMaster
. The two have collaborated with Moby
and co-wrote the song, "Great Escape" on the album 18. They have also appeared on numerous Bright Eyes records. Fink also works with Japancakes
.
Azure Ray disbanded in 2004, leaving Fink and Taylor to work on solo and other collaborative projects, including working in Now It's Overhead and Maria Taylor's solo recordings.
Fink and Taylor reformed the band for a one-off show in Los Angeles
on November 30, 2008. The duo was accompanied by Andy LeMaster of Now It's Overhead and Nick White
of Tilly and the Wall
.
In 2009, Taylor announced on KCRW
's Morning Becomes Eclectic
that the band would reform on a semi-permanent basis in July 2009 for "5 or 6" shows before working on a new Azure Ray album. Their fourth album, Drawing Down the Moon, was released in September 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dream pop
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, consisting of musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor
Maria Diane Taylor is an American singer/songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a member of the duo Azure Ray with Orenda Fink, as well as the band Now It's Overhead, both of which are signed with Saddle Creek Records...
and Orenda Fink
Orenda Fink
Orenda Fink is a musician on Saddle Creek Records.Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Fink was half of the Southern dream pop duo Azure Ray from 2001 to 2004. Fink is also a former member of Now It's Overhead, another Saddle Creek band. She released her first full-length solo album Invisible Ones on...
. The pair met at the age of 15 at the Alabama School of Fine Arts
Alabama School of Fine Arts
The Alabama School of Fine Arts is a public, partially residential high school located in Birmingham, AL. The mission of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, a community of explorers, is to nurture impassioned students by guiding and inspiring them to discover and fulfill their individual creative...
. They fronted a band called Little Red Rocket, often compared to Veruca Salt
Veruca Salt (band)
Veruca Salt is an alternative rock band founded in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included vocalist-guitarist Louise Post. Guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick has been with the band since 1999 and drummer Kellii Scott has worked with the group on and off since 1999...
, in their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
in the mid and late 1990s and released two albums with the band on Tim/Kerr
Tim/Kerr
Tim/Kerr was a record label in Portland, Oregon, run by Thor Lindsay and Tim Kerr, who closed the business in Spring of 1999. Some of the better known bands that were on the label include Everclear and The Dandy Warhols. The label also released a collaboration between Kurt Cobain and author William S...
records.
Azure Ray started in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, but relocated to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
and joined the music scene there. Taylor and Fink are also in another Saddle Creek band called Now It's Overhead
Now It's Overhead
Now It's Overhead were an indie rock band fronted by singer/songwriter Andy LeMaster and based in Athens, Georgia. Their first album, a self-titled collection of songs LeMaster wrote over a period of two years in the late 90s, quickly rose from a studio project to a full-time band with the...
, with Andy LeMaster
Andy LeMaster
Andy LeMaster is an American singer-songwriter and producer/engineer from Athens, Georgia. His primary band is Now It's Overhead. LeMaster has engineered, produced, and performed in many of the releases on the Saddle Creek label, including records by Bright Eyes, Now It's Overhead, Azure Ray,...
. The two have collaborated with Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
and co-wrote the song, "Great Escape" on the album 18. They have also appeared on numerous Bright Eyes records. Fink also works with Japancakes
Japancakes
-History:Rhythm guitarist Eric Berg formed the band with the idea of putting ten musicians in a band without any rehearsal, and performing a D chord for 45 minutes . He continued performances with numerous instrumentalists before releasing their first recording If I Could See Dallas on Kindercore...
.
Azure Ray disbanded in 2004, leaving Fink and Taylor to work on solo and other collaborative projects, including working in Now It's Overhead and Maria Taylor's solo recordings.
Fink and Taylor reformed the band for a one-off show in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on November 30, 2008. The duo was accompanied by Andy LeMaster of Now It's Overhead and Nick White
Nick White
Nicholas Edward White is a musician who plays keyboards in the indie-pop group Tilly and the Wall from Omaha, Nebraska. He has also been known to play keyboards for Bright Eyes on tour...
of Tilly and the Wall
Tilly and the Wall
Tilly and the Wall is an indie pop group from Omaha, Nebraska. Their name originated from a children's book called Tillie and the Wall, written by Leo Lionni...
.
In 2009, Taylor announced on KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
's Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic is a three-hour adult album alternative radio program first aired in 1977 and broadcast live every weekday from KCRW in Santa Monica, California. The show's name is a play on the Eugene O'Neill trilogy of plays, Mourning Becomes Electra.The show is hosted by Jason Bentley,...
that the band would reform on a semi-permanent basis in July 2009 for "5 or 6" shows before working on a new Azure Ray album. Their fourth album, Drawing Down the Moon, was released in September 2010.
Albums
- Azure RayAzure Ray (album)Azure Ray's self-titled debut was released January 16, 2001 on WARM.*The song "Sleep" is featured in both the film "The Devil Wears Prada" and in the Cold Case episode Fly away from season 1...
(Warm RecordsWarm RecordsWarm Electronic Recordings is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia. Azure Ray, Japancakes, and Crooked Fingers are some of the artists on their roster.-Artists:*Azure Ray*Crooked Fingers*Elk City*Empire State*Japancakes*Liz Durrett...
, 2001) - Burn and ShiverBurn and ShiverBurn and Shiver is the third release by Azure Ray , released by WARM in 2002.-Track listing:All tracks by Azure Ray#"Favorite Cities" – 3:44#"The New Year" – 3:44#"Seven Days" – 3:35#"Home" – 3:13...
(Warm RecordsWarm RecordsWarm Electronic Recordings is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia. Azure Ray, Japancakes, and Crooked Fingers are some of the artists on their roster.-Artists:*Azure Ray*Crooked Fingers*Elk City*Empire State*Japancakes*Liz Durrett...
, 2002) - Hold on LoveHold on LoveHold On Love is an album released by the band Azure Ray. It was released October 7, 2003 on Saddle Creek Records.This album is the 54th release of Saddle Creek Records...
(Saddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, 2003) - Drawing Down the MoonDrawing Down the Moon (Azure Ray album)Drawing Down the Moon is an album released by the band Azure Ray. It was released September 14, 2010 on Saddle Creek Records, seven years since their last album Hold On Love...
(Saddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, 2010)
Singles and EPs
- Sleep EP (Warm RecordsWarm RecordsWarm Electronic Recordings is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia. Azure Ray, Japancakes, and Crooked Fingers are some of the artists on their roster.-Artists:*Azure Ray*Crooked Fingers*Elk City*Empire State*Japancakes*Liz Durrett...
, 2002) - November EPNovember EPNovember EP is an EP by Azure Ray. It was released January 22, 2002 on Saddle Creek Records.This album is the 41st release of Saddle Creek Records.-Track listing:# "November"# "For the Sake of the Song"# "No Signs of Pain"# "Just a Faint Line"...
(Saddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, 2002) - The Drinks We Drank Last NightThe Drinks We Drank Last Night"The Drinks We Drank Last Night" is the first single from Azure Ray's third full-length album, Hold On Love.This single is the 55th release of Saddle Creek Records.-Track listing:# "The Drinks We Drank Last Night"# "The Love of Two"...
(Saddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, 2003) - New Resolution (Saddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, 2004) - Silverlake (Saddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, 2011)
Soundtracks
- Winter PassingWinter PassingWinter Passing is a 2005 American drama film. It is the directorial debut of playwright Adam Rapp, also known for his work on the show The L Word. The film stars Zooey Deschanel and Ed Harris, with supporting performances by Will Ferrell and Amelia Warner...
soundtrack – "Rise" - The Devil Wears PradaThe Devil Wears Prada (film)The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, a recent college graduate who goes to New York City and gets a job as a co-assistant to powerful and demanding fashion magazine...
soundtrackThe Devil Wears Prada (soundtrack)The soundtrack album for The Devil Wears Prada was released by Warner Brothers/WEA on July 11, 2006. It includes popular songs by U2 and Madonna, and work by Alanis Morissette and Jamiroquai, many of which were used for significant scenes in the film. The film also contains the Blackliquid Remix to...
– "Sleep" - ShortbusShortbusShortbus is a 2006 comedy-drama film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. The plot revolves around a sexually diverse ensemble of colorful characters trying desperately to connect in New York City. The characters converge in a weekly Brooklyn artistic/sexual salon loosely inspired by...
soundtrack – "If You Fall" - Six Feet Under soundtrack – "Rise"
- The 1st Shop of Coffee PrinceThe 1st Shop of Coffee PrinceThe 1st Shop of Coffee Prince is a South Korean drama that began airing on July 2, 2007. It is based on the novel of the same name written by Lee Sun-mi...
soundtrack – "Across the Ocean" - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode "Seeing Red" – "Displaced"
- ParenthoodParenthood (2010 TV series)Parenthood is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Katims and produced by Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios. The first season premiered on March 2, 2010 on NBC...
, episode "Amazing Andy and His Wonderful World of Bugs" – "Love and Permanence"