Azure Ray is an American

dream pop Dream pop (also typeset as dreampop) is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such as ...

duo, consisting of

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wr ...

Orenda Fink Orenda Fink is an American singer, musician, and writer. Perhaps best known as half of the duo Azure Ray, Fink is also a member of Art in Manila, O+S, Closeness, and High Up, and has played with or appeared as a guest on records by Bright Ey ...

and Maria Taylor. Formed in

Athens, Georgia Athens, officially Athens–Clarke County, is a consolidated city-county and college town in the U.S. state of Georgia. Athens lies about northeast of downtown Atlanta, and is a satellite city of the capital. The University of Georgia, the ...

in 2001, they later moved to

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest ...

and became part of the

Saddle Creek Records Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Mike Mogis and Justin Oberst in 1993 (as Lumberjack Records). Mogis soon turned over hi ...

music scene, which also included Bright Eyes, The Faint, and

Cursive Cursive (also known as script, among other names) is any style of penmanship in which characters are written joined in a flowing manner, generally for the purpose of making writing faster, in contrast to block letters. It varies in functionali ...

. Azure Ray's music has often been featured in

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

and

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

, including '' Six Feet Under'', ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into s ...

'', and '' The Devil Wears Prada''.

Biography

Formation

The pair met at the age of 15 while attending the

Alabama School of Fine Arts The Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) is a public, tuition-free partially boarding state middle and high school located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It provides an intensive specialty-focused education in the arts, math, and sci ...

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...

. They fronted a band called Little Red Rocket, which released two CDs, ''Who Did You Pay'' (1997,

Tim/Kerr Tim/Kerr (also known as T/K) was an American independent record label in Portland, Oregon, United States, run by Thor Lindsay and Thomas "Tim" Kerr IV from 1985 until 1999. Between 1978 and 1984 Lindsay and Kerr were also co-owners of an independe ...

) and ''It's in the Sound'' (2000, Monolyth Record Group), which earned them frequent comparisons to

Veruca Salt Veruca Salt is an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1992 by vocalist-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post, drummer Jim Shapiro and bassist Steve Lack. They are best known for their first single, "Seether", tha ...

. After the band broke up, Fink and Taylor moved to

, and eventually formed Azure Ray. "My boyfriend had just died and we had written all of these songs that were helping us cope with everything. We had a night where all of our friends and family got together. We played those songs, which later would turn into the songs on our first Azure Ray record..." said Taylor.

''Azure Ray'' (2001)

The pair signed to the

Warm Electronic Recordings Warm Electronic Recordings (sometimes abbreviated to Warm Records) is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia run by Brian Causey. Azure Ray, Japancakes, and Crooked Fingers are some of the artists on their roster. Artists *Azure Ray ...

label and released their self-titled debut in 2001, produced by Eric Bachmann (

Crooked Fingers Crooked Fingers was an American indie rock band, led by the former Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann. A vehicle for Bachmann's songwriting, the band's lineup changed between each record. Crooked Fingers released albums on WARM Records and Merg ...

and

Archers of Loaf Archers of Loaf is an American indie rock band originally formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1991. The group toured extensively and released four studio albums, one compilation, numerous singles and EPs, and a live album which was release ...

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...

praised the album, giving it a 7 out of 10, describing it as a collection of "maudlin but beautiful, expertly crafted pop songs". The song "Sleep" was later featured in the 2006

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

-nominated movie '' The Devil Wears Prada'' featuring

Anne Hathaway Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award, she was among the world's highest-paid actresses in 2 ...

. In February 2015,

Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her vivid songwriting—often inspired by her personal life—has received critical praise and wide media coverage. Bo ...

included "Sleep" on a six-song "breakup playlist" made for a fan via her official

Tumblr Tumblr (stylized as tumblr; pronounced "tumbler") is an American microblogging and social networking website founded by David Karp in 2007 and currently owned by Automattic. The service allows users to post multimedia and other content to ...

. DJ

Paul Kalkbrenner Paul Kalkbrenner () (born 11 June 1977) is a German musician, producer of electronic music and actor. Because he breaks down his tracks into elements that are reassembled onstage, Kalkbrenner is considered a live act, as opposed to a DJ. He is ...

also sampled "Rise" in his 2008 song "Azure".

''Burn and Shiver'' and ''November'' EP (2002)

Azure Ray's second album, '' Burn and Shiver'', was released in 2002, again produced by Bachmann. With ''Burn and Shiver'', Pitchfork said the duo had "come closer than ever to wielding an emotional potency like master Cohen's". After meeting Fink and Taylor in Athens, Bright Eyes frontman

Conor Oberst Conor Mullen Oberst (born February 15, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, the Faint (previously named Norman Bailer), Commander V ...

invited the band on tour and introduced them to the people at

Saddle Creek Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Mike Mogis and Justin Oberst in 1993 (as Lumberjack Records). Mogis soon turned over his ...

, the label to which he was signed. They relocated to

and joined the music scene there. The ''November'' EP was released on January 21, 2002, and was the band's first for Saddle Creek. The two collaborated with

Moby Richard Melville Hall (born September 11, 1965), known professionally as Moby, is an American musician, songwriter, singer, producer, and animal rights activist. He has sold 20 million records worldwide. AllMusic considers him to be "among the ...

and co-wrote the songs "Great Escape" (on his album '' 18'') and "Landing" (which appeared on the ''

XXX XXX may refer to: Codes and symbols * 30 (number), Roman numeral XXX * XXX, designating pornography ** XXX, an X rating ** .xxx, an internet top-level domain intended for pornographic sites * XXX, a symbol of the straight edge lifestyle * XXX, t ...

soundtrack A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrac ...

), and afterwards joined him on tour.

''Hold On Love'' (2003), ''New Resolution'' EP (2004) and Hiatus

'' Hold On Love'' was the band's third full-length, released October 7, 2003 on Saddle Creek. Pitchfork called it a departure from their previous records, with "newly arresting manipulations of electronic elements interlock ngwith the duo's traditional organic fare, as well as bolder and sharper production". The first single from this album, ''New Resolution'', was released as an EP/Single by Saddle Creek on January 20, 2004. Azure Ray went on hiatus in 2004, leaving Fink and Taylor to work on solo albums and other collaborative projects, including a stint in Now It's Overhead.

Reunion and ''Drawing Down the Moon'' (2010)

Fink and Taylor reformed the band for a one-off show in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

at the iconic

Troubadour A troubadour (, ; oc, trobador ) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word ''troubadour'' is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a '' trobair ...

on November 30, 2008, accompanied by

Andy LeMaster Andy LeMaster is an American musician, songwriter, engineer, and producer from Athens, Georgia. Now It's Overhead is the primary project for his own songwriting, while he also releases music under his own name and contributes as a co-writer on ...

of Now It's Overhead and Nick White of

Tilly and the Wall Tilly and the Wall was an indie pop group from Omaha, Nebraska. Their name originated from a children's book called ''Tillie and the Wall'', written by Leo Lionni. They are particularly noted for having a tap dancer, Jamie Pressnall, provide pe ...

. In 2009, Taylor announced on

KCRW KCRW (89.9 MHz FM) is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to program ...

's ''

Morning Becomes Eclectic ''Morning Becomes Eclectic'' (MBE) 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, ...

'' that the duo had reformed on a semi-permanent basis, with the intention of playing "five or six" shows before working on a new Azure Ray album. Their fourth album, '' Drawing Down the Moon'', was released in September 2010. On August 4th, 2010,

Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several awar ...

premiered the first song from the album, "Don't Leave My Mind"; they later premiered the video, directed by Ryan Berg, on September 30. Pitchfork said the new album "sounds warmly familiar, a reminder of why we missed them in the first place", while a reviewer for the BBC called it "a warming blanket of an album, here for you to wrap up in". On January 25, 2011, Azure Ray released a new single from the recording sessions, titled "Silverlake", recorded with

Mark Linkous Mark Linkous (September 9, 1962 – March 6, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as leader of Sparklehorse. He was also known for his collaborations with such notable artists as Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, Daniel John ...

Sparklehorse Sparklehorse was an American indie rock band from Richmond, Virginia, led by singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous. Sparklehorse was active from 1995 until Linkous' 2010 death. Prior to forming Sparklehorse, Linkous fronted local bands ...

''As Above, So Below'' EP (2012)

Azure Ray's next release, a six-song EP entitled '' As Above So Below'', came out on Saddle Creek on September 5, 2012. After a two-year hiatus following the release of ''Drawing Down the Moon'', Fink and a pregnant Taylor entered the studio to record six news songs with a more "hypnotic" "electronica" influence in collaboration with Andy LeMaster and Todd Fink. On July 17, Stereogum premiered "Scattered Like Leaves", calling it a "starry, shivering cut", while

NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

premiered "Red Balloon" on August 9, describing it as a "long, slow summer swoon" with "devastating melancholy".

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

premiered the full EP stream on August 28.

Reunion and ''Waves'' EP (2018)

In October 2017, after another hiatus, it was announced that Azure Ray's self-titled debut and ''Burn and Shiver'' were now newly available through Taylor's own label, Flower Moon Records. The next month, the duo announced they would once again reunite for a one-off show in Los Angeles at the Lodge Room on January 20, 2018. On September 26, 2018, ''

'' announced the first new Azure Ray record in six years, an EP titled ''

Waves Waves most often refers to: * Waves, oscillations accompanied by a transfer of energy that travel through space or mass. * Wind waves, surface waves that occur on the free surface of bodies of water. Waves may also refer to: Music *Waves (ban ...

'', and premiered a new single, "Palindrome", praising it as a "mournful string-driven ballad which offers the best of the band's spectral harmonies, woodsy storytelling and aching wisdom". Billboard premiered the video for "Palindrome", directed by Alan Tanner, on October 19, along with a new recording of "Hold On Love" (from their 2003 record of the same name), which the band said "reflects the live version that we came to love playing through the years". KCRW premiered the video for the "hauntingly beautiful" "Last Summer in Omaha" on October 25, the day before the EP was released on Flower Moon.

Other projects

Fink and Taylor have both recorded and released numerous solo albums, and have performed as part of Now It's Overhead. They have also appeared together on numerous Bright Eyes records, as well as others by

, Two Gallants, and

Georgie James Georgie James was an American indie pop/ rock group from Washington D.C. composed of John Davis (formerly of Q and Not U) and Laura Burhenn. When Q and Not U disbanded in 2005 after releasing three albums, the band split into three different ...

. Fink is also a member of Art in Manila, O+S, Harouki Zombi, Closeness, and High Up, and has played with or appeared as a guest on records by The Faint,

Pete Yorn Peter Joseph Yorn (born July 27, 1974) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He first gained international recognition after his debut record, '' Musicforthemorningafter'', was released to critical and commercial acclaim in 2001. He is ...

Old Canes Old Canes is a rock band from Lawrence, Kansas currently composed of frontman Christopher Crisci (of The Appleseed Cast) and additional touring musicians. Because most of the band members, including Crisci, participate in other bands, Old Canes ...

, and others. Taylor has recorded or performed with

Ben Lee Benjamin Michael Lee (born 11 September 1978) is an Australian musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but he focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appe ...

Joshua Radin Joshua Radin (born June 14, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter. He has recorded nine studio albums, and his songs have been used in a number of films and TV series. His most successful album, '' Simple Times'', was released in 2008. Beginni ...

Nik Freitas Nik Freitas is a singer-songwriter from Visalia,Nik Freitas homepageConor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band ...

, and others.

Discography

Albums

* ''

Azure Ray Azure Ray is an American dream pop duo, consisting of musicians Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor. Formed in Athens, Georgia in 2001, they later moved to Omaha, Nebraska and became part of the Saddle Creek Records music scene, which also included ...

'' (

, 2001; now Flower Moon Records) * '' Burn and Shiver'' (Warm, 2002; now Flower Moon Records) * '' Hold On Love'' (

, 2003; now Flower Moon Records) * '' Drawing Down the Moon'' (Saddle Creek, 2010; now Flower Moon Records) * ''Remedy'' (Flower Moon, 2021)

Singles and EPs

* "Sleep" (Rubber Records, 2002) * ''

November November is the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, the fourth and last of four months to have a length of 30 days and the fifth and last of five months to have a length of fewer than 31 days. Nov ...

'' (Saddle Creek, 2002; now Flower Moon Records) * "The Drinks We Drank Last Night" (Saddle Creek, 2003; now Flower Moon Records) * "New Resolution" (Saddle Creek, 2004; now Flower Moon Records) * "Don't Leave My Mind" (Saddle Creek, 2010; now Flower Moon Records) * "Silverlake" (Saddle Creek, 2011; now Flower Moon Records) * '' As Above So Below'' (Saddle Creek, 2012; now Flower Moon Records) * ''

'' (Flower Moon Records, 2018)

Soundtracks

* ''

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince ''Coffee Prince'' () is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun-kyun, and Chae Jung-an. Based on the novel of the same name written by Lee Sun-mi, it was aired on MBC's Mondays and Tuesdays at the 21: ...

'' soundtrack – "Across the Ocean" * ''

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. It is based on the 1992 film of the same name, also written by Whedon, although the events of the film are not consid ...

'', episode " Seeing Red" – "Displaced" * '' The Devil Wears Prada''

– "Sleep" * ''

The Good Wife ''The Good Wife'' is an American legal and political drama television series that aired on CBS from September 22, 2009, to May 8, 2016. It focuses on Alicia Florrick, the wife of the Cook County State's Attorney, who returns to her career in l ...

'', episode "Live From Damascus" – "Seven Days" * ''

'' episode "Something's Gotta Give" – "Shouldn't Have Loved" * '' Mouth to Mouth'' soundtrack – "No Signs of Pain" * '' Parenthood'', episode "Amazing Andy and His Wonderful World of Bugs" – "Love and Permanence" * ''

Revenge Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." P ...

'', Episode "Intuition" (02X04) - "The Heart Has Its Reasons" * ''

Shortbus ''Shortbus'' is a 2006 American erotic 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 an early 2000s New York City. T ...

'' soundtrack – "If You Fall" * '' Six Feet Under'' soundtrack – "Rise" * '' Winter Passing'' soundtrack – "Rise"

References

External links

* * {{Authority control All-female bands Dream pop musical groups Feminist musicians Indie rock musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state) Musical groups established in 2001 Musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state) Musical groups from Nebraska Rock music duos Saddle Creek Records artists Warm Electronic Recordings artists 2001 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)