IF YOU GO
| Azure Ray with Tim Fite and James Husband |
| » Where: Rock N Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE |
| » When: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday (doors at 8 p.m.) |
| » Info: $12 in advance, $14 day of show; 202-388-7625; rockandrollhoteldc.com |
You really can go home again.SClB Just ask Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor, known collectively as Azure Ray. Even though they took a six-year break, the duo is back with a new album, ‘Drawing Down the Moon,’ filled with delicately breathy tunes.SClB
“We just started doing solo work and were so busy we wouldn’t see each other,” Taylor said of the hiatus. “Orenda played in Rilo Kiley’s band based in Los Angeles. When I went to L.A., it was the first time in years we spent time together hanging out every day. Our friendship was better than ever and we just thought ‘Hey, we should make music.'”SClB
Azure Ray built a strong fan base with its first three albums and an EP that showcased the duo’s haunting ballads. The new album mixes the sound up a bit with instrumentation ranging from a harp to synthesizers and keyboards and guitars.SClB
The songs range from the opening tune (“Wake Up Sleepyhead) that’s been described as a lullaby, to a murder ballad (“Larraine’) and haunting tales of heartbreak (“Walking in Circles”).SClB
“Orenda wrote a few songs and then we wrote some together. We want to try to do more of that,” Taylor said. “I guess we always have known each other’s strengths. That’s the beauty of our friendship and musical relationship. We just feed off each other in a special way.”SClB
Taylor dismisses critical concerns that the sound might deviate too far from the past sound. The goal for this album, she said, was that it be reminiscent of the older songs but move ahead.
SClBAs the band tours behind the album, they’ve found a positive reaction to the work. The most difficult part, she said, is getting the word out to fans that Azure Ray is back.SClB
“We are finding it hard to reach all of our fans,” Taylor said, noting they are trying to become savvier on social networking sites. “We last toured, we never had to deal with [social networks] so it just feels a little weird.”SClB
Otherwise, though, the reunion feels like home, Taylor said.
SClB”It feels great,” she said. “Everything is comfortable in the studio and touring. Orenda and I have been so, so close for 15 years. Touring can get stressful and so can every part of this business but when I look at her, I feel I’m at home.”
