Azure Ray
““That,” he said backstage, as he set out two shots of whiskey for the girls “was the most punk rock thing I’ve ever seen.””
Although they became important figures in the Omaha scene in the early 2000’s, Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor made their initial mark in Athens, GA, where they formed Azure Ray in 2001. The two musicians – both Birmingham, Alabama natives as well as childhood friends – relocated to Athens after school and combined elements of folk, pop, and light electronica into their 2001 debut self-titled album, which included the hits “Sleep” and “Rise”. Their sophomore effort Burn & Shiver followed in 2002 and exuded a more serene soundscape, as well as slick production work from Crooked Fingers front man Eric Bachmann. After meeting the band in Athens, Bright Eyes front man Conor Oberst invited the band on tour and introduced them to Saddle Creek. Fink and Taylor relocated to Omaha, Nebraska and joined the music scene there, releasing the New Resolution EP. Fink and Taylor also began lending their voices to other artists, including Moby's 18 and Bright Eyes' Lifted or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground and served as members of Andy Lemaster's project, Now It's Overhead.
A year later, Azure Ray continued their prolific pace, releasing Hold on Love. The album proved to be the duo's last release for seven years, with both musicians pursuing solo careers in the interim. Taylor and Fink returned their focus to Azure Ray in 2009, launching a brief tour before returning in 2010 with their fourth album, Drawing Down the Moon. In September of 2012, the band's fifth, more electronic-leaning offering As Above So Below was release, and included contributions from the Faint’s Todd Fink. Following another 6 year hiatus, Waves was released in October 2018 on Flower Moon Records and is Azure Ray’s 8th studio release.
Upcoming News:
Azure Ray Announce 20th Anniversary Edition Of Their Self-Titled Debut Album Album To Released On Vinyl On January 16, 2021 via Flower Moon Records. Digital Version Features An Unreleased Bonus Track Twenty years ago this January, Azure Ray released their eponymous debut record featuring the hit songs “Sleep” & “Rise." To mark the special anniversary on January 16th 2021, Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink are releasing Azure Ray on vinyl for the first time. In addition to the album being mastered for vinyl, the band also uncovered an unreleased track from the original recording sessions which is included as a bonus track for the digital album.
The album will be available in three different colors including a Flower Moon Records exclusive bundle variant (Maria’s independent label which is now home to Azure Ray’s full catalog), and anindependent record store version.
Limited to 100 copies, the exclusive FMR bundle includes a 100 page photobook curated by band which recollects the last 20 years and features never before seen private photos and stories detailing their pre-Azure Ray days, formation, recording and tours and with Bright Eyes, Moby and more.