AurA San Diego

Aura is a modern rock band from San Diego that has been described as a cross between "Tori Amos and Deftones"

Aura is comprised of vocalist Sarah Duey, guitarist/drummer Dan Banks and bassist Lee Slatzer, and has recently been described as a cross between "Tori Amos and the Deftones". (Which we feel is quite a compliment!) Our songs are influenced by a diverse range of artists such as Guns N' Roses, Tori Amos, Tool, BT and The Cure. We take pride in interlacing raw guitars, pumping drum beats, thunderous bass riffs and modern computer sounds which lay nicely under Sarah's poignant and at times, ethereal, vocals. We feel all this ends up as a fresh and exciting musical experience.

Formed in 2001 from the remnants of a male-fronted band called Sober, AURA began when guitarist Dan Banks finally persuaded singer Sarah Duey to try her classically trained voice at rock music. The whole plan centered on forming a band that could win a local battle of the bands and land an opening spot for the rap group Naughty by Nature. AURA saw Banks move from drums to guitar and Sober bassist, Lee Slatzer, join the new project. The trio needed to go only next door to find long time friend and drummer Scott Gelo to complete the lineup. Several weeks later after many long rehearsal nights, 4 rounds of battle of the band victories, and a handful of covers from bands such as U2, the Cranberries, and Guns and Roses, the group opened for Naughty by Nature.

Meeting with so much success during its brief stint in the spring of 2001 the group decided to head to southern California to see how far they could take it. Scott Gelo decided to pursue his true artistic passion of Neon Art and sadly left the band before the trip out west.

Landing on the west coast saw its ups and downs, from auditioning drummer after drummer, to the daily rigors of keeping up with Southern California's day-to-day cost of living and breathing. This has made the group strong and determined to suceed! Currently AURA is making a big push to get signed to a record deal. We thank you for taking the time to read a little about us! Hope you enjoy our music as much as we do....

Aura plays live around San Diego and loves every moment of it!

Garbage, Cure, GnR, Cure, Tori Amos, Deftones, BT, Natalie Imbruglia, The Used

We are a rock band but heavily incorporate electronic music into our sound. I don't want to get into specifics but we are real gear headz! We gig along side a laptop and use radium and studiologic controllers.