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Darkwave Act Aurat Debuts a Double Dose of EBM and Synthpunk with “Jugar” and “Touch of Flesh”
Aurat (OH-RUT), meaning “Women” in Urdu, hails from the sun-drenched streets of Los Angeles, CA. Led by the core duo of Pakistani-American vocalist Azeka Kamal and Gil Talbot on production/bass,…
The post Darkwave Act Aurat Debuts a Double Dose of EBM and Synthpunk with “Jugar” and “Touch of Flesh” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.
Aurat (OH-RUT), meaning “Women” in Urdu, hails from the sun-drenched streets of Los Angeles, CA. Led by the core duo of Pakistani-American vocalist Azeka Kamal and Gil Talbot on production/bass, Aurat boldly embraces the Urdu language with lyrics of its native language and nontraditional sounds, injecting a much-needed cultural perspective into a predominantly European musical subculture. The group also features Victor (drums), Dolo (guitar), each bringing their own individual flair to the group’s unique sound.
Inspired by classic electronic music, post-punk, industrial, and just about any ‘wave’ related genre you can cite, Aurat’s sounds are living personalities. They’re not afraid to experiment with new sounds and push the boundaries of their own creativity. Aurat embodies the true DIY punk spirit, proving that their unique blend of sounds and cultural influences can thrive in today’s music landscape. They’re a band that refuses to be boxed in by any preconceived notions of what “should” be and instead blaze their own trail with an infectious energy that demands attention.
With a mission to embrace Azeka’s native Urdu language and inject it into their music, the band is now premiering two new tracks for your listening pleasure: “Jugar” and “Touch of Flesh.”
“Jugar,” which is translated as “Play” the band’s first Spanish-language song, is a thrilling, creeping synthpunk duet between Azeka and guitarist Dolo Mendes. When it debuted live, it showcased the band’s ability to whip the audience into a frenzy as they seamlessly transitioned between their EBM synth-driven setup and a full four-piece performance. Their cacophonic screams, dissonant bass lines, and echoes immediately bring to mind Nitzer Ebb, Nervous Gender, Vomito Negro, Pouppée Fabrikk, and Front 242.
“Touch of Flesh” expands Aurat’s sonic range even further, bringing industrial clangs, bangs, and fangs to the table as Azeka Kamal’s formidable vocals howl and purr and screech over the noise. It brings to mind the aforementioned, as well as NIN, Cabaret Voltaire, Twitch-Era Ministry, Wax Trax side projects, as well as invoking a commanding reverence, not unlike that of the queen herself, Siouxsie.
Listen to “Jugar” and “Touch of Flesh” below:
Ever since their mesmerizing debut single “Nazar” in 2017, followed by a self-titled debut EP and the full-length album “Image” in 2018, Aurat has been carving out a unique space for themselves in the darkwave scene. The band’s third full-length album, “Poison” (aka “Zeher“), released in 2020, showcases their ever-evolving sound, heavily influenced by classic post-punk, industrial, EBM, and darkwave bands of the 1980s, as well as classic Bollywood films.
After a brief hiatus, Aurat is set to perform their first gig on April 1st at Catch One in Los Angeles, followed by a performance at Cruel World Festival in Pasadena.
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