Photo of Azeka and D taken by Yvette Aispuro
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 Andrade on drums, and Dolomedes on 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,” the band’s first Spanish-language song, translates to “Play” and features a thrilling, creeping synthpunk duet between Azeka and guitarist Dolomedes. During previous live performances, “Jugar” has displayed Aurat’s ability to spark an electrifying connection between Dolo, Azeka, and the audience as they fluidly transition from their EBM synth-driven setup to a full four-piece performance. The cacophonous screams, dissonant bass lines, and echoing reverberations draw inspiration from the likes of Nitzer Ebb, Nervous Gender, Vomito Negro, Pouppée Fabrikk, and Front 242, showcasing the band’s unique ability to captivate and energize their audience.
“Touch of Flesh” broadens Aurat’s sonic horizons, introducing industrial clangs, crashes, and razor-sharp edges while Azeka Kamal’s powerful vocals roar, whisper, and shriek above the cacophony. This track evokes influences from the likes of NIN, Cabaret Voltaire, Twitch-era Ministry, and Wax Trax side projects, with Azeka’s vocals exuding a commanding presence reminiscent of the iconic Siouxsie Sioux herself.
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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