Today’s band, gloom guitar-oriented Audra’s origins are fuzzy at best. The brainchild of Helm brothers Bret (vocals) and Bart (guitars), Audra began writing and recording music as far back as 1993, soon after their relocation to Mesa, Arizona.
Alongside their trusty drum-machine (replaced by live drummer J. Dewolfe in 2002), the band would self-release a slew of cassette tapes and demos over the course of six years, eventually drawing the attention of Projekt’s Sam Rosenthal, who signed the band and released their self-titled debut in 2000, a driving record with glam rock hooks, dark meandering lyrics, and heavy backbeats.
Their sophomore effort, 2002’s Going to the Theatre improved upon this formula, adding more subtle and haunting beauty to their compositions. The record earned the band a series of favorable reviews and television spots on select MTv programs.
Though the band has yet to release their follow-up, it is said to be in the works. In the meanwhile, Audra has contributed Christmas tunes and cover songs to various compilations, and both Bret and Bart Helm have been regular members of neo-ambient act Black Tape for a Blue Girl since 2002.
For your listening pleasure, I’ve uploaded a track from both of their records, in reverse chronological order.
download Audra- ‘There Are No Snakes In Heaven’
download Audra- ‘In Hollywood Tonight’
Though it’s no handy embedded youtube file, for a video of the band’s cover of Joy Division’s ‘Walked In Line,’ please click the following link:
Walked In Line on IFC Media Lab
Otherwise, both of Audra’s recordings are available for purchase by visiting these links below: