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Arora, stylized in allcaps with the first R backwards, and formerly called Sonos, is a vocal band based in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
. Sonos originally grew out of a 2006 recording project and began performing and touring in 2008. The group's repertoire centers on vocal covers sung
a cappella with the use of effects pedals. Sonos competed in the third season of
The Sing-Off
''The Sing-Off'' was an American television singing competition featuring a cappella groups. It debuted on NBC on December 14, 2009, and was produced by Sony Pictures Television and Outlaw Productions, with Mark Burnett's One Three Media (for a ...
on NBC and was eliminated on the fourth episode. The group changed their name to Arora in 2013 in preparation for the release of their third album, "Bioluminescence."
History
Sonos began as a recording project in 2006, composed of then current and former members of the
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California S ...
co-ed
a cappella group
Awaken A Cappella; the group arranged and recorded several songs. In 2007, the recording project disbanded and former members Christopher Harrison, Jessica Freedman and Paul Peglar recruited friends and colleagues Rachel Bearer, Katharine Hoye and Ben McLain to form Sonos.
In the fall of 2008, the sextet began performing live and incorporating electronic effects pedals. In the summer of 2009, Sonos completed ''SonoSings, 2009'', produced by band member Harrison, as well as Gabriel Mann, and Hugo Vereker.
Sara Bareilles was featured on the cover of her own song "Gravity" as a guest vocalist. Sonos signed onto
Verve Forecast and released SonoSings September 15, 2009, and began touring.
Special appearances include live radio sessions on
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
's ''
Weekend Edition
''Weekend Edition'' is a set of American radio news magazine programs produced and distributed by National Public Radio (NPR). It is the weekend counterpart to the NPR radio program '' Morning Edition''. It consists of ''Weekend Edition Saturday ...
'',
KCRW
KCRW (89.9 MHz FM) is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to program ...
,
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
Americana,
Studio 360
''Studio 360'' was an American weekly public radio program about the arts and culture hosted by novelist Kurt Andersen and produced by Public Radio Exchange (PRX) and ''Slate'' in New York City. The program's stated goal was to "Get inside the ...
and
Sirius XM Radio
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is an American broadcasting company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City that provides satellite radio and online radio services operating in the United States. It was formed by the 2008 merger of Sirius Sat ...
; performances at
South by Southwest 2011,
Sundance Film Festival 2010,
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of tra ...
,
ASCAP Awards and L.A. Ovation Awards; collaborations with
Margaret Atwood and the
Young@Heart Chorus at
Royce Hall
Royce Hall is a building on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Designed by the Los Angeles firm of Allison & Allison (James Edward Allison, 1870–1955, and his brother David Clark Allison, 1881–1962) and completed ...
. In further collaborations, Sonos performed with Sara Bareilles at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles and sang on an
Ozomatli
Ozomatli is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others. The group ...
remix as part of their ''Ozomatli vs. KCRW Soundclash'' EP. ''Gods & Marionettes'', their collaboration with the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company and playwright David Bridel, premiered in 2010 in Los Angeles at the Ford Amphitheater and USC's Bovard Auditorium.
In November 2010, Sonos released their second studio album, ''December Songs'', also self-produced. ''December Songs'' comprises holiday season classics as well as four original songs: two by Bearer, and one each by Freedman and McLain.
In 2011, Sonos appeared on the Sing Off. They had 3 performances and were eliminated in the fourth week.
In 2012 Sonos appeared on
Pet Shop Boys' album Elysium.
In July 2013, Sonos changed their name to "Arora" to reflect changes in image and style accompanying their third studio album release, "Bioluminescence." Arora says of their latest album, "Two years in the making, 'Bioluminescence' perfectly demonstrates the cinematic dream pop sound that is Arora, marrying dreamy vocals with striking production. Arora takes the album to the stage using nothing except their 5 voices and their rig of live looping and effects pedals."
In 2015, they worked with Mattel for the film Barbie in Rock 'n Royals. They recorded some songs for the movie.
Members
*Jessica Freedman (soprano)
*Rachel Bearer (mezzo, writer/arranger)
*Katharine Hoye (alto, writer/arranger)
*Ben McLain (vocal percussion, tenor, writer/arranger)
*Christopher Given Harrison (bass, recording & mixing, producer, writer/arranger)
Discography
Awards
*Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs)
**2010
***Best Pop/Rock Song: "I Want You Back" from ''Sonosings''
**2011
***Best Holiday Album: ''December Songs''
***Runner up: Best Religious Song: "Ave Maria" from ''December Songs''
***Runner up: Holiday Song: "Come December" from ''December Songs''
***Runner up: Best Professional Original Song: "Home" from ''December Songs''
*A Cappella Community Awards (ACAs)
**2011
***Favorite Pop/Rock Group
***Favorite Female Vocalist: Jessica Freedman
***Favorite Songwriter: Ben McLain
***Favorite Arranger: Christopher Given Harrison
***Favorite Mash-Up: "Wonderwall" (arr. Katharine Hoye)
*** Runner up: Favorite Professional Album: ''December Songs''
*** Runner up: Favorite Vocal Percussionist: Ben McLain
*** Runner up: Favorite Live Performance Moment: Sonos set at SoJam A Cappella Festival 2010
**2010
***Favorite Pop/Rock Group
***Favorite Professional Album ''SonoSings''
***Favorite Female Vocalist: Jessica Freedman
***Favorite A Cappella Song: "I Want You Back"
***Favorite Gender-Bender Song/Solo: "I Want You Back"
***Most Cutting-Edge Group
***Runner up: Favorite Arranger: Christopher Given Harrison
***Runner up: Favorite Arrangement: "I Want You Back" by Christopher Given Harrison
Footnotes
External links
Official WebsiteFacebook Fan PageGroup TwitterSoundCloud
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Professional a cappella groups