Audra are Projekt's second new band for the new century; but where Mira have a decidedly shoegazer sound, Audra stick closer to the label's 'Gothic' roots.

Audra opened for Lycia back in 1998; but they came to Sam's attention in 1999 when they drove to Austin, TX, to open for black tape for a blue girl. Communication began between Sam and the band, and Audra opened up for black tape for a blue girl again in June of '99 in Phoenix. Sam so enjoyed the catchy dark sounds of their demo (reviewed below) that he decided to sign Audra to Projekt....



Listen to the Audra tracks mentioned in the following review (Real Audio):
In Hollywood Tonight
You're So Pretty

Audra - In a Dark Room...
Reviewed by Caitlin R. Kiernan in Carpe Noctem Magazine

Okay, so this is the demo that convinced me of the value of CDR tech and shows that a band can indeed produce a very high quality disc on an (apparently) fairly low budget. Audra is the Mesa, Arizona-based quartet of Bret Helm (Vocals), Bart Helm (Guitar, Drum Programming), Ross Ingle (Keyboards), and Janel (Bass). In a Dark Room... was my introduction to the band, though they've opened for such notables as Sunshine Blind, Switchblade Symphony, Lycia, and even Gene Loves Jezebel. In a Dark Room... is an opulent elegy to personal turmoil and psychosis, four rhythmic nightmares driven by Bret Helm's somber, roiling vocals and an exquisitely understated sense of the morbid. Audra's playing around with the sort of goth that could easily slip into tiresome, overwrought theatrics, which makes the disc all the more impressive in its simple sobriety. My fave tracks are "In Hollywood Tonight" (an LA-tainted requiem to Rozz Williams) and "You're So Pretty" (the best serial killer song I've heard since Murder Ballads). So, buy the disc, and if these guys play anywhere nearby, be sure to catch them live. Oh, and Audra gets extra spooky points for including the lyrics with the CD!

The band has some shows coming up in Phoenix and plan to follow up their July debut with shows in California. click here to go to the Projekt live page.