Article and Photos by Sylvia Ansley
Aurat may just be Los Angeles’ best-kept dark and twisted secret. Last week at the El Rey, they proved why they deserve to be front and center in all of our minds.
Aurat got their start in the darkwave capital we call home back in 2017. Sonically, the band draws deeply from the cultural heritage of its members. Elements of the LA darkwave scene intertwine effortlessly with frontwoman Azeka Kamal’s Pakistani roots. The haunting Urdu vocals of Azeka Kamal, paired with the industrial electronic ingenuity of Gil Talbot, combine to produce a harsh and unrelenting brand of darkwave that became something of an underground cult classic in the Los Angeles scene. Their first album, Image, has a dreamier, softer feel, but a guitar tone reminiscent of The Cure provides a darker edge. I had the pleasure of seeing this band after the release of the enigmatic Poison. In 2023, my eyes were opened to the captivating energy of Aurat after seeing them headline for Harsh Symmetry. Here we are again.
The El Rey was the perfect setting for this scary, yet sultry event. Draped in red velvet with flickering chandeliers adorning every wall, it felt sinister and cozy; the freaks of LA were right at home. The eccentrics, nonconformists, and outliers all donned their most freakish fashion for the event. The adornments and accessories were razor-sharp, no flesh left untattooed. Although I avoid this discourse like the plague, the night had an air of authenticity. Out stepped the glittering demon goddess herself. Kamal has a stage presence that captivates like no other. Covered head to toe in a masterful combination of golden South Asian jewelry and thick gothic eyeliner, she commanded the stage. Attacking all of the senses, she shimmers, shakes, and screams all while dancing around barefoot on stage. Talbot followed her onto the stage, and together they moved through Aurat’s earlier works. Red lights flashed in time with Kamal’s breathy, hissing lyrics in my personal favorite, “Nasha.” The crowd danced and writhed along with Kamal, as if they were being commanded to by the droning, unrelenting synth. Soon they were joined by guitarist Nev Ver, who co-produced their newest album. The first track on their latest album, Silhouette, was “XII.” My nose wrinkled; my smile turned down. Unmistakable signs that we had just taken a turn for the heavier. Silhouette travels around quite a bit in terms of genre. Ranging from a doom-like atmosphere to 2000s alt-rock. Another favorite of mine was “Chaos Fades,” which called me back to my Evanescence days. Despite the clear departure from their earlier work, the band and its fans remained just as devoted to the music. Kamal expressed how much this project meant to the band many times in between songs. “This is just the beginning,” she cried. “We are all Aurat” she proclaimed, handing blood-red roses out to members of the crowd.
In Urdu, Aurat translates to woman. Their music explores topics of freedom, anger, love, and loss. Check out their newest album, silhouette, if you need a healthy dose of feminine rage in your life.
