Music
Press
Student Centre becomes new host to indie concert
Tyley Kekewich
Entertainment Reporter
Arya, a self-described progressive rock/metal band opened the show…
Lead singer Ashley Curtis, 24, who looks like Avril Lavigne but sounds like Evanescence's Amy Lee, really got goosebumps rising with the help of Lucas Di Monte's hard, fast guitar sound and tight, loud rhythms spat out by Ryan Merrigan on bass and Sean Hillman on drums... - HUMBER ET CETERA, A&E Mar. 15, 2007
By Tori Floyd, Editor-In-Chief
Arya rocks the house at the Uncharted Territory Indie Band Showcase
Arya's lead singer, Ashley Curtis, says that participating in events like this is important, so that the arts can be further promoted in Toronto. "Indie bands are a community," Curtis said, "and personally, I like being a part of that." - NEWSWIRE, Life and Leisure Mar. 14, 2007
For the second year in a row,
ARYA has been nominated for a Best Metal Toronto Independent Music Award (TIMA) for 2008
Winners announced July 31st at the Phoenix. ARYA will also be performing. - TIMA
ARYA in top 5 finals of Hard Rock Great Canadian Band Challenge
"The votes are in...the public has spoken. Finalists will battle on Sept. 27th and 28th at the Hard Rock Lounge in Toronto.
One of the Top 5:
"ARYA - Toronto's up-and-coming progressive rock/metal band, whose sound has been hailed as: 'addictive, mature, intense and heavy on groove.'
"The Great Candian Band Challenge will be broadcast live on the web [and filmed for a national TV show, network and air-date TBA]. Watch indie bands battle for the Grand Prize!
"The Grand Prize Winner Will Receive:
- $25,000 Cash
- Perform Live At The Finale Show Headlined By A Major Label Act
- Opening Spot For A Major Headline Act On A 6 City National Tour
- Major Label Distribution Deal
- And Much Much More!!
"Night one features Sum 41 side-project "Brown Brigade" and night two features current chart-toppers "Faber Drive." - my30seconds.com
ARYA: Best Metal
Toronto Independent Music Award (TIMA)
2007
- TIMA
Discography
ARYA EP released spring 2007
http://cdbaby.com/cd/aryaband
ARYA EP II to be released summer 2008
Currently writing full-length album material
Photos
Bio
Toronto Independent Music Award
Best Metal 2007
Toronto Independent Music Award Nomination
Best Metal 2008
Factor Grant
Demo and press-kit award
Paragon X-Posure competition 2007 winners
$10,000 recording contact
Great Canadian Band Challenge 2007
Top 5 out of 500 bands Nationwide
2008 Toronto Independent Music Awards
Selected to play 2008 TIMA awards ceremony and "Best Live" showcase and to appear on compilation CD
77 Garageband awards for "Honeycomb" EP tracks
So far, track of the week, track of the day, most original and best female vocals in alt metal, metal and overall, best melody, guitars, drums and bass in alt metal and overall, best beat in alt metal and metal, most rocking, best mood, lyrics and production (also ranked ALL-TIME: 2nd best melody, 5th best female vocalist, 12th best guitars, 14th most rocking, 15th best lyrics, 16th best female metal vocalist)
25 Garageband awards for first single "Ashamed"
Including track of the week, track of the day, best female vocals in progressive rock, most rocking, best bass, guitars, beats, melody and production
SUN TV Canoelive promotional spots
Songs featured on Canadian Football League website, 102.1 The Edge Indie Hour and CIUT
Benefit concert
Organized "Rocking the Foundaton" fundraiser for Heart and Stroke Foundation
Musical volunteering
Habitat for Humanity, African Medical Research Foundation and Sick Children’s Hospital
ARYA (ah.ree.yah; Sanskrit) : A being who has realised ultimate reality directly and non-conceptually; (Nigerian) Enjoyment; (East African) Role model.
With an explosive combination of heavy, aggressive and melodic music, ARYA has distinguished themselves in the Toronto music scene with a signature sound that fuses two seemingly volatile elements - metal and melody. Ashley Curtis (vocals), Lucas Di Monte (guitar), Ryan Merrigan (bass) and Sean Hillman (drums) all draw from their diverse backgrounds and inspirations to create music that is intense, addictive, and unmistakably unique.
In their two years together as a band, ARYA has accomplished much within the Toronto music scene. Their energetic live performances and debut EP, produced by multiple-award winning producer/songwriter Justin Gray (Joss Stone, Sugar Jones), have brought them multiple awards and opportunities to record and continue to play before ever-larger audiences.
ARYA’s dynamic live show and industry accolades have created a buzz with both audiences and musicians alike, making them a much sought-after group by venues, promoters and fellow bands. They are currently seeking representation and have major and indie label interviews pending. ARYA has just finished mixing and mastering their follow-up EP “Honeycomb”, set to be released in the summer of 2008. They are also streadily preparing material for a full-length album. Meantime, ARYA is building a new web page and will soon shoot their second music video. Stay tuned for more on the reckoning force known as ARYA.
INDUSTRY ACCOLADES
“The night we played together, I became a fan.”
-Vaughn Lal (bassist, Brown Brigade)
“I thought the band sounded completely original. I couldn’t really find any comparisons, anything that really struck me as a band that they are trying to sound like or copy. The singer can really sing… I thought she has a great voice, the band is great…they can play.”
-Neil Kushner (Mediabase, Director; Canadian Label Sales)
“…droning power-chords and nice high vocals. I think this band has potential.”
- Jeff Levine (Sr. National Account Manager, National Sales and Marketing, Corus Entertainment, Deep Sky)
“Nice drummer, nice guitar player. Really nice grooves, locked up nice… The girl can sing.”
- Vito Rezza, Veteran Musician, 5 after 4
“I’m a huge fan of metal, and a huge fan of prog-rock, so the influences are great... Overall performance was great. Love the performers!..”
- RJ Guha (Director, Artist Management, The Management Trust; Co-founder Kindling Music)
“I like the song. I liked her voice, I thought she did a great job. Definitely a contender.”
- Erik Hodgson (Marekting Manager, Aquarius Records, DKD Entertainment Group)
“They can obviously play.”
- Tony Tarleton (Director, Associated Labels; EMI Music Canada)
DISCOGRAPHY
ARYA "Honeycomb" EP (2008)
Honeycomb
Curb
Defenseless
The Beast
ARYA debut EP (2007)
Ashamed
Back For More
Drama Queen
What You Ask For
Links