A few months ago, the lovely Pamela Moore featured the cover of this very magazine... Now, did you know Pamela has a lil’ sister, equally talented, with a similar supervoice? Aury Moore, the youngest of the Moore family is a beautiful girl, with a fabulous voice, living and breathing music in magical Jet City, aka Seattle. I got to listen to her album, “Just a taste”, loved her voice and style of music and, since then, I’m trying to follow her music voyage, through melodies and gigs, through now and tomorrow... Aury is the Princess of music, giving two-hour shows and her own soul every time she’s on stage. I’ve known her since 2004 and the only thing I regret is that we live half a planet away... Luckily, crossing the sea every now and then is a golden opportunity to see her, spend some time with her, interview her...

You’ve been really busy recently, gig-wise. Would you like to tell us a few things about these live events?

We have had some really spectacular shows as of late!! We headlined for Rock the Blues here in Seattle, then the next night were invited to play for Roger Fisher’s 60^th Birthday Bash… That was a great! First off, to get a call from the legendary Heart guitarist and to be asked to perform for his Birthday… it was a great honor to be part of a selected group invited. Roger also made sure that we did an original song instead of a cover. We were one of two bands that actually did originals… Well other then Heart and The Ventures! (laughs)  It seems that 2010 may be a good year for us. We have brought in a great group of players and we have brought in Management. Things are looking really good.

You’ve got something else, right?

We also ended up getting some corporate gigs because Michael Shrieve, Carlos Santana’s drummer, apparently is a fan of the band and gave us a referral. It is cool being an original band getting gigs that cover bands usually get. It was a big shock when we found out that Michael Shrieve suggested us! We have had great support from some of the local fame, Alan White, drummer from Yes, has been supportive as well as Lynn Sorensen of Paul Rodgers Band but getting a referral from someone we didn’t even know knew us… That was huge!

I heard the band is scheduling live appearances overseas. Are you planning on invading Europe?

If we can we sure will. We have a good base of fans in Europe and have really wanted to get your way. We need to find the right booking agent overseas, to get that concept moving forward but without a doubt we are eager to tour internationally.  If you have someone in mind over there that can book us, please send them my way…

You have released an album, did numerous concerts, have your own band… What’s next to come?

Well... a couple of things. We are currently getting ready to go in to the studio and do some recording. We have a number of songs ready to go for the next album. We have a couple already recorded but have about ten more to go. We are also tossing around the idea of doing something live as well. Then, I have a deep history in the world of Jazz and so I think I will probably be doing a Jazz album as well. Combining some Jazz tunes with some pop and maybe a couple of country tunes as well... The first priority is to record the next Aury Moore Band CD.  Then I will contemplate the Jazz album.  We are also told often that the live shows are so good… Sometimes it is hard to capture that energy in a studio so doing some live recording is already in the works of being put together.

You are a simply adorable white blond girl with a spectacular black voice! Is this a dreamy combination or what?

You crack me up… and flatter me much too much!!! (laughs) I am so thrilled that you and I had a chance to meet and have been able to build such an incredible relationship. You have mentioned many times the black voice comparison. I gotta say that is always a huge complement to me. I grew up with a lot of gospel music. There is so much passion and rawness to the genre of music. Even today, I tend to usually have some gospel in my CD player. I am a big Kirk Franklin fan… Andrae Crouch was also a big influence on me growing up. I was also lucky enough to have a mom that let me sing as often and as loud as I wanted. I am sure she must have had some big headaches having to listen but she has been and still is very supportive.

Your influences?

I think it was that Gospel influence along with the Jazz, which helped give me a reputation as a blues singer. I never thought of myself as a blues singer until I did a week long tour with Spencer Davis… I was always referred to as a screamer from Alan White, but after spending a week with Spencer Davis, then that word screamer changed to Blues singer. Happily I accept the description! (laughs) I also have to give some credit to my siblings… Pamela was always an inspiration to see perform but then my brother Patrick sat me down and helped teach me how to perform a song with conviction. Not singing a song, if I couldn’t find a relationship with the song. That has probably been the most important lesson for me when it has come to performing and writing as well.  When I wrote “Breakin’ Me” with Michael Wilton (e.n. Queensryche guitarist – also Soulbender guitarist), I really tried to make it a happy song but in the end I realized that his instrumentation demanded a sad painful song. Once I accepted that I was then able to write it honestly and have great conviction in the lyrics.  Also our producer, Tom Pfaeffle, was instrumental in helping wrap the right music around my voice.

I am choosing not to answer the “dreamy combination” part of your question. (laughs)

Could you please introduce the other members of your band to us?

I am happy to introduce the guys that play with me!

First off on Drums and Percussion we have Eddie Mendoza. It was actually his idea to get the band started in the first place.  Eddie has a really unique feel to his drumming style. He combines both drums and percussion in ways I have never seen.

Next we added Joel Gamble on Keys and Violin. He plays a 7 string electric violin. We are actually incorporating violin in more of the songs. It gives us a very unique sound and the audience loves to watch him play. Joel is one of the founding members of the AMB.

On Bass we have added Dominique Stone. He has been a gem. He came in to help out on one gig for us, and we just have not let him go since!! He has a great funk flare. A lot of Slap… He has really helped tie my voice in to the R&R. Love having him on board.

Finally… Our newest addition is Manuel Morais on Guitar. He also came in to help us on a gig and he was so great that we invited him to play the next few with us and now he is officially the guitarist for The AMB. Manuel comes to us from Portugal. I have found that Manuel and I really have a knack at writing songs together. We speak the same language… I guess you could say.

I really feel that this is the combination that we have been waiting for… The chemistry, the energy and the appreciation we have for each other… It has become a very wonderful fit.

You said earlier you have ten songs ready. I guess you are ready for the studio...

We are just waiting to get in the studio to get the songs done. We should be getting in the studio very soon to complete that project.  I would say that we have been at a bit of a loss since the death of Tom Pfaeffle. I had such a good working relationship with him as my producer; we understood each other so well.  When working together he would stop to say something to me and I would finish the sentence for him. He was very honest with me and rarely, if ever pulled his punches. I miss him dearly. It will be hard to find that again. This next album, so far, it is looking like it will be self produced. Luckily I have some very talented ears I can bounce the music off of… I have a producer out of L.A. that I do a fair amount of work for, so I will be sending the songs his way for advice. I would say that people can look forward to new music being ready in the next few months.

What is the Aury Moore Band strongest feature? The one element that the band possesses, which is eventually going to make a difference.

What we hear most often after a show from the people that attend is that we are “Fun”. We don’t try to take ourselves too seriously. We are as real as the people who come to see us.  We also try to put on a good “Show”. We want to entertain as much as possible and be as honest as we can be in our delivery of the music. When you are watching a show, you should be watching a lot going on. Manuel steps out a lot during his solos, Joel coming out from behind the keys with his violin. Dominique, with all of his cool quirks and Eddie and his wardrobe of Hats.  I will also have to say that when I am performing I try to become one with the song. It is my job to perform with great conviction and honesty. I need to give you, the listener, every part of my soul. I hope I accomplish that.

You sing, play the piano, do a 2-hour show for your fans… How tough is it? What is your secret for such an extravagant performance?

Getting on stage is what it is all about! Usually the practicing and prep work is where most of the stress is.  It never fails I usually get a cold before a gig. It is almost comical.  I would say that as a band, we have built such a good relationship with each other and I think that relationship shows on stage.  But to the heart of it, once we get on stage... that is when we give as much of ourselves as we can. The audience is expecting a good show so… we do everything we can to make sure they get what they paid for. It is about respect for the fans. They EXPECT a good show so… we better give it to them!

What is the driving force behind you? What is your motto?

Honesty is my Motto. The audience is expecting me to share some truth with them. To touch them in some way… If I can’t get on stage with conviction then I should not be up there. So I guess again, my Motto is being Honest in my performance.

You are a beautiful girl. Is it a blessing or a curse, when it comes to music business?

(laughs) I don’t know if I am really as beautiful as you are convinced I am… I am a tomboy to be honest! I like Jeans and T-shirts. I have found that being a girl singing Rock and Roll is not necessarily accepted. Some producers think that girls should sing pretty and frankly, I don’t do "pretty" very often. LOL!! So that has been tough. Also being a woman, I have to worry about my weight, my makeup, my hair etc. The rest of the band just needs to throw on something black and they are set. Not so easy for me! (laughs) I am on a diet as we speak! I love the music business though and am thrilled God gave me a talent that I can share.

Thank you for your time, all the best!

Thank you for the opportunity to do this interview… I look forward to talking with you again!!

www.aurymoore.com

http://www.myspace.com/aurymoore

http://www.myspace.com/aurymoorebandnashville

http://www.myspace.com/thesonicearthangels

www.aurymoore.net

By Costas Koulis

Costas is our European Editor and Contributing Columnists. Costas is heavily involved in the internet with multiple websites dealing with the music industry.