Midnight Daughter as a group, in their own words, were born after a fateful vision on a mountaintop. Asian American songwriter and vocalist Aurora Smedley experienced a vivid supernatural experience that changed the course of her life, and the rest is history. Charting the stories from the cosmos since this spiritual awakening, Midnight Daughter, in their self-titled album release, deals with issues of life, death, and rebirth, interweaving threads of universal consciousness.
From the album opener Sunsets of Red, Midnight Daughter’s sound is established as this acoustic rock sound with all the essence of powerful grunge and its powerful rhythms, set apart by Aurora Smedley’s commanding vocals. Boasting a four-octave vocal delivery alongside poignant and emotive lyricism on songs like Kali Ma, which finds her vocal range on full display, the result is this acoustic chanting to the goddess. These bass riffs are also standout and catchy, especially with the catchy groove on tracks like Tolerate. The album comes alive with percussion elements and frenetic use of the hi-hat and strings on songs like The High, kicking the pace up a notch with the infectious head-banging dance rhythm urging listeners to dance along. Aurora’s vocals wail on, and with this impossible high note, the song feels relentless as it continues on for six and a half minutes. Closing the album is Wither, taking on this slower and more introspective tone, adjusted for the vulnerability of the closing song. It's clear to see that the group's cohesion is impeccable, resulting in this powerful musical experience.
Putting their own spin on the 90s American rock and grunge sound pioneered by the likes of Pearl Jam and Nirvana, Midnight Daughter stands out from the fray. COVID shutdowns upended the fledgling project, in spite of their early success with songwriter Aurora Smedley and violinist Bryan Djunaedi. Within a year, the duo was selected as a finalist for the Tiny Desk Contest, featured on KISW, and interviewed on KEXP. Aurora moved to Sedona and recorded what has since become the project's self-titled debut with bassist Michael Lynn and drummer Emilio Ferrara in 2022. Relocating to Austin, TX, Midnight Daughter once again reincarnated with bassist Jack Wilson Kelley for the iteration we hear today. Released in time for the total solar eclipse, their self-titled album is a promising debut, and we can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Midnight Daughter.
