Moving effortlessly between the physical and ethereal planes of existence, singer-songwriter Aurora Smedley shares her deep connection with the cosmos through her musical project Midnight Daughter.

After witnessing a supernatural event, Aurora moved to Seattle where she met violinist Bryan Djunaedi. Within the span of only one year, the duo were already making huge waves in the music scene, however thanks to the COVID pandemic, the duo was forced to halt everything. In 2022, Aurora embarked on a nomadic journey that took her through various locations. Her journey began in Sedona, where she collaborated with bassist Michael Lynn and drummer Emilio Ferrara on what would become Midnight Daughter’s debut self-titled album. After this, she made her way to Austin, where she was joined by bassist Jack Wilson Kelley, and this is where Midnight Daughter was once again reborn.

Midnight Daughter is a contemplation of life itself and the inner depths of human emotions and experiences. Within her songwriting, Aurora contemplates the mysteries of our existence, the endless cycle of death and rebirth, and the webbing threads of universal consciousness. Not being constrained by the bounds of a single genre, she takes pieces of many things and infuses them into her style. From the banging sound of hard rock to the quieter, more melodic rhythms of acoustic, shifting organically in time, tempo, and signature.

Now the band has finally released their most important work to date. The self-titled album “Midnight Daughter” contains seven amazing songs, ranging from haunting ballads to powerful rock songs. Some of the highlights are the mystifying rock anthem “Tolerate (You Little Bitch)” with its powerful vocals and top-notch guitar work, “The Black Oak” with its enthralling chaotic chant, and “Wither,” a jazzy-inspired tune where Aurora’s deep voice is the star of the show. Overall, the album is a true masterpiece and is sure to become one of Midnight Daughter’s most enduring works. It is not to be missed!

“Much of this album was written dealing with depression, instability, and my recently awakened spiritual connection. It was intense, overwhelming, and extremely lonely. As I set out on my path with Midnight Daughter, my deep spirituality and commitment to my work created a disconnect with most of my peers. Many of the songs relate in some way to this feeling of isolation, separation, and aloneness, and therefore a yearning to connect with something—a lover, a friend, the Universe.  (In a way, these are interchangeable.)”

Midnight Daughter is not your average band. They’re proof of the immense amount of creativity and talent there is in the indie scene. Their exceptional sound is an amalgamation of many different genres, resulting in an out-of-this-world experience. They explore themes of loneliness, longing, and connection through their lyrics and melodies, making “Midnight Daughter” one of the most important releases of this year. 

Photo courtesy of the artist