Audrey: The Genre-Bending Band Redefining Their Sound, One Layer at a Time

May 9

Meet Audrey, a genre-blending band hailing from San Diego, California, known for their electric live shows and rich sonic layers. Fronted by Ruben Aaron Ramirez on lead vocals and guitar, the group brings together an eclectic lineup: Trevor Johnston drives the rhythm on drums, NeKoda brings a dynamic mix of rapping and singing, Tyler Thompson adds soul with smooth saxophone lines, Reese Castin holds down the low end on bass, and Will Shannon textures the soundscape with synths. Studio and live guitars are handled by Levi Folck, who also serves as the mixing engineer on their upcoming record—shaping a sound that’s as raw as it is refined. With their lineup locked in and a new record on the way, we sat down with Audrey to talk about influences, the creative process, and what’s coming next.

Tell me about the formation of Audrey. How and when did the band form?

Ruben: "I always knew I wanted to do music and that I was an artist, It just makes sense to me. My father is musical so I think he passed that down to me. I started doing open mics in college and that’s where I was able to meet friends and start bands. Eventually, I started this project in late 2019 and just started writing and demoing music alone after my band at the time went on hiatus. I reached out to NeKoda to collaborate on some tracks and that’s how we ended up with our 2020 project 'Backyard Disco'. We then realized we were gonna need some musicians to help us bring our sound alive on the stage. We had a lot of friends in bands that were willing to help us out so we reached out and started from there. Writing songs with NeKoda is cool because we’re really good at freestyling something and bouncing off each other's ideas. The songs come together fast in a way that’s undeniable. It’s just a confirmation that this project was what I’ve been waiting for"

Is there a story behind the band’s name? How did you settle on "Audrey" as your identity? I know you just recently changed the name to that. Was there a reason for doing so?

Ruben: "It’s funny because I actually came up with the name Audrey for a music project when I was like, 13, and it may have to do something with watching old Audrey Hepburn movies my sister would put on. I think I really wanted a name that seemed timeless. When I started the project in 2019, I decided on ‘Audrey & the Sound Gallery’ because I liked those kinda old old-style big band names like Prince and The Revolution. I originally wanted to release music anonymously under the name and use it as an alter ego. The whole anonymous thing didn’t really work out, but I think I still use ‘Audrey’ as an alter ego sometimes on stage or in the writing process, and I’m having fun with it. We recently decided to drop it to just Audrey to make it easier to find us because we want to share our music with as many people as possible."

Tell me about your latest release, the EP "Ruin Your Night," which came out on July 5th, 2024. What was the recording process like?

Ruben: "This project is one of my new favorites because I made this with Levi who I’ve been working and writing songs with since our 2023 release easy. That was a fun process because a lot of those songs I got to focus just on just songwriting. Levi produced and composed a lot of the music around the lyrics I sang. It was exciting and engaging to play with different flows and song structures. Writing with Levi is easy because it feels like everything we’re trying is natural. I also wanted to go with an acoustic-driven sound with this release. Something we’ve never really done before but it’s something we’ll definitely be adding to our future releases. Levi will be helping out with our self-titled record as well we’ve been (in) the mixing process at his home studio."

LISTEN TO “RUIN YOUR NIGHT” ON SPOTIFY BY CLICKING BELOW

What are some of your favorite songs on the new EP?

Ruben: "I really like our track 'Dizzy' because we wrote and made it in a day when we drove up to La to mix it with our friend Estelle Allen (who featured on this track and mixed the project), and I love when we just freestyle things."

Rumor has it that there is new music in the works that will be following a new direction. Can you tell me a bit about that? What is a sneak peek for listeners to expect from this new sound?

Ruben: "I think this record is heavily influenced (by) my love of 70s rock and funk. I’m obsessed with the magic you can feel in those songs, and that’s something I aspire to capture. So the sound I wanted to create for this project was very intentional. I wanted the record to feel like how I feel on stage. I wanted all the power that we as a band are experiencing to be passed on to the listener. We recorded the foundation tracks for this record together, simultaneously face-to-face. I would say this is definitely a guitar-driven record, and it’s gonna surprise a lot of people in a fun way. There’s gonna be a lot for people to connect to in this record, and I think the whole concept is trying to feel your version of originality while navigating the modern playing field. We’re gonna explore new concepts in our writing, and I think we really found our own sound with this record."

What’s your favorite part of performing live? Is there a particular energy or moment you look forward to during your shows?

Ruben: "My favorite thing is just feeling the music come alive and feeling everyone in the room clinging on to the same feeling and pushing to take it further and further. I love when the band does this as well because there’s moments where we all lock into this energy, and that’s the most addictive part because there’s this magic to it. It’s why we play, I think, I highly suggest starting a band with your friends, it can save your life. I love the obvious and not-so-obvious things music does. I never expected to meet such a beautiful community of people when I started playing. It’s one of the best parts of being able to do this. Theres a lot of special people and talent in our scene, and I think it’s essential to get out there and find it firsthand. One of the reasons I started doing this was because I saw local bands at Soma and the Che Cafe, and thinking how much fun it all looked."

Trevor: "For me, performing live is tapping into this primordial energy that connects you to something larger than yourself. Like the song is the Rollercoaster track, and each player is the car. The ride would go unridden without the cars but (the) cars are useless without the track. During a show, my favorite part is that moment at the peak of the band's energy when we know we are doing something amazing, and we all do this brief eye contact/smile where we know this was all worth it. Like we are all manning a big pirate ship going through a hurricane. It's invigorating and brings (us) all closer together every time."

What is the core message/feeling you are trying to convey through your music?

Ruben: “I think it’s about letting people know they can be themselves at any cost and that they aren’t alone. I think one of the things that draws people to music is that it acts as a mirror, and they catch a glimpse of themselves somewhere they wouldn’t expect. Music is definitely a healing kind of thing for both the audience and ourselves. At every live show, we’re just gonna keep trying to push that as far and as much as we can. Life is long, and I think we should enjoy it relentlessly.”

Trevor: “I feel like a core message for us is letting everyone know that it's okay to never give up on your dreams and to do what you love. To lay it all down on the line because that's what you know you were put on this planet for. We make every practice, show, or recording session a party and love every second of it. Our members come from so many different backgrounds and genres of music, but we still are able to collaborate and make something no one has ever heard before. Like all our dreams weren't far off from each other in the first place.”

NeKoda: “I feel as if a lot of my inspiration comes from struggle, pain, heartbreak, triumph, & my experiences in the world and how we can overcome it.”

Anything else you would like to add?

“We want to thank Amplified Studios for being gracious hosts for the making of our new record, “Audrey” and all the incredible people that support us. It means the world to us and the best is yet to come.”

As Audrey gears up to release their new record, it's clear the band is just getting started. With a lineup that thrives on collaboration and a sound that refuses to be boxed in, they’re carving out a space that’s entirely their own. Whether on stage or in the studio, Audrey is pushing boundaries—and inviting listeners to come along for the ride.