ARYA

Toronto Independent Music Award
Best Metal 2007
Factor Grant
Demo and press-kit award 2007
Paragon X-Posure competition 2007 winners
$10,000 recording contract
Great Canadian Band Challenge 2007
Top 5 out of 500 bands Nationwide
Toronto Independent Music Awards 2008
Selected to play 2008 TIMA awards ceremony and
"Best Live" showcase and to appear on TIMA compilation CD
32 Garageband awards for "Honeycomb" EP tracks
So far, track of the week, track of the day, most original,
most rocking, best female vocals in metal, alt metal and overall,
best guitars, bass, drums, beat, lyrics, mood and production
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
Annual benefit concert
Founded "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 funding for the recording of their debut album.
ARYA has just finished mixing and mastering their follow-up EP “Honey Comb”, 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 EntertainmentDeep 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)