Artist description Aura C is the brainchild of self-taught, one-man act, composer, arranger and producer Chris Pavlik and produces instrumental pop, rock, dance, contemporary jazz, folk and Celtic pieces. Currently the act is receiving airplay in Slovenia and has in its past received airplay in Uruguay, Holland, Greece and its native Canada. With its thematic and often emotive feel, the compositions are somewhat reminiscent of a soundtrack and maintain a dissident or haunting quality. Although the compositions are keyboard oriented, the pieces offer an interesting juxtaposition of traditional instrumentation (e.g. piano) and contemporary dance club rhythms that bring them into the realm of "Euro-pop". This unique blend affords the music a unique accessibility to listeners of a younger and mature audience.Currently, Aura C (Pavlik) is at work on a fourth CD due out in the summer of 2000. The album will be quite a departure from the other three in that it will be the first to be recorded utilizing hard disk technology and the expertise of an outside producer and arranger (Dave Malécot of Malécot Music Enterprises of Vancouver). Concentrating more on an EP format (versus the 10 to 12 selection albums of the past), Pavlik theorizes (with guidance from Malécot) that cutting a three-song CD would lessen the burden of A&R representatives and radio stations of having to sift through the rather voluminous quantity (and styles) of material he would present to them. "At one point I actually had a representative from EMI ask me just what piece out of the 32 (across all three CD's) I would have her listen to...not an easy decision to make!" Pavlik is confident that this latest outing will be taken more seriously by the industry as it boasts improved arrangements and a more refined scope of musical genres (pop and dance) while still maintaining its appeal to a broad audience.

Music Style Instrumental Pop/Rock/Dance

Musical Influences Rush, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Hornsby, Yes

Similar Artists Rush, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Hornsby, Yes, Genesis, Marillion, Alan Parsons, Love Inc.

Artist History Aura C was originally formed in Winnipeg in 1988 with fellow collaborator Colin Palmer (who had created the band's name based upon the fact that both he and Pavlik had the same first initial) in response to a government funding project for the recording of works by aspiring artists. Having lost the bid to attain funding (and with Palmer's relocation to Vancouver), Pavlik took on the project and recorded a 45 RPM single on his own entitled "Stations and Callings" which received limited airplay in various dance clubs with the assistance of long time friend Shawn Sklepowich.After this initial foray in the music industry, the project remained dormant until 1995 and the release of its first full-length CD "Shadowland" on Pavlik's independent "Echelon Records" label. Soonafter the release of the CD, it was signed to New York City-based "DSM Producers Inc.", a movie and television music production firm who felt the pieces were appropriate for its catalogue of stock music utilized by clients such as Warner Brothers and other large movie production companies. With its broad reflection of many styles, the effort was often thought to be a compilation of many artists and has been described as being "positively schizophrenic".In 1996 the act released its sophomore effort entitled "Failsafe" which was followed up with the 1997 release of "Third Time's A Charm", a pivotal point in the course of the project's life. Having gained airplay on Slovenia's national radio station, the disc caught the attention of hi-fi magazine editor Zmago Kolar who went through the trouble of attaining a copy of the CD in an effort to contact Pavlik to receive more information and music about him. In 1999, Pavlik established a web site for his efforts and was written up in Kolar's magazine. To this day the act is receiving airplay on Slovenia's radio and television stations and is at work on a fourth CD.

Group Members Christopher Pavlik - keyboards and electronic percussion

Instruments Synthesizers, electronic percussion pads

Press Reviews "I have listened to your CDs, and enjoyed them. They certainly have a very characterful sound to them, and you certainly have a unique style. Contrary to one of the descriptions you included, I would say that all the tracks are recognisable as being from the same originator - you have a definite style to your work. I really enjoyed listening, and thought that many of the tracks were haunting or moving in some way." - George Shilling, Record Producer (AIR Studios) "…very well recorded and the arrangement ideas are articulate." - Rupert Hine, Record Producer (Jukes Productions) "…a lush satisfying mix of fast and slow work that places him somewhere between Yanni and Vangelis." - Words & Music Magazine (February 1996)"Aura C's Shadowland operates on far more levels than your 'standard harps-and-crystals' fare…dense, interesting and compositionally sound." - Uptown Magazine (December 1995) "…smooth instrumental tracks which correctly hint at their new age pedigrees." - Words & Music Magazine (September 1997) "This is driving and generally uplifting and optimistic - there is feeling of exploration, stretching out, striving and movement in much of the music. Some of the spacier pieces are atmospherically rich and strongly evokative and would therefore well suit visual applications." - James Asher, Record Producer (Starfield Studios)

Location Calgary, Alberta - Canada

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