Toronto Independent Music Award
Best Metal 2007

Toronto Independent Music Award Nomination
Best Metal 2008

Factor Grant
Demo and press-kit award

Paragon X-Posure competition 2007 winners
$10,000 recording contact

Great Canadian Band Challenge 2007
Top 5 out of 500 bands Nationwide

2008 Toronto Independent Music Awards
Selected to play 2008 TIMA awards ceremony and "Best Live" showcase and to appear on compilation CD

Over 100 Garageband awards, including:
77 awards for "Honeycomb" EP tracks
So far, track of the week, track of the day, most original and best female vocals in alt metal, metal and overall, best melody, guitars, drums and bass in alt metal and overall, best beat in alt metal and metal, most rocking, best mood, lyrics and production (also ranked ALL-TIME: 2nd best melody, 5th best female vocalist, 12th best guitars, 14th most rocking, 15th best lyrics, 16th best female metal vocalist)

25 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

Benefit concert
Founded and organize annual "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 have major and indie label interviews pending. ARYA has just finished mixing and mastering their follow-up EP “Honeycomb”, 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 Entertainment, Deep 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)

DISCOGRAPHY

ARYA "Honeycomb" EP (2008)
Honeycomb
Curb
Defenseless
The Beast

ARYA debut EP (2007)
Ashamed
Back For More
Drama Queen
What You Ask For

ARYA demo (2006, unreleased)