Aurelia Shrenker and Eva Salina Primack have been performing together as Æ ("ash") since 2007. Based in Brooklyn, NY, they perform internationally and have just released their debut CD, the self-titled Æ. Playing to hugely diverse audiences in sold-out shows at venues ranging from Joe's Pub in New York City to Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA, these two young women bring together their deep understanding of different vocal traditions to create something new and daring with each song. They have chosen the name Æ because it represents something of a dual nature--not singular, not plural, but exactly two. Accordion and Georgian panduri often add a further dimension to the naked and honest beauty of two unaccompanied voices, creating a rich tapestry with varied texture and ambiance in their live performance.
Their repertoire includes songs from Appalachian, Balkan, Caucasus Georgian, and Corsican traditions. In addition to their album, Æ is featured in the soundtrack of "The Great Soviet Eclipse", the newest film produced under the auspices of the Museum of Jurassic Technology. Æ's work is rooted in folk culture and never falls short of being visceral and provocative--in their music, youthful exuberance and reverence for ancient tradition seamlessly coincide.