Mira Aroyo

Mira Aroyo
Mira Aroyo at Ottawa Bluesfest in 2008
Background information
Born	1977 (age 36–37)
Origin	Sofia, Bulgaria
Genres	Electronic, synthpop, New Wave
Occupations	Musician, DJ, geneticist
Instruments	Vocals, synthesizers
Years active	1999—present
Labels	Nettwerk
Associated acts	Ladytron, The Projects
Website	www.ladytron.com
Notable instruments
Korg MS-20, Korg MS-2000B

Mira Aroyo (Bulgarian: Мира Аройо; born 1977) is a Bulgarian musician, known as the secondary vocalist and one of the keyboardists and songwriters of the electronic band Ladytron. She writes and sings her songs for Ladytron in Bulgarian as well as English. Aroyo has a PhD in genetics from Oxford University and she is also a DJ.

Biography

Mira Aroyo was born in 1977 in Sofia, Bulgaria, to Bulgarian Sefardic background. Aroyo moved with her family to Israel when she was ten. The first musical instrument that she ever played was the guitar.^[1] Also when she was younger, she played the accordion.^[2]

In the summer of 1999, the Liverpudlian producers and DJs Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu met the students Helen Marnie (through various DJ gigs)^[3] and Mira Aroyo (through a mutual friend).^[4] Sharing similar interests in music, they formed the electronic band Ladytron in the same year. Since then, Aroyo is the secondary singer of the band, and also plays synthesizers and contributes to songwriting.

Aroyo was a postgraduate research geneticist in the Oxford University's Biochemistry department.^[5][6] She co-authored an article on "Species specificity in the activation of Xer recombination at dif by FtsK", published in Molecular Microbiology, 2003.^[7]

Aroyo stated in an interview with Daily Record: "We all had jobs when we started Ladytron then little by little we ditched them. I was a geneticist doing a PhD and realizing lab work wasn't for me. We were doing Ladytron at the same time and I was enjoying it more. It was easier and more fun".^[5]

Aroyo also collaborated with the indie pop band The Projects.^[8] The song "Don't Eat Meat" featured Mira as vocalist.^[9] She also collaborated with John Foxx & The Maths for the song "Watching a Building on Fire".

Personal life

Mira Aroyo has been married to the photography curator Harry Hardie since 2010.^[10] She currently lives in London.^[11] She is a pescetarian.^[12]

Instruments

During Ladytron's live shows, Mira Aroyo plays synthesizers and occasionally sings. Her primary synthesizer is Korg MS-20, which she used since the band's beginnings.

Aroyo played live the following instruments for the band:

• Korg MS-20, Jen SX-1000, Stylophone, Speak and Spell (604 tour);
• Korg MS-20, Roland Juno 6 (Light & Magic tour);
• Korg MS-20, Korg MS-2000B (Witching Hour and Velocifero tours);
• Korg MS-20 (Best of 00-10 and Gravity the Seducer tours).

On the early part of Witching Hour tour, Ladytron used to name their four identical Korg MS-2000B to be easier installed on stage. Her MS-2000B keyboard was named Babylon.^[13]

Discography

Ladytron

• 604 (2001)
• Light & Magic (2002)
• Witching Hour (2005)
• Velocifero (2008)
• Gravity the Seducer (2011)

References