Mira Aroyo

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, as well as a DJ. She writes and sings her songs for Ladytron in Bulgarian as well as English. Prior to a full-time career in music, Aroyo was studying for a D.Phil. in genetics at the University of Oxford.

Early life and education

Mira Aroyo was born 1977 in Sofia, Bulgaria,^[1][2] to Bulgarian Jewish^[2] background. Aroyo moved with her family to Israel when she was ten and, later, to the United Kingdom.^[2]

The first musical instrument that Aroyo ever played was the guitar.^[3] Also when she was younger, she played the accordion.^[4] Although her parents were cautious about her decision to pursue music, Aroyo's parents were nevertheless supportive and respectful of her decision.^[5]

Career

Scientific career

Following the completion of her undergraduate education, Aroyo pursued postgraduate research studies in genetics;^[6] she was a D.Phil. student^[7] in the Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biochemistry of the University of Oxford,^[8] where she was supervised by Dr. François-Xavier Barre^[9] and Professor David J. Sherratt.^[10][11][12] In 2003, the Department of Biochemistry noted that Aroyo was a postgraduate geneticist and recognised the release of her band's second album, Light and Magic.^[13]

Contrary to claims that she completed her D.Phil., specifically in or around 2002,^[14] (though it has also been claimed that, as late as 2008, she was still a D.Phil. candidate),^[15] Aroyo left science and her D.Phil. programme before completing it and graduating.^[7] In an interview with The Sunday Mail, she explained that, "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".^[16] In a later interview, when asked, "Apparently you were enrolled as a PhD student in Oxford. Seems like a pretty prestigious post did you ever have any doubts leaving academia for Ladytron?", Aroyo replied, "Yes. For the first 3 years of Ladytron I was juggling both, until it became apparent that I would be compromising both if I continued that way. I was young and it seemed a lot more fun at the time to travel the world playing music".^[17]

Musical career

In the summer of 1999, the Liverpudlian producers and DJs Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu met the students Helen Marnie (through various DJ gigs)^[18] and Mira Aroyo (through a mutual friend).^[19] 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 also collaborated with the indie pop band The Projects.^[20] The song "Don't Eat Meat" featured Mira as vocalist.^[21] She also collaborated with John Foxx & The Maths for the song "Watching a Building on Fire".

Personal life

Aroyo has been married to the photography curator Harry Hardie since 2010.^[22] In 2011, it was reported that Aroyo appeared to be pregnant.^[23] Indeed, on 23 February 2012, Aroyo gave birth to daughter Noa.^[24] She currently lives in London.^[25]

Aroyo is a pescetarian.^[26]

Aroyo has an interest in architecture and has presented a 15-minute short film, titled The Folly, on "The cottage home of an elderly lady who has to adapt to her remote surroundings as she gets older".^[27]

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 MS2000B (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 MS2000B to be easier installed on stage. Her MS2000B keyboard was named Babylon.^[28]

Discography

Ladytron

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

References