Auralai is led by Wisconsin native, Stephanie Russell – a classically trained cellist of 20 years that reinvented her craft after leaving the classical music scene. Stephanie fell in love with cello in elementary school and was trained in after-school string lessons, private instruction, and youth orchestra. She performed in several bands post-graduation before forming “Auralai” – originally a three-piece acoustic indie outfit (2013). Auralai went on to become a cello-driven indie pop duo in 2015 with multi-instrumentalist Nate Lehner, and released two albums in 2015 and 2016, with a third set to release in 2023. No slave to conventional songwriting or classical cello form, Auralai’s unique brand of cello-pop brings a breath of fresh air to the contemporary music scene. These days Auralai is a solo act, exploring the relationship between a girl and her trusty cello.