THE BAND

Ora Chaya (formerly known as Yui Hisaishi) is a vibrant, creative force driven by a passion for music and human connection. Home-schooled from a young age, she began learning piano at six and spent her youth immersed in songwriting and improvisation. By age ten, she had composed her first original piece, and at fourteen, she released her debut piano album, Revelation.

In 2013, at seventeen, she began teaching music privately, aiming to help others discover music as a powerful tool for self-expression. Ora launched her YouTube channel at just twelve, where she collaborated on voice work for various Halo Machinima projects, including a small role in early Red vs. Blue releases. She is also known for voicing Mirai in The Girl with a Dragonborn Heart (a popular Skyrim mod) and Piper in Figment and Figment 2, a bubbly sidekick role that earned a following in Japan.

Her musical influences range widely—from Chopin, Joe Hisaishi, and Coldplay to Evanescence, Rammstein, and The Hu—reflecting her eclectic style and emotional depth. When she's not composing or performing, Ora enjoys spending time with her husky, Björn, bouldering, swing dancing, gaming (especially FPS), cooking, journaling, painting, studying Japanese, photography, voice acting, and diving into anime and sci-fi/fantasy series. She also thrives on community-building, frequently hosting gatherings and networking with fellow creatives and new friends.

She studied under virtuoso pianist Robert Hitz and coloratura soprano Elena Tal, both of whom helped shape her unique musical voice.

Position in the band: VOCALS, KEYS

Armand Svalbe is a Latvian-born musician who currently resides in Southern Maryland and spends most of his time creating rock/electronic music. His compositions are infused with metal, pop, industrial, black metal, avant-garde, progressive metal, and ambient synth-pop. Inspired by his father’s natural talents as a bassist, Armand has been a self-taught bass guitar player since the age of 16. Throughout the late 90s, Armand played bass in several bands and has at times dabbled in guitar (however, it is not his forte). With an inclination towards doing everything himself, most of his records are self-produced and self-released. Since his live band, Skelectory disbanded at the beginning of the pandemic, he started engaging in different projects with musicians all over the world to continue feeding his musical drive. Armand is grateful for all the artistic possibilities that the internet has brought into his life and is always open to new collaborations.

His musical heroes are Devin Townsend, Johan Edlund, and Ihsahn.

Side projects: Silhouettes Fall and various collaborations.

Position in the band: BASS