Formerly the core members of orchestral goth project Religious To Damn (Deli Record of the month in 2011), Zohra Atash and Joshua Strawn changed gears early this year, turning their ensemble into a drum machine minded, electro-centric duo named Azar Swan. The shift was sparked by a two-fold realization from Atash and Strawn who were looking to consolidate the project, with coordinating multiple musicians often slowing the writing and performing process, combined with a mutual revived interest in electronic music and hip-hop beats pulling influences from acts like The-Dream and These New Puritans. The band debuted live on November 10.