About
Aurora Engine / Deborah Shaw is a composer, harpist and pianist based in Edinburgh. Fusing real instruments, voice and progressive electronica, her work encapsulates a singular and striking sonic landscape. Using collected sounds and inspiration drawn from the natural world such as birdsong, the tides and community voices, she sets out to create beguiling songs and compelling soundscapes. Her debut album ‘Secret Knock’ was released in 2024 receiving radio plays on Radio 6 music, Amazing Radio, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio introducing.
Fusing real instruments (harp / piano), voice and progressive electronica, Aurora Engine encapsulates a singular and striking sonic landscape. Inventive, innovative, her lyrics brim with magic realism, their jauntiness counterbalanced by darker themes of contemporary relevance. Expect tales of imaginary friends, miniaturists, the porn industry, and drunken brawls, often delivered with humour and candour. Sculpting soundscapes from found sounds, inside pianos and outside the mainstream, Aurora Engine composes thrilling, spine-chilling music. Originally from the North-east, she sings in a geordie-tinged dialect. Her work has been likened to compelling artists such as Bjork, Kate Bush and Anna Meredith. She is will perform at 2025 Celtic Connections and is currently producing new work for release in 2025. Her nature / foley inspired work was presented at Made In Scotland showcase 2023. Release ‘Miniature Self’ was Single of the week by BBC Radio Scotland.
‘Very special indeed’- Nick Roberts, BBC Introducing (2023)
‘Deft, rich instrumentation….music that feels like feels like wandering cautiously through an enchanted forest, wide-eyed at everything that crosses your path’ - Tallah Brash, The Skinny (Feb 2024)
“an impressive, ground-breaking artist, if you're a fan of trail-blazing acts like Björk, Kate Bush and Anna Meredith, look no further’ The Scotsman 2023
TECH SPEC
Deborah is available to perform as a solo artist / electronics, or with a full band. Please contact for quote for either
Fusing real instruments (harp /piano), voice and progressive electronica, Aurora Engine encapsulatesa singular and striking sonic landscape. Inventive, innovative, her lyrics brim with magic realism, their jauntiness counterbalanced by darker themes of contemporary relevance. Expect tales of imaginary friends, miniaturists, the porn industry, and drunken brawls, often delivered with humour and candour. Sculpting soundscapes from found sounds, inside pianos and outside the mainstream, Aurora Engine composes thrilling, spine-chilling music. Originally from the North-east, she sings in a geordie-tinged dialect. Her work has been likened to compelling artists such as Bjork, Kate Bush and Anna Meredith. Written, produced and performed by herself, this Creative Scotland funded album was written whilst single-parenting her daughter during the pandemic. Aurora Engine will take part in this year’s prestigious Made In Scotland Showcase, performing her environmental inspired works in August 2023 at Summerhall
Her recent Release ‘Miniature Self’ June 2023 was Made Single of the week by BBC Radio Scotland.
A recent exciting collaboration with Chris Watson Sound Engineer took a road into field recordings, capturing harp sounds in the wild, sounds which will on the the new album.
Working as a film composer, Shaw has written 3 film scores over the last 2 years, ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ (Available on Amazon Prime) for SPIRAL OUT PICTURES with and two other productions due for release in 2022 HOT ACHES PRODUCTIONS and CINETOPIA
Funded by FILMHUB SCOTLAND in partnership with CINETOPIA Shaw developed ‘Electric Muses’ a live scoring event celebrating women using technology as part of their creative practise, live scoring a 1920’s film by female Surrealist director Germaine Dulac. This screening will tour UK cinemas in 2022.
She is part of FICTUS collective representing solo artists alongside Kirsty Law and Esther Swift and is currently represented by HELM ARTS artist support.
Photographer: Meow Studios