Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Pittsburgh-based jazz and world music composer, vocalist, songwriter, and cultural explorer Laura Chu Wiens, better known as AurallaurA.

In this episode, we discuss her fascinating 2026 release, The Critique of Capital: An Engaging Revue, along with her unique path into music, composition, performance, and global cultural exploration.

Raised in a Chinese-American household and shaped by extensive international experiences, Laura has developed an artistic voice that transcends borders and genres. Fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, she has immersed herself in musical traditions around the world, studying and performing folk music in Chiapas, Mexico, township jazz in Cape Town, South Africa, Roma music in Belgrade, Serbia, and Lisu minority folk music in Yunnan, China.

Her creative journey has also included writing and performing vocal music for four productions on BBC Radio 4, further expanding her reach as a composer and storyteller.

What makes Laura’s story particularly compelling is that music was never originally intended to be her primary path. Yet through curiosity, Travel, language, cultural exchange, and artistic exploration, it evolved into a deeply meaningful career and creative mission.

In this conversation, we discuss world music, jazz, composition, cultural influences, global travel, language, songwriting, performance, creativity, identity, and the inspiration behind The Critique of Capital: An Engaging Revue.

This is a rich and engaging discussion for jazz fans, world music enthusiasts, composers, travelers, and anyone interested in how art can connect cultures and experiences from around the globe.

Learn more about AurallaurA:
AurallaurA Facebook Page 

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Joe Dimino Podcaster/Artist

Joe Dimino has been writing & creating in a variety of capacities since his college days at the University of Missouri-Kansas City somewhere around 1993. If you are keeping score, that would be about 29 years+. It all began at UMKCs University News as a Sports Writer & turned into a myriad of expressive avenues. Inventing poems, art, video & audio has always been in the proverbial cards.