You frequently face a choice that will eventually affect your future over your lifetime. For Gayan Smith, the COVID 19 epidemic served as a turning point. She has always loved to write songs, but the pandemic was forcing her to record and publish This Must Be Love, the very first song she ever wrote. Hence began her musical journey as the recording artist, Auraiya.

“But if this isn’t love, then love isn’t true”. These words serve as a starting point for Auraiya‘s musical career. This Must Be Love is a heartfelt, soulful ballad that takes the listener through the thrills and uncertainties of finding love unexpectedly. There is a surreal peace and beauty that came with being able to capture a moment, a story or a mood in the melody of a song.

In December 2021, she entered a recording studio and sung these lyrics as they replayed in her brain. Each line sung was like the stroke of a brush on a canvas by the artist. It was as if she was a mother that had been pregnant with a love child that had entered the world and was determined to grow and resonate

“This is like a dream come true,” echoed Auraiya in a recent interview. “I have always considered myself to be a shadow writer but being able to deliver the message myself is like the icing on the cake. Never in my wildest dream, would I have planned this, now I look forward to honing my skills to reach my full potential”

Being a vocalist was not always Auraiya’s top priority. In her early years, she studied Chemistry, Biochemistry and then pursued her dream to become a medical doctor. She graduated from the faculty of medical sciences at the University of the West Indies in July 2014 and has since practiced in general medicine and anesthesia.

It was during an internship at Savanna-la-mar Hospital that she met veteran promoter and stage manager Worrell King. She recalled her very first experience in a recording studio session under King’s tutelage. However, unfortunately the musical experience was short-lived and eventually succumbed to the pressures that came with pursuing a medical degree. She would eventually face medical complications that would put an end to her future medical aspirations.

The songs she had penned in her early years started playing louder in her thoughts during her recovery period. The attraction of music became overwhelming. Despite spending her entire life studying the sciences, this side of her refused to be suppressed or silenced. There was a strong drive to create new melodies and a genuine passion for music.

With the help of well-known figures in the music industry, Auraiya has lately launched an incredible promotional campaign that will highlight her most recent recordings. When she is not recording in the studio, Auraiya intends to spend her downtime traveling, honing her stage presence, and expressing her love for music in her own distinctive way.