June 2008 - The Audians were featured on one of Chicago’s major radio stations, 93 WXRT on June 15th.  DJ Richard Milne played “Posion Ivy” as part of his Sunday show called Local Anesthetic.

Show Archive.

February 2008 - We’d call them “it” girls, if they hadn’t already outgrown that label. They’re artists, consultants, entrepreneurs. There’s an athlete and a doctor. A comedian. They’re all 30 years old and younger, and they’ve all moved mountains during what was supposed to be their aimless phase.  Pay attention. These are women to watch.

MUSICIAN She is also a senior at Whitney Young High School and a political activist, but Cunningham is getting the most notice these days for her singing and songwriting with the rock quartet the Audians. Despite her youth, she’s already played Metro, Hideout, Uncommon Ground — and Millennium Park. Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis calls Cunningham “incredibly powerful and self-assured.” She’s certainly found her voice.

-Paige Wiser. Article link.

January 2007 - keyboardist-vocalist Sima Cunningham may only be 16 years old and a junior at Whitney Young High School, but she’s already fronted two bands — Sima Cunningham and SmazE recently changed its name to the Audians — and released two DIY recordings, including a new six-song EP produced by Brian Deck. Cunningham is an incredibly powerful and self-assured performer, with a smoky, sexy voice — if that’s legal to say at her age — that more than does justice to the alternative country sounds, which feature an alluring underpinning of Cajun rhythms and melodies. Visit the Audians on the Web at www.theaudians.com.

-Jim Derogatis. Article link.

November 2006 - A NAME TO PUT ON YOUR WATCH LIST: Sima Cunningham. She’s  16, a junior at Whitney Young High School and a formidable, ambitious singer songwriter.  We took the kids to see her and her newly renamed band, The Audians, last night at Metro.  Now, yes, Sima lives in our neighborhood and she goes to camp with Alex, so perhaps I can’t listen with clear ears. But click here for a brief sample of The Audians’ song “Holding On” to see if you don’t agree that the kid (and her band) have serious chops. (Click here to download the whole song or several others for free, or click on Sima’s MySpace page to listen to other cuts from her solo CD). The music business and the life itself are too weird to predict that anyone that young is going to be a rock star, but I’ll go out on a limb here.

-Eric Zorn.  Article link.

December 2006 - The next group of local teenagers to follow in the footsteps of The Redwalls could be these up-and-comers, fronted by Sima Cunningham, a gruff-voiced singer who sounds well past her formidable 16 years. With longtime Chicago luminary Brian Deck (Red Red Meat, Modest Mouse) producing, this band can claim serious cred for their debut EP, six songs of moody and eccentric pop with major nods to Fiona Apple. Stretching its dexterity with every song, the album spans piano drama, jangle pop and country fiddle hootenannies. While the songwriting would benefit from some maturity, Cunningham is well-aged. She tosses off these laments with the lifespan of a pro, singing, “we’re too old and sick of each other,” with bitter conviction.

- Mark Guarino, Daily Herald Music Critic.

December 2007 - I met Sima Cunningham recently when she made a guest appearance at Chicago Acoustic Underground’s studio with Jeff Brown. She only sang for one song, but I was impressed with her voice and Michael’s a big fan, so when she told me she had a show on the 30th I invited her to submit her music. Obviously I like it! You’d never guess listening to their indie/rockabilly sound that The Audians are a group of teenagers. Check them out this Sunday at The Hideout.

-Theresa Carter, The Local Tourist.com.  Article link.

March 2007 - Whitney Young High School junior Sima Cunningham and her band The Audians impress to no end. This isn’t a novelty act for fellow teens; Cunning-ham and her cohorts are jaw-droppingly sophisticated. “My Girls,” from the band’s Brian Deck-produced, six-song self-titled CD, stands up to any Rilo Kiley song. The spirit of Lucinda Williams also permeates the honky tonk groove of “Blue Days.” Already familiar faces at Metro, The Hideout, and Uncom-mon Ground, The Audians can only move up from here.
- Janine Schaults, The Illinois Entertainer. Article link.