[4] While studying at Oberlin, Nealand spent eight months in New York City where she learned about Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno and Philip Glass.

The trip concluded in New Orleans, where she began playing traditional jazz, much of which she had grown up listening to in California.

Nealand formed The Royal Roses in 2011 for a tribute concert to Sidney Bechet at Preservation Hall in New Orleans.

In 2019, Nealand, under the name "Monocle", brought her project "KindHumanKind" to the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center,[6] receiving a positive review from OffBeat magazine.

[8] Downbeat Magazine 2017 Rising Star - Soprano Saxophone Rising Star - Clarinet Big Easy Awards Best Female Performer - 2016 Big Easy Awards - Best Jazz Band - 2016 McDowell Colony Resident 1Beat Music Fellow (USA) Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses Aurora Nealand/Tom McDermott Panorama Jazz Band