Nealand embarked on a cross country bicycle trip, during which she interviewed rural Americans and compiled their stories into a musical piece titled "American Dreams". 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.[5] Along with the Royal Roses, Nealand also performs as a member of the rockabilly band Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers and solo under the name Monocle. 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.[7] She frequently performs in a duo with New Orleans pianist and singer Tom McDermott. As of 2023, her latest project is Aurora Nealand and the Reed Minders.
Nealand was voted "Best Female Performer” by the 2016 Gambit awards, and her band was named "Best Traditional Jazz Band" in the 2015 and 2017 Big Easy Awards. She was named one of Downbeat Magazine's "Rising Stars" on both soprano saxophone and clarinet in 2017, 2018, 2020.[8]
