Hi!! Back with some more music tea… but this time it’s actually about fresh, new music on the scene so WOOHOO!
I’m going to just jump right in because I’m so ready to discuss this very interesting and eclectic “up and coming” artist. (Sidenote: I’ve always wondered how they define up and comers…like what accolade must they receive or threshold must they cross to finally be referred to as a “regular” artist who has arrived on the scene, and has made a name for themselves? But anyways…) I am referring to no one other than the talented AURORA. AURORA is a Norwegian indie/folk/pop singer whom I first heard while watching her performance on NPR Tiny Desk Concert’s Youtube channel. Well, that was at least the first time I knowingly recognized and saw she was the person singing. I had previously heard her song “Conqueror” in passing at a department store and loved it, but forgot to jot down the lyrics to search for the song later. Honestly, I assumed I was listening to new Ellie Goulding music and tried to find it, but no luck so ya girl gave up…BUT I was shook and super pumped when Iwatched the video and heard the tune, not only because I found the song, but I also loved the other songs she performed and was excited that I’d found a new artist to follow!
Besides the fact that I assumed she was Ellie Goulding, AURORA’s voice is super distinct and unlike any other I have heard. I love that her voice is pretty soft and delicate, (like she’d be the perfect person to sing a lullaby lol) and when she does sing higher, gets louder, or holds her notes longer she tends to have somewhat of a slight yodel..I dig it!
Anyways, she recently released her second studio album titled Infections Of A Different Kind (Step I) and…I just…wow! It’s such a HUGE difference from her first album, All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend, but in a great way, in my opinion. The fact that Infections.. is roughly half the length of her first album isn’t the only significant difference between these two projects. In Infections…, AURORA comes straight out of the gate with a sort of upbeat dance bop called “Queendom”…a huge contrast to the darker, slowed down opening of her previous album, called “Runaway”. The overall tones of these albums are actually pretty similar in terms of content throughout the duration of the records. There are themes of lost love and longing for something more out life which can be heard in both “Forgotten Love” and “Runaway”. However, AURORA chose to approach these heavy themes in a brighter, more uplifting manner in her latest album and stray away from her usual creeping melodies that made up her debut album. I, for one, audibly shouted “WHAT” when the beat dropped on “Churchyard”. I couldn’t believe it was actually her! Anyways, I loved the entire album and felt like it didn’t overstay it’s welcome, ending at the right time, in a perfect way with the title track. Basically what I’m saying is…I can’t wait to see what’s to come for AURORA because homegirl is really out here making MOVES!!
<3,
Lauren
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