There’s something very, very exciting about the chirpy, green-haired 16-year-old who goes by the name of Au/Ra.
Whilst all breakthrough pop stars seem to be getting ever younger with the rise of social media and YouTube, the potential of Au/Ra is something special. She’s the voice behind ‘Panic Room’, one of the club hits of the summer, as well as Alan Walker’s recent smash single ‘Darkside’.
Born in Ibiza, raised in Antingua and now spending a lot of time in the UK, Au/Ra’s stock is on the rise. Recent supporting slots with Lewis Capaldi and Nina Nesbitt in the UK led to her being asked to open for Tove Styrke during her upcoming US dates. She was also named one of Vevo DSCVR’s ones to watch for 2018 (they certainly got that right) and has joined prestigious names in being played on Elton John’s Beats 1 Radio Show. Yes, all by the age of 16.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnb1teZgbwC/?hl=en&taken-by=heyitsau_ra
Au/Ra, quite frankly, couldn’t be more aptly named. With her trademark emerald locks, second-nature electronic beats and Antiguan charm, her aura is a breath of fresh air. There’s a millennial wit about Au/Ra too. Her latest single ‘Emoji’ may, on the surface, seem just a song about different animated faces, but it is a genuine look into the evolution of relationships and the difficulties technologies present in communication.
On an Instagram story last night she elaborated that the line “I’d rather stay emoji” to her “means wanting to keep communicating to someone you love or care about online [rather] than seeing them in real life, because it feels ‘safer'”. The electronic production is spot on too, not doing too much or too little, as she once again finds the perfect pop formula.
When compared with other breakthrough stars her age, there are none who possess the ability to put their youth experiences into words so neatly. It’s a talent reminiscent of the rise of Anne-Marie, now one of the leading females in the industry. She’s able to sing of texting, Amazon Prime, Fortnite and Drake in her catalogue of songs, always remaining relatable no matter if you’re laughing or crying alongside her.
Au/Ra recently played her biggest headline show to date at the Camden Assembly in London and the size of those crowds is only going up. There’s no talk of an album yet, but there’s no need of one. Au/Ra has time and has already proven she’s so worth your patience.
Have you checked our Au/Ra’s new track ‘Emoji’? Let us know @CelebMix on Twitter!