Interview — Aurora
A Beautiful Soul
Norwegian music artist Aurora jumped out of a natural fairytale into our urban world to spread her message of connectedness and love—in a unique and utterly beautiful way.
19. August 2019 — MYP N° 26 »Style« — Interview: Katharina Weiß, Photography: Steven Lüdtke
When Norwegian music artist Aurora Aksnes published her debut album, “All My Demons Greeting Me As Friends,” in 2016, the success was kind of overwhelming. From one day to another, her music has caught the eye of outsiders, light beings, nonbinary people and even mainstream audiences. The result: endless tours and TV appearances.
More noteworthy, however, are the encounters with her fans, who entrust everything to Aurora, bring her gifts wherever she is—from mobile phones to dead insects. In no time, she has been gathering “warriors and weirdos” around her and became a projection screen for so much.
With her third album, “A Different Kind Of Human – Step 2,” Aurora wants to empower every listener for the world we’re living in. Compared to her second record, “Infections Of A Different Kind – Step 1,” the sound became louder, more demanding, and more upright. While the melodies seem more carefree and pleasing, Aurora’s lyrics couldn’t be more pointed: She precisely describes us, our soul life and the way we treat ourselves.
Consuming that album is no less than looking in a mirror while being fully embraced. And meeting Aurora personally is an unusual experience: Her voice is as soft as a mountain spring and her sentences are as light as a natural drug trip. Let’s immerse in the thoughts of this beautiful soul!
»Humans are so diverse, but the world has forgotten that we have to embrace more than one kind.«
Katharina:
In the past, you stated that your songs are “more a story of the world’s experiences”—rather than your own. What feelings are attached to that quote?
Aurora:
It’s a very emotional world. But it’s not really made for humans like us, for quiet people and weird people. Humans are so diverse, but the world has forgotten that we have to embrace more than one kind. My musical world wants to be a safe place for people where everything is allowed, where you can just exist and be accepted.
»I feel that my followers and I are very equal and full of light.«
Katharina:
You have a very strong community of passionate listeners who bring up a lot of personal stories in their comments and posts regarding you. How have you created this followership of “weirdos and warriors?”
Aurora:
I did not create anything. It just happened. They did it themselves. I don’t know how we became so many. But now we are this big army of love. I think I try to speak to all of them at the same time and I meet many of them in person. And at my shows, I actually feel them emotionally through their energy. I try to signal them that I want every single one of them to be here with me for experiencing this exact moment, as perfect as it is. I think they know that I appreciate them. It’s magical: We have a very loving relationship. They understand when I am tired, and they respect it. I feel that my followers and I are very equal and full of light.
»It is easier to love yourself when you realize how important you are—and that you have a lot to do in this world.«
Katharina:
We always read about people telling us to love ourselves, now it‘s you—but how can we deal with it when we’re failing that task?
Aurora:
Failing is good. To embrace that is a very good approach for falling in love with the people around you as well: We are all kind of failures in the process of learning to love ourselves the way we really are. And this unites us. If you just imagine being old and lying on your deathbed, having spent your whole life trying to love yourself—that’s a bit sad, isn’t it? A human life is quite long these days and we have a lot of time to learn about. What can we change and what can we not change? But the most important thing is to learn acceptance. If you are not the way you hoped to be, you are the way you are anyway—don’t waste your valuable energy, spend it on beautiful things! It is easier to love yourself when you realize how important you are—and that you have a lot to do in this world.
»I am very excited for humankind to make itself proud again.«
Katharina:
You draw major inspiration from nature, so it is no wonder that you also speak up against environmental cruelty. Would you consider yourself an environmental activist?
Aurora:
Absolutely. It is the responsibility of all of us to fix what the people before us have damaged—because they did not know what we know now. We have claimed that we are the most intelligent species on the planet. So it’s about time that we act that way. I am very excited for humankind to make itself proud again.
»If you have love in you, you need to share it.«
Katharina:
You sound very passionate now. What else makes you so passionate?
Aurora:
I am a very thirsty person. Among the many things that make me passionate, making music is the biggest one. When I am in this process, it feels like making love with something divine. Another important topic: respect. To treat all living things equal. No matter of gender or species. And of course: love. If you have love in you, you need to share it. And you should be allowed and proud to do so. We wasted so many years on establishing that only same-sex love is ok. But this worldview will lose in the end.
»When I was little, I was very inwards. I noticed people’s pain and when they tried to hide stories and vulnerability.«
Katharina:
How can we imagine your upbringing? Was your environment always so politically aware?
Aurora:
When I was little, I was very inwards. I noticed people’s pain and when they tried to hide stories and vulnerability. And I was always interested in the most intimate and personal emotions, especially my own. But I started looking outwards just after I finished my first album, “All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend.” That was when I realized how big the world is. And that there is so much to support. There are issues beyond self-care that we have to fight for. And we have to hold on to our victories. Because some time a man or woman will gain power again and use it to make love and self-empowerment illegal again.
»Growing up in the forest makes you a philosopher.«
Katharina:
Very true. But back to the first part of the question: How did your childhood look like?
Aurora:
I grew up in a very small town. I lived in a fjord. When you translate it, it is called “the fjord of light.” Sounds like a fairytale place, I know. I grew up there with my two sisters and my mum and dad. And we had many cats, they were all grey. We moved there when I was three and for me, it was a true gift. For my older sisters, it must have been a really difficult experience to change all their surroundings, but for me, it was just beautiful. Your eyes can linger and travel over the sea and the mountains when you look out of the window. And behind the house, there was a big forest. I used to play there every day until a big bell next to the house was rang by my parents to tell me that diner was ready. Growing up in the forest makes you a philosopher.
Katharina:
Let’s take the time for a philosophical game then. All my next questions are about “last times” in your life. First question: When was the last time you got surprised?
Aurora:
I did get surprised when we landed in Oslo recently. It was about packing your suitcase. I opened it and realized: I just packed things that looked good, colorwise. But when I unpacked it, I recognized that I have nothing useful with me. So I had to buy some new panties.
»One night I wrote a song in my dreams.«
Katharina:
When was the last time you remembered a dream very well?
Aurora:
This morning. I used to have a dream journal and I remember my dreams very well. One night I wrote a song in my dreams. It was the title track from my album “Infections Of A Different Kind – Step 1.” I woke up in the middle of the night and went down to my piano. I pushed the record button on my phone and played the melody. And then I went to bed again.
Katharina:
When was the last time you experienced pleasure?
Aurora:
This morning. When I masturbated in the hotel room.
Katharina:
When was the last time you had to say goodbye to someone—or something?
Aurora:
I am often traveling with my sisters. One of them is in town with me right now, but we had to say goodbye to the other one two days ago. It is always sad, even though we are only separated for a little while.
»My supporters are really attracted to me because they resonate with what I say.«
Katharina:
When was the last time a listener of your music—I don’t like the word fan—really touched you?
Aurora:
I feel this way too, fan sounds so cocky. I have a big issue with it. It is not a fair word to these amazing people. Maybe we can use supporter instead? My supporters are really attracted to me because they resonate with what I say. We are similar people in some ways. Many of them are extremely artistic. Sometimes when I meet a person, they are too excited to talk to me. They can’t say anything. We all know that struggle. But they give me their letters and their words are so poetic and creative. And often I am taken aback when reading it, just thinking: What a beautiful soul!
