Around 1 am on January 1, 2016, I accidentally stumbled across a song that ultimately changed my life. "Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)" by AURORA caught my attention on YouTube, and I was immediately obsessed.
With nature-inspired lyrics and an angelic voice, Aurora Aksnes is an incredible force in music. She's been writing songs since she was just nine years old, but her lyrics never come across as generic or juvenile. With a recent announcement that her song "Queendom" will soon get an official release as the lead single from her second album, it's safe to say that the twenty-one-year-old Norwegian will soon be dominating festivals and indie radio stations worldwide.
Never heard a song by AURORA? Here are ten songs that will convince you of her talent!
"Running With The Wolves"
This song is about escaping materialism and reconnecting with nature. I think the video does a brilliant job of showing that!
This live version is BRILLIANT!
"Conqueror"
In an interview with iHeartRadio, she explained that this song is about finding a hero in yourself instead of depending on another person to save you.
This amazing performance of "Conqueror" was actually her first time performing on American television!
"Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)"
This song is haunting and emotional! It tells a dark story about a girl who is killed "for mercy" by a man who "didn't mean to do no harm."
This live performance somehow manages to make the song even more haunting and emotional than it already is!
"Winter Bird"
This might possibly be my favorite song on her album All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend! It's such a beautiful song!
This live performance is a bit different, but the intro that was added is GORGEOUS!!
"I Went Too Far"
This song is about desperately wanting someone to love you, and doing ridiculous things to gain their love, then realizing that you deserve better. It's so good!
This live version was one of the first live performances I heard by her. It's beautiful!
"Life on Mars"
This is a cover of the classic David Bowie song, and her vocals are INCREDIBLE!
This live performance is so beautiful! Bowie would be proud.
"Runaway"
With 35 million views on youtube, this is officially her most popular! Which is great, because it's an incredible song!
This song is even more powerful live!
"Warrior"
"Warrior" is sort of a love song to her fans (lovingly called "warriors & weirdos"). It says that the older you get, the darker you realize the world is. But as humans, we are meant to be warriors, and when the world gets dark, we should be warriors of love.
Her vocals really shine in this beautiful live performance!
"Under the Water"
This song is so beautiful! The imagery is amazing, the melody is gorgeous, and the vocals are haunting. It's one of my favorites!
In my opinion, this is her best song live! Check out this video and this video for proof!
"Half the World Away"
This Oasis cover is AMAZING! Personally, I prefer it over the original - it's softer, the vocals are incredible, and she seems to make it more emotional.
This live performance is definitely one of the most mesmerizing things she has ever done!
Bonus: "Queendom"
There isn't an official studio version yet, BUT you can pre-save it on Spotify now!!
