For us, the Aurora Borealis is a beautiful yet fascinating display of light in the Northern Latitudes. On the other hand, Aurora Aksnes, who grew up in the Northern Latitudes, is a beautiful yet fascinating display of talent. But this 19-year old Norwegian chanteuse (who professionally goes by just her first name) will soon shine worldwide.
I first discovered this unique talent late last year through the tracks "Running With the Wolves" and "Half the World Away" which were released shortly after signing her first recording contract in October of 2014. To me, she seemed to be this anomalous mix of Lorde, Tori Amos and Björk.
This young blond, blue-eyed(?) singer/songwriter -- whose second language is English -- conveyed to Francine Gorman of JaJaJaOnline two-years ago, "I started when I was nine, when my life started to need it. -- Creating music is satisfying in another way, I can’t describe it. Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen are both heroes of mine, and they inspired me to use music to help myself and others, and that is still my intention."
Her latest creation is called "The Conqueror" which is bright and poppy, a deep contrast to her earlier recordings which I felt were a bit dark and ethereal, even mystical (and, to me, more interesting). Aurora's new, more mainstream sounding single is an obvious attempt to make a mark on the music charts outside her native Norway. "This is one of the only happy songs that I have." She added, "It's a special child."
She told iHeartRadio, "'Conqueror' is about a world is kind of falling apart around you, and you're looking for a conqueror to save you. But you're looking for the conqueror in someone else, which I think is you should not do. You should find the conqueror in yourself first, and be your own hero. If you stand strong, then you will stand for a bit longer."
Aurora possesses a beautiful voice, but I also discovered she is extremely expressive, often utilizing her arms, hands, fingers, eyes while performing her songs. She explained, "But it is good to have my hands free and be able to move them around in my storytelling."
"The Conqueror" is the lead single from the album All My Demons Greeting Me As a Friend, due out March 11. Aurora will also be performing a handful of dates in the States beginning with a show in Los Angeles on April 5.
You can view both "The Conqueror" and "Running With the Wolves" music videos below.
Okay, here are the results of 12-months of listening to all of the new single releases from
record companies each week and then whittling them all down to just a handful I feel
are solid enough overall songs to withstand repeated listens.
This ain't your usual year-end tally, it's my list of the best less-obvious and overlooked tracks from the past year that still sound just as amazing as
they did at first listen. I've included each of the song's videos but -- as usual -- the focus should remain
solely on the music itself. Check 'em all out. I just know there's
something here you can take with you into 2016!
"10,000 Emerald Pools"-BØRNS
Marc Bolin lives on! If you haven't already, listen to the best glam-rock track to hit the airwaves since Bowie collaborated with T-Rex! First came “Electric Love” and then this spacey gem. Both songs also have that Southern California Sixties psychedelic vibe. According to Garrett Borns, "'10,000 Emerald Pools' is my friend's mom's address in Las Vegas." He added, "It's the only address in Las Vegas with a theme song!" Tie-dye shirt and lava lamp sold separately.
"Feeling OK"-Best Coast
Now here's a wonderful example of SoCal rock complete with melodic jangly-guitars, a catchy chorus and lyrics espousing the drug of choice… love! Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast says the song's lead-guitar part was inspired by "Cool" from Gwen Stefani while the lyrics evoke "...a journey on what I had to go through to get to this point of feeling OK." OK!
"Friends"-Raury
This Atlanta hip-hop artist surprised everyone by recording a gliding, lyrically Utopian track that features an “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” message but without all of the sugar. I found that parts of the instrumental break just before the middle-eight seem to emulate pieces of George Harrison’s production on the Beatles' “Tomorrow Never Knows” and Dave Collins' shout-outs from "Double Barrel." Oh, and it features guitar work from Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine. Anyway, take a listen... I think you'll really like-like-like-like-like-like-like-like it!
"Deadwater"-Wet
It’s all in lead-singer Kelly Zutrau’s emotional, heart-wrenching poetry laid gently over this simple yet poignant piano-based backing-track. You can read my full review here.
"In the Summer"-IAMDYNAMITE
A perfect laid-back ode to many Midwesterner’s most savored season where people measure their Summers in weeks instead of months. IAMDYNAMITE’s Chris Phillips told Vents Magazine, "’In The Summer’ is a reflective song. You
can treat it like a summer-fun anthem, or a wintertime ode to what was
once a warm sun-filled amazing season. Coming from Michigan... where three-months out of the year it’s nice... and nine-months out of the year you’re
thinking about those three-months.” Sounds best while lathered-up in Coppertone and wearing your coolest shades.
"Cake By the Ocean"-DNCE
Yes! You can have your cake and eat it by the ocean, too! Here’s one hell of an infectious confection with a groovy bass-line under one of the sweetest, dance-able power-pop rockers of the year. It’s nothing but pure fun! You can read my full review here!
"No One Is Lost"-Stars
Synthetically uplifting yet lyrically fatalistic, this veteran Canadian trio has probably provided the finest “Fuck it!” anthem of the last 12-months. Apparently, initial inspiration for "No One Is Lost" came from the constant thumping-bass felt beneath the floorboards of their recording studio in Montreal where "The Royal Phoenix" gay bar was in full dance mode. Singer Torquil Campbell told ETCanada, "We feel very much this is music that will stay in your life. That's all we're trying to do, trying to make kitchen sink music.
You can have it on the shelf, you can pull it off seven years later and
it will still sound good to you."
"Go Go Go"-Panic is Perfect
It’s a little bit Phoenix, a little bit Death Cab, a little bit Amélie and a whole lot of perfect as an alternative-rock track can be! Ready? Steady? Va! Va! Va! You can read my full review here!
"Monument"-Mutemath
This is the New Orleans alternative, indy-rock band’s most accessible single to date… uptempo, positive, catchy and downright poppy! According to keyboardist Paul Meany, the lyrics tell the tale of an enduring love, not unlike the story told in their mini-documentary music video. It's a love song meant for those couples who have truly experienced that rare lifetime bond.
"Dystopia"-Polarheart
This indy Aussie duo created one very unique alternative track featuring dreamy but dark lyrics perfectly produced over a very lush, ethereal background. Plus, I gave it extra points for its use of the word "Dystopia." It's strange that Polarheart does not yet have a Wikipedia page and has only over a thousand likes on Facebook. But I'm issuing a "Band to Watch" alert as -- with uniquely artsy alternative offerings such as this -- I'm sure their star has just begun to rise. You can "LIKE" them here.
Also Worth Checking Out from Last Year...
"Woman Woman"-Awolnation "We Move Like the Ocean"-Bad Suns "Shenanigans"-Genevieve Bellemare "Wide Open"-Chemical Brothers "Sugah Daddy"-D-Angelo and the Vanguards "The Wrong Year"-Decemberists "You Don’t Own Me"-Grace "I’m In Love With My Life"-Phases "Lightning Strike"-A Silent Film "New Bohemia"-Transviolet
"YOU'RE ALIVE"-PANIC IS PERFECT "GO GO GO"-PANIC IS PERFECT
I should have written about this band the very first time I heard one of their songs, but I got lazy. The tune was "Go Go Go" (something I lacked at the time) and was one of my favorite alternative picks from earlier this year.
Well, the group behind "Go Go Go" released another single last month and thus gives me a redeeming opportunity to shine my little spotlight on the San Francisco indie-band known as Panic is Perfect.
This five-member group of guys was founded by multi-instrumentalists Jeremy Belzer and Mike Hoffman both of whom had a chance to absorb different musical influences while traveling the world from America to Asia to Africa, an experience which provided that key touch of uniqueness when finally settling down to record in California. (It's probably the reason why the lyrics to "Go Go Go" are part English, part French.) But as far as Stateside inspiration, they cite several acts including Passion Pit, Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club and -- one that was immediately very obvious to me -- Vampire Weekend. (Allow me to add A Silent Film and Keene.)
Like "Go Go Go," the track "You're Alive" is a relationship-inspired composition and -- although lyrically more linear -- is a mini-tale of a Paula and Jimmy and their need to escape told over a well-crafted uptempo and very catchy backbeat.
In an recent interview with StairwayToNirvana, the band pointed out that in this on-line obsessed world, music has the redemptive and healing power to bring people together again. Panic is Perfect seems to be doing their part by producing a pair of positively-titled pop songs that will definitely contribute additional energy to your iTunes library and (quite possibly) your day, too.
As of this posting, the band does not have a music video for "You're Alive," but you can click here to audition the audio track. But first, check out the awesome vibes in this Panic is Perfect clip for "Go Go Go!"
