It was in 2014 that we first fell in love with the piercing, ethereal vocals of Norwegian artist Aurora, but now the singer has released her debut album “All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend,” and we’re falling for her all over again.
Aurora grew up outside of Bergen, Norway, and spent her childhood rambling in the woods and forests, and finding a love for music. In an interview with Triple J, Aurora described her home as “magical,” believing it was largely the cause of her tendency to story tell in her music.
“It’s very important for me to daydream”
– Aurora
The artist also loved being surrounded by nature, saying that she loved the way it was huge and powerful, but simultaneously dangerous and fragile.
When Aurora first began to write songs, she was inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, which is due to her parents’ love of their music. She was initially frustrated by her inability to sound like them, regardless of the fact that they were fully grown men and she was a nine-year-old girl. Once Aurora understood this, however, things turned for the better, as she switched from playing guitar to playing piano, which was much more enjoyable,
“Piano is like dancing”
– Aurora
Also prevalent on the album is the cold detachment felt by the listener towards all but a couple of songs. It is clear in the vocals that these tracks are personal to Aurora, and that she feels strongly in every one of them, yet it is as if we are listening through a sheet of ice. It reminds one of the wintery landscape of Norway. Occasionally, the listener is let in, able to understand the emotion felt by Aurora towards a particular demon; it is simply a shame that those moments are so rare.
The first song, “Runaway,” is the perfect introduction to “Demons” for two reasons. First, it showcases her voice brilliantly, with resounding harmonies complimenting her vocals and letting them shine through the song without overt interference, immediately telling the listener who this artist and what to expect in coming songs. Second, Aurora wrote “Runaway” at twelve years old, which explains the abundance of repetition of lyrics and the least complicated demon in the album – feeling like an outsider in one’s home. “Runaway” was Aurora’s first single off “Demons” and was widely praised.
“Conqueror” is a victory song, with strong drumbeats to hammer the message home. This is the most formulaically ‘pop’ song on the album, but it is still well-executed. She maintains her identity through the inclusion of wailing notes and the featuring of the drums. The FIFA 2016 game featured “Conqueror” on its soundtrack, and for good reason, as it sounds very much like a victory lap, however, it is one song where the listener feels like an outsider looking in on the war room, instead of being an active participant.
Here we take a turn for the darker, more melancholic side of Aurora in “Running With the Wolves,” the second single off “Demons.” Motifs of danger and death are prominent, as are anger and blame, and it is clear that whoever is the subject of this song is seen to be evil by Aurora, with lyrics like “There’s blood on your lies, the scars open wide.” There is also the sense that the artist is throwing herself in the path of danger through wolf imagery, saying, “I’m running with the wolves tonight.” Aurora applied a distortion over the entire arrangement during the bridge which makes it sounds as though she is running while singing, which really brings the prior metaphor to life and makes for an incredibly compelling track. While one cannot really relate to this song either, this time, it is because we do not need to; the storyteller side of Aurora is on display here, and it is perfectly enjoyable to just enjoy the ride.
“Lucky” hits the listener like a tonne of bricks. It takes a little over a verse to realise that this song’s particular demon, is Aurora herself, as it contemplates the implications of self-harm. Starting subtly, Aurora talks about making the “offering,” and mentions marks on her arm, but as the song progresses to the chorus it becomes clear:
“I feel the knife for the very first time…/I feel the lie for the very first time/not anybody knows I’m lucky to be alive“
Though the song is indisputably sad, by its conclusion it seems almost uplifting. By, as the album title says, making friends with her demons, she finds hope that there will be a time when she does not feel this way anymore.
In this song, Aurora finally lets the listener feel her emotions, as she laments the demon of an adult perspective on life. “Through the Eyes of a Child” is simplistic, to emulate the simplicity of a child’s innocence, and features only the piano and Aurora’s vocals. The artist’s voice soars throughout the song, with only the addition of a loop station to layer Aurora’s voice over itself and add much-needed texture. This song is overwhelmingly sad, which is emphasised in the melancholic piano melody and Aurora’s wistful tones. The piece works beautifully, as it is easy to listen to and satisfyingly simple after all the busier arrangements on the album.
To close the album is the transcendental track “Black Water Lilies.” With a mystical, delicate intro and Aurora’s pure high notes, the entire song is a magical experience. The artist’s vocals flit effortlessly between octaves, creating movement in the music, and even as the arrangement inevitably strengthens to maintain its momentum, it is perpetually fragile, in danger of faltering. Aurora uses water imagery to great effect, with the sobering realisation that the lilies in the water are symbolic of death, however, unlike the more overtly gloomy tracks on the album, this song finds the balance between message and melody necessary to round out the entire collection.
There were many expectations placed on Aurora’s debut album, as there always are when an artist releases an unusually successful EP. In “All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend,” Aurora has delivered an excellent album which stays true to her musical style and gives us a glimpse of what to expect in the future. The only real critique is that she needs to slightly warm up her tone, but that balance I am sure is in the making.
8/10