Au/Ra's music gives a unique perspective on the modern world

Au/Ra is going on tour. This sixteen year old singer and songwriter is making her name known and voice heard around the world. With her tour beginning this month and the release of her new song “Emoji”, Au/Ra is worth discovering.

A central theme found throughout Au/Ra’s songs is one highlighting living in the twenty-first century. Despite her young age, her lyrics reveal what it means to live in a world where “the truth is viral”. Her song “Outsiders” from which this lyric originates, is inspired by Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)”. She substitutes the famous “We don’t need no education” lyrics with “We don’t need good reputations” all while keeping the rhythm and influence of Pink Floyd evident throughout the piece.

Au/Ra references the timeless band but writes songs that paint a picture of modern life. Another one of her hits, “Concrete Jungle”, describes a world in which there is “everything you want in twenty-four hours but nothing you need” and dubs Amazon “the new world power”.

Her collaboration with Tomine Harket on Alan Walker’s “Darkside” and commencement of her tour through Europe and North America prove how well-received her vision is by music lovers. On just Youtube, she has nearly one million subscribers, an impressive number for a new and young artist. She began covering other famous artists like The Neighborhood, Lewis Capaldi, and the Arctic Monkeys, but has moved on to work of her own.

I stumbled upon her music by accident. Usually I listen to music with a more alternative and pop sound so Youtube recommended her “Outsiders” music video for me. I have to give credit where credit is due, Youtube did a really great job finding music I would like. Au/Ra is one of those artists where, after hearing a good song, you quickly discover that every song is consistently stellar. By far, my favorite song of hers is “Kicks”, a song about finding confidence in individuality and not fitting what society deems normal. Au/Ra is not the kind of artist to write disingenuously for the sake of making the Top 40. Every word and note sends a message. Sometimes that message is one we want to hear and sometimes it is one we need to hear. From embracing what sets a person apart from the crowd to seeing the world for what it truly is, Au/Ra’s music is impacting her listeners on emotional and intellectual levels.