by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of au/ra
20-year-old Au/Ra's 2018 single "Panic Room" put her on the map in the dark electronic pop world and opened the door to collaborations and writing credentials with artists like Jax and Alan Walker. Today, she's continuing to explore genres and musical worlds with her most recent collaborative single “Highs And Lows” with German DJ/producer ATB and York. Unclear sat down with Au/Ra to discuss this single and the future of her musical journey.
Congratulations on your latest single! How did this collaboration with ATB and York come about?
Au/Ra: “My dad (York) has been working with ATB since the 90s, and wanted to collaborate once again. It worked out perfectly that I happened to be home for the holidays in 2022, and heard the track and loved it. I quickly wrote the song within two hours, and recorded it right away, and ta daaa! That’s pretty much how it happened.”
Would you say this single sets the tone for the types of releases we can expect from you this year? Or are you taking your non-collaborative music in a different direction?
Au/Ra: “Oh, definitely. I will always have a love for dance music, but, at my core I am an alternative experimental pop girl. I love creating lyrical worlds and conceptual videos for my listeners to really dig into, and I can’t wait to keep on doing that.”
Aside from those you’ve worked with before, what are some of your dream collaborations?
Au/Ra: “My ultimate crazy *dream* collabs are Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk, Gesaffelstein, Mitski, Melanie Martinez, and Halsey.”
photo courtesy of au/ra
Your single “Panic Room” was released when you were only 16 years old. What is the biggest thing you’ve learned since the success you first gained in 2018?
Au/Ra: “Nobody teaches you how to handle the business side of things in the music industry — you have to figure that out on your own, sometimes by misstepping, by getting hurt. Especially when you’re so young, it can be really confusing when you realize not everyone wants the best for you, even if they are acting like they do. So let trust be earned. Listen to your gut instinct.”
Have you utilized social media to get your music out to listeners recently in new ways than you did when you were first getting started?
Au/Ra: “The social media world is an ever changing beast. So many things have changed since I first started. TikTok has definitely changed the whole game for artists.”
How has your musical style developed over the years?
Au/Ra: “I’ve pushed myself to try new things and have been inspired by different genres over the years. Recently I’ve been experimenting and finding the collaborators who want to let go of the boundaries. It feels really good.”
Are there specific genres that influence your music during the writing process?
Au/Ra: “Inspiration can come from anything for me — a lot of it is from watching fantasy and dystopian anime and tv shows. Been mixing in elements of rock and hyper-pop into my music as well.”
What are your biggest goals for 2023 — music-wise or more generally?
Au/Ra: “I really want to learn how to feel content with the moment, and not always like I’m last in a rat race. I’m trying, but it’s hard with the nature of this kind of career [laughs]. Other than that, I’m pursuing a lot of creative things that are making me feel so happy at the moment that I can’t wait to reveal.”