AURORA

Aurora Aksnes (Norwegian pronunciation: [æʉ̯ˈɾùːɾɑ ˈɑ̂ksˌneːs]; born 15 June 1996), known mononymously as Aurora (stylized in all capital letters), is a Norwegian singer, songwriter and record producer. Born in Stavanger and raised in Høle and Os, she started writing songs and learning dance at age six. Her ethereal soundscapes brought her widespread acclaim, earning her the nickname "Fairy of Pop". Aurora first gained recognition as a teenager in Norway, quickly emerging as one of the country's most notable pop acts. Her debut studio album, All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend (2016), received generally positive reviews, topping Norway's VG-lista for two consecutive weeks and earning a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). She followed with a two-part concept album: Infections of a Different Kind (Step 1) in 2018 and A Different Kind of Human (Step 2) in 2019. Her fourth studio album, The Gods We Can Touch (2022), marked her first top-ten entry in the UK and her second number-one album in Norway. Her fifth album, What Happened to the Heart? (2024), charted within the top ten in the UK, Germany, Norway, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Known for blending electropop, folk, and art pop, she has been described as a pioneer of the Norwegian art pop scene. Initially trained on piano, Aurora gradually expanded her musical involvement to include percussion and production. Beyond her solo work, she has collaborated with a range of artists including The Chemical Brothers, Jacob Collier, Wu Qing-feng, Sondre Lerche, Tom Odell, Askjell, and Hans Zimmer. Aurora has also contributed to soundtracks for numerous films, television series, and video game franchises, such as Frozen 2, Wolfwalkers, Netflix's live-action One Piece series, Kaiju No. 8, Adolescence, FIFA, Sky: Children of the Light, and Assassin's Creed.