LIVE REVIEW: AURORA's 'Queendom' comes to Fremantle
I had noticed traces of the intense fandom that exists around AURORA before Wednesday night. There’s fan art ranging from children’s drawings to intricately designed and embroidered portraits popping up in all sorts of internet corners. So when I turned up at her gig, I thought I was prepared for an enthusiastic crowd. I was not.
I have rarely seen such a diverse crowd united in their adoration of an artist.
AURORA is — if you’re not part of this fandom — a 22 year old singer songwriter from Norway who has elevated pop music to the realms of fine art. There is no way to write about her early career without referencing Kate Bush — she started writing melodies at 6, lyrics at 9 and released her first single ‘Puppets’ at 16.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that because she is young either her music or lyrics are simplistic — she’s a master of metaphor and weaves elements of folk, electronica and classical music to create a unique dream pop vibe.
So yes — in case you haven’t guessed reading this — I have wholeheartedly signed up to the AURORA fandom.
AURORA herself seems fully aware of the devotion her fans have towards her, and rather than running from it, or using it to feed her own ego, she reflects it back. She speaks directly to the audience in an elf-like voice, stumbling over words in English as she recounts the minutiae of a day spent in Fremantle. She’s been having trouble adjusting to a different time zone and her sleep is out of sync — mundane details imparted in a way that makes us feel like she's talking to us as friends.
Her adoring crowd giggles along with her as she forgets words and confesses that her mind is a little scrambled from the constant touring. This is only ever evident when she chats between sets — while singing she clearly inhabits a different world. Her range is unbelievably high, and through every song she dances the way we all dance when we are on our own — full of expressive joy.
The encore was, fittingly, one of her latest tracks, ‘Queendom’. As with the songs preceding it, the crowd sang along to every single word. If they are any indication, her Queendom will shortly be taking over the world.
