AURORA PERFORMING HER BIGGEST UK HEADLINE SHOW TO DATE AT
LONDON’S OVO WEMBLEY ARENA

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

AURORA PERFORMING AT LONDON’S OVO WEMBLEY ARENA
PHOTOCREDIT: GONZALO LOPEZ

Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora has been making waves with her music in the past few years, so it is only fitting that she came to London to play the largest UK show to date as part of her new ‘What Happened to the Earth?’ world tour. Known for fusing ethereal electropop and folk, Aurora has received international acclaim since her debut in 2015, especially through collaborations with artists like The Chemical Brothers and Bring Me The Horizon.

From the moment Aurora stepped into the stage, dressed in a flowing outfit that mirrors the naturalistic themes of her latest album, the atmosphere shifted. Opening the set with ‘churchyard’, she set the mystical tone from the outset. The set is accompanied by her signature birdlike movements and unfiltered expression, the breathy and haunting vocals as well as a vocal performance of gentle whispers and primal cries. Going into ‘The River’ and ‘Heathens’, the entire arena is experiencing a cathartic revelation. Her set is delivered with fire and her passionate environmental message, all laced in with vulnerability and a captivating visual backdrop.

Aurora’s gift is not just in her sound but in the way she seems to embody every lyric. During songs such as ‘Starvation’ she danced with quirk, whilst slower songs in the set were met with stillness – standing alone in the spotlight, with the crowd being visibly moved by her hushed voice. ‘Runaway’ and ‘Exist for Love’ was a stark contrast to the electro beat for example, and I swear I saw people around me with years in their eyes during those songs.

A highlight of the night was the performance of ‘Giving into the Love’, a song that carries an emotional weight that was even heavier when combined with the lights and projections of the visual side of her performance. Despite the otherworldly feeling, Aurora frequently interacted with fans between songs, often expressing her gratitude in her signature poetic style. At points the performance did not feel like a concert, but a communion. Honourable mention has to go to the stage design, featuring minimalist organic elements and visual projections of nature. And of course, the crowd was no stranger to singalongs during most of the set.

Aurora’s show was a great invitation into her imaginary world, reminding the audience that art can be both personal and planetary – a reminder of what is lost and what needs to be claimed. Very few artists carry such a message in their music and Aurora almost effortlessly managed to transform a sold-out arena into a place of stillness and sound. Her show is part of a global tour and has been met with a lot of positive reviews, so it is only fair to say we can’t wait to see what else she has in the works.