Aura - Understanding
By Christianah Jesudass-Roberts (@mstiaroberts)
Release date: MAY 31, 2020
Every so often a piece of music comes through that submerges me into a somewhat psychedelic state of mind. We know that music moves us, but some tunes have a way of immersing you into a deeper level of consciousness, or in other words, makes you wonder about the magnificence that lies within everyday existence.
I was made aware of a Rhode Island based artist who emulates this effect. Aura Moreno is feisty and fierce in her sound, whilst balancing this with a reassuring calmness. She is vibrant, cheeky yet comforting. Her music has an edge of rawness to it, sounding perfectly imperfect and authentic whilst she explores a variety of sounds that differ from genre to genre. There is a depth of versatility to Aura, that emphasises her strength as an artist that remains expansive beyond the boundaries of “genre’ yet at the same time expresses a very unique sound that is exclusive to her.
“Aura Moreno is feisty and fierce in her sound, whilst balancing this with a reassuring calmness. She is vibrant, cheeky yet comforting.”
Understanding… her latest album has a very soulful, nostalgic edge filled with alternative sounds that allows the album to remain genre defying. With dance and pop beats having been more prevalent in her previous projects, this album serves as a pick and mix of versatility rooted in smooth, deep, calming sounds that at the same time have an rapidly electric feel, allowing listeners to be taken on a musical journey of discovery.
As I sit here writing up this piece, Gracious Queen - CR3AMER Mix, starts playing and it bellows for the attention it deserves. Aura gives listeners a round-the-world journey in her music. This track, which is the 10th on the album, starts off by greeting listeners with a nostalgic 70’s style pop/jazz beat, contrasted by the sounds of the horn for listeners to then be shocked in deep bass sounds, surprisingly balanced by a tradition garage beat, all bound together by her seductive, cheeky vocals. It acts as a musical shock to the system that in a way takes you on a round the world trip of versatility. If is fun and calls for the attention of the listener in an incredibly nourishing form. Understanding… really takes you on a journey of sound, with a severe level of honesty and self expression, as empowering in words as it is in sound. Understanding… is out now on all major streaming platforms.