Aurora: I would love to sing for Bollywood

Norwegian electro-pop music artiste Aurora became a hit in India during the pandemic with her song Runaway. The song became a rage on Instagram and there were filters specially named after it. Many Hindi versions of the song also popped up. In a chat with us, Aurora spoke about her love for Indian music, Bollywood and desi food. Excerpts...
Your songs are always deep.What inspires a 27-year-old to write such lyrics?
When I write, I keep the world and people in mind. It’s more fun for me to write if it has a purpose. And I feel that’s important, it should push conversations about things that aren’t being talked about. So, that inspires me.
You spoke about your love for India earlier. What do you like about Indian music?
I think especially to someone so far away in Norway, the way you sing traditional Indian music, it’s a scale that we don’t even know in Scandinavia. Indian music is one of the most beautiful types of music that I know. Indian music just moves a piece of my soul which few things do these days. India is a huge country with different cultures, food, music and people, and I’m extremely fascinated by it all. It’s so different from my home, yet, similar in some ways.
Are you familiar with Indian films? Would you like to sing for a movie here, if given a chance?
I would love to! I think it is amazing. I love the action and the fighting scenes in your films are so cool. The way love is portrayed in Indian films, it’s extremely emotional and romantic. I also like the costumes and the dancing.
Do you have plans to come to here?
I want to thank India for letting my music into your heart during a very tough time (pandemic). I know that’s when Runaway kind of touched people’s hearts all over the country and that makes me feel very honoured because it heightens the meaning of the music so much. I want to come to India and taste the delicacies all of you make. I’m already learning how to eat spicier food. I’m training my belly for India.
You come from a simple background. Your mother was a midwife, your father was a salesman. How does it feel to reach the place you have in life with your music?
Sometimes it’s strange and surreal. I feel like I can so easily reach out to people and speak to people. So, it’s comforting to have a voice that is heard, especially when you want to use it. And it’s good to be able to take care of the people who I love. But yeah, it’s a strange life.
‘Music is magic to me’
Talking about how much music means to her, Aurora says, “A song can remind us of who we are and make us ourselves again. Some studies suggest that people who often go to concerts and sing are happier. Music to me is proof of the many beautiful things about the mind and about people in the world. So, music is just magic to me, it’s everything!”