AURORA — KEXP, Iceland Airwaves 2018

Live full concert by AURORA, filmed by the American public radio station KEXP at the KEX Hostel in Reykjavik during the Iceland Airwaves festival on November 8, 2018 (published in January 2019). At this point, Norwegian singer Aurora Aksnes had just released Infections of a Different Kind (Step 1) and was preparing its brighter companion, A Different Kind of Human (Step 2); her chamber-pop — a blend of folk, electronica and art-pop — feels right at home in this intimate setting. Performing with a stripped-back band, she moves through six songs — Churchyard, Gentle Earthquake, All Is Soft Inside, Runaway, Forgotten Love and Queendom — carried by her airy voice, instinctive dancing and an almost shamanic stage presence. The warm light of the KEX Hostel and the closeness of the Icelandic crowd give this KEXP live session a hushed, unguarded feel far removed from big venues. For newcomers, this full performance is a faithful distillation of her world: spare melodies, lyrics about nature, childhood and healing, and a singular way of inhabiting the stage. The session is hosted by Kevin Cole and Cheryl Waters.