Aurora (singer)

Aurora Aksnes (Norwegian pronunciation: [æʉ̯ˈɾùːɾɑ ˈɑ̂ksˌneːs]; born 15 June 1996), known simply as Aurora (stylized in all capital letters), is a Norwegian singer, songwriter and record producer. Referred to as the "Fairy of Pop", she is a defining figure in contemporary Nordic pop, known for her introspective songwriting, ethereal soundscapes, and emotional depth.

Aurora first gained recognition as a teenager in Norway, quickly emerging as one of the country's most notable pop acts of the 2010s. Her debut studio album, All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend (2016), incorporated electropop and folk as musical styles. The album topped the Norwegian Albums Chart for two consecutive weeks and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Her follow-up project was a two-part concept album: Infections of a Different Kind (Step 1) was released in 2018, with A Different Kind of Human (Step 2) arriving in 2019. Her fourth studio album, The Gods We Can Touch (2022), became her first top 10 entry in the UK and her second number one in Norway. This was followed by her fifth studio album, What Happened to the Heart? (2024), which became her second top 10 album in the UK and also charted within the top 10 in Germany, Norway, Scotland, and the Netherlands.

Known for blending electropop, folk, and art pop, she has been described as a pioneer of the Norwegian art pop scene. Initially trained on piano, Aurora gradually expanded her musical involvement to include percussion and production. Beyond her solo work, Aurora has collaborated with a range of artists including Jacob Collier, Wu Qing-feng, Ane Brun, Sondre Lerche, Tom Odell, Askjell and the Chemical Brothers. In 2022, she worked with renowned composer Hans Zimmer, contributing vocals to the Frozen Planet II soundtrack.

Aurora's accolades include four Spellemannprisen, three Norwegian GAFFA Awards, and one Silver Clef Award. She appeared in the 2025 edition of Forbes 30 Under 30. As of July 2021, Aurora had sold over one million albums worldwide.