English singer/songwriter Star Aurora has crafted an engaging but feisty pop rock sound that she describes as “angsty, satirical and energetic.”
Worcestershire-based 21-year-old Star grew up in Yorkshire and is a University student who’s three years into a four-year course studying French and Portuguese. But she’s always had a passion for music, which began with a dream to be a classical violinist from the age of seven. She then taught herself to play her favourite songs on the piano, before a significant instrument change.
“I first picked up a guitar in 2017 with the sole ambition of learning a song faster than my sister,” Star told us. “But I quickly learned that I loved playing it and that it was a great tool for songwriting. I’m self taught and still have a lot to learn before I could consider myself a guitarist.”
That kickstarted a songwriting adventure on which Star tells us: “Writing songs has been my passion since I was a little girl. I have notebook after notebook of ideas and bits of songs, most that will never leave the drawing board but all that helped me refine the skill. I wrote my first song when I was eight, and it was about a butterfly in my nana’s back garden.
“I think there’s an angst and frustration that fuels the lyrics in some of the songs I have written that a pop rock production can really emphasise. Having grown up surrounded by this style of music, I would say that it just feels right to lean into it.”
Indeed, Star summarises her music as leaning on the artistry and lyricism of fellow singer/songwriters like Avril Lavigne, Olivia Rodrigo, and Alanis Morisette. And our first taste of this is her debut single 21st Century Love, which was released in January.
It opens up with a light guitar that continues under engaging vocals in a verse that includes the line “‘Cos whilst he’s stood there trying to tell me that he’s not like other guys, I saw him checking out that girl Rosie’s thighs, Just another asshole who’s controlled by what’s in his trousers.” Little stabs of guitar lead us into a catchy chorus “I’m so sick of guys thinking that they can hypnotise me to believe their stupid lies, Get into bed and spend the night, They’ll flirt and then buy me a drink, And suddenly they’ll start to think that that’s an open invitation, Stop we’ve had one conversation, You’re getting too drunk and babe I’ve really had enough of you showing your hand then trying to bluff, My friends tell me not to give up, That it gets better but it never does, Oh I hate this 21st Century love.”
The pace drops ahead of a second verse supported by a cool little noodling guitar lick that feeds into another delicious chorus. A stabbing guitar lick takes over, then engaging vocals feed into a big cry of “Oh I hate this 21st Century love” to bring the track to a close.
“It took a lot to get to this stage of being able to get my music out there, including a lot of self-doubt. The reception that I’ve had from this song has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from the community I’ve created on my TikTok from live streaming and posting clips of my originals and covers. It feels so surreal to have my music out there for everybody to listen to and is a dream come true.
“I wrote 21st Century Love on my bedroom floor back in 2021 and it was inspired by my frustration with superficial interactions in contemporary dating. I feel grateful that people can resonate with the lyrics but also saddened that these experiences are so common.” Check it out in the stream below:
The Star Aurora sound has been heavily influenced by the lyricism of Taylor Swift, the musical style of Avril Lavigne and the style and lyricism of Alanis Morisette. “I have always described my music as a diary that rhymes,” Star told us. “It’s a great tool that helps me reflect on and learn from experiences with people or situations. I love to write about love, whether that be in a positive or negative way.”
If you liked what you heard from Star so far, then you won’t have long to wait for more of the same as she releases her second single Heartbreaker on Friday (7 March). She also hopes to record her debut EP this summer. And she added: “This is just the beginning. I cannot wait to see where this journey takes me.”
You can follow Star Aurora on Instagram and TikTok, and check out her music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
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