What Happened to the Heart?
| What Happened to the Heart? | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 7 June 2024 | |||
| Length | 62:01 | |||
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| Singles from What Happened to the Heart? | ||||
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What Happened to the Heart? is the fifth studio album by Norwegian singer-songwriter and record producer Aurora. It was released on 7 June 2024 through Decca, Glassnote and Petroleum Records. Written and recorded between Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Aurora worked with Ane Brun, Matias Tellez, Tom Rowlands, Chris Greatti, Dave Hamelin and Magnus Skylstad on its production.
Aurora began working on What Happened to the Heart? during a tour in promotion of The Gods We Can Touch, and conceived the album as a cathartic process. It was preceded by the release of three singles, "Your Blood", "The Conflict of the Mind", and "Some Type of Skin", as well as the promotional single "To Be Alright". "Starvation" followed as the fourth single, released in parallel. To promote the album, Aurora will embark on a European and American headlining concert tour in 2024 and 2025.
Background and conception[edit]
In April 2022, Aurora read a letter co-written by indigenous activists titled "We Are the Earth", which, according to magazine The Line of Best Fit, "changed her life".[1] The letter called for a revolution: a collective response to global warming. They described the planet as "the heart that pulsates within us", a statement that led Aurora to create the album's title and concept.[1] She began writing the album while on tour for The Gods We Can Touch, her previous album released on 21 January 2022.[1] In January 2023, Aurora confirmed that she was back in the recording studio working on new music, which she called "so many babies".[2]
What Happened to the Heart? was announced via her social media accounts on 28 March 2024.[3] She has dubbed the album as her most personal and cathartic project in her career.[4] In a press release, she added: "Though its precise function and anatomy were not clearly understood, the heart was believed to be the centre of the soul. Of intuition. Of emotion and intention. Until we decided these were qualifications of the mind. Emotion overpowered by logic. And with the world being so corrupted by money, power and selfishness you cannot help but ask yourself – what happened to the heart?".[5] Being interviewed by NME, the singer said that the title of the album is "the most important, beautiful and sad question I've ever wondered in my life".[6]
Recording and production[edit]
What Happened to the Heart? was recorded and produced between Norway, Germany, London, and Los Angeles. On the album, Aurora worked with her close collaborator Magnus Skylstad, along with musicians Ane Brun, Matias Tellez, Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers, Chris Greatti and Dave Hamelin.[7]
Composition[edit]
Aurora stated that the album's sound is very different from the previously released songs.[6] On "Some Type of Skin", she "hone[s] in" on her signature alternative pop sound, as well as introduce synth-pop[8] and elements of electropop.[9]
Promotion[edit]
Singles[edit]
What Happened to the Heart? was preceded by the release of three singles. The song "Your Blood" was released on 8 November 2023 as the lead single from the album.[10] It marked her first solo musical material since The Gods We Can Touch in 2022.[11] The second single, titled "The Conflict of the Mind", was released on 18 January 2024 along a music video co-directed by Aurora alongside Kaveh Nabatian from The Barr Brothers.[12] "Some Type of Skin" was released as the third single from the record on 20 March 2024. She performed it for the first time during an intimate show at London's Lafayette.[9] The first promotional single, "To Be Alright", was released digitally on 31 May.[13] "Starvation" was sent to radio airplay alongside the album as its fourth single.[14]
Tour[edit]
To promote What Happened to the Heart?, Aurora will embark on her sixth concert tour, titled What Happened to the Earth?, between 2024 and 2025. It was announced alongside the album on 28 March 2024.[7] The first leg contains dates in European cities including a concert at the Royal Albert Hall.[7] General sale for the leg started on 5 April 2024; people who pre-ordered the album received an exclusive ticket pre-sale link for two days in advance.[15][16] The second announced part of the tour, with dates throughout North America, was revealed on Aurora's social media accounts and official website on 14 May 2024.[17] What Happpened to the Earth? Part 3 South American dates were announced on 27 May.[18] The last leg announced of the tour will also pass through Europe in 2025;[19] general tickets will go on sale on 12 June 2024.[20]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| DIY |   [21] |
| The Telegraph | [22] |
What Happened to the Heart? was met with critical acclaim upon release.
Lauren Shirreff from The Telegraph wrote that "Reckoning with self-destructive feelings of fear, dissociation and anger, the album is a journey to personal healing, ending with the gentle song 'Invisible Wounds', which evokes the image of Aurora tending to her wounds, stitching her heart back up. If only the earth could do the same."[22] Otis Robinson of DIY writes that "Monolithic in nature, the world-building on What Happened to the Heart? makes a bleeding heart – both for self and the earth – appear rapturous and unfathomably healing."[21]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Echo of My Shadow" |
| 4:05 | |
| 2. | "To Be Alright" |
|
| 4:06 |
| 3. | "Your Blood" |
|
| 4:07 |
| 4. | "The Conflict of the Mind" |
|
| 4:15 |
| 5. | "Some Type of Skin" |
|
| 3:11 |
| 6. | "The Essence" |
|
| 3:10 |
| 7. | "Earthly Delights" |
|
| 3:21 |
| 8. | "When The Dark Dresses Lightly" |
|
| 3:35 |
| 9. | "A Soul with No King" |
|
| 4:24 |
| 10. | "Dreams" | Aksnes | Vetle Junker | 4:24 |
| 11. | "My Name" (featuring Ane Brun) |
|
| 3:20 |
| 12. | "Do You Feel?" |
|
| 3:02 |
| 13. | "Starvation" |
|
| 3:28 |
| 14. | "The Blade" |
|
| 4:33 |
| 15. | "My Body Is Not Mine" |
|
| 4:01 |
| 16. | "Invisible Wounds" |
|
| 4:59 |
| Total length: | 62:01 | |||
Release history[edit]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 7 June 2024 | [23] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Kelly, Tyler Damara (28 March 2024). "AURORA announces fourth studio album, What Happened To The Heart?". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Ng, Scott (6 January 2023). "AURORA is back in the studio working on "so many babies"". NME. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Aurora to release new album What Happened To The Heart? in June". Live 4 Ever. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (28 March 2024). "Aurora has announced her fourth studio album and a European headline tour". Dork. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (28 March 2024). "AURORA Confirms New Album 'What Happened To The Heart?'". Clash. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (29 March 2024). "AURORA talks 'What Happened To The Heart?': "Apathy is the biggest enemy to progress"". NME. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Dunworth, Liberty (28 March 2024). "AURORA announces new album 'What Happened To The Heart' and announces UK and European tour". NME. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Schube, Will (21 March 2024). "AURORA Unveils New Synth-Pop Single "Some Type of Skin"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ a b Dunworth, Liberty (21 March 2024). ""Being human is really delicious" – AURORA calls for peace on huge new single 'Some Type Of Skin'". NME. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (8 November 2023). "Aurora has released a new single, 'Your Blood': "The world is always bleeding"". Dork. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (8 November 2023). "AURORA returns with full force on new single, "Your Blood"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (19 January 2024). "Aurora returns with "The Conflict of The Mind"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (31 May 2024). "Aurora: "We are ruining so much of what is special about us"". Dork. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Leva, Raffaella (6 June 2024). "Aurora - Starvation (Radio Date: 07-06-2024)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Laura (28 March 2024). "Aurora Announces New Album 'What Happened To The Heart?', Confirms UK And European Tour". Stereoboard. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Laura (5 April 2024). "Aurora Tickets For UK And European What Happened To The Earth? Part 1 Tour On Sale 10am Today". Stereoboard. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Aurora]] [@AURORAmusic] (14 May 2024). "'What Happened To The Earth?' Part 2!🌍I'm so excited to be exploring even more beautiful cities" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Pérez Sánchez, Fernanda (1 June 2024). "Aurora regresa a México: Fechas, boletos y precios de los conciertos". Vogue. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Laura (6 June 2024). "Aurora Confirms OVO Arena Wembley Show As Part Of What Happened To The Earth? Part 5 European Tour". Stereoboard. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (6 June 2024). "Aurora announces Wembley Arena gig as part of new 2025 European tour". NME. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b Robinson, Otis (7 June 2024). "Aurora – What Happened to the Heart?". DIY.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Shirreff, Lauren (7 June 2024). "Aurora has a message for global leaders". The Telegraph.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Citations concerning What Happened to the Heart? release formats:
- "What Happened to the Heart? CD". Aurora. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- "What Happened to the Heart? 2LP". Aurora. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
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