Dan Aura ushers in a transformative 2024 with the release of his latest single, “Rewritten.” The hook-laden gem establishes itself as another R&B-pop anthem from the musician.
Aura’s journey through music has always been about evolution and authenticity. With “Rewritten,” he touches on themes of reflection and the myriad paths life could take, inviting listeners to consider alternate realities shaped by different choices. Aura explains, “I wanted to encapsulate the bittersweet essence of reflection, and invite people to ponder their undiscovered roads, and the possibilities that might have unfolded if their fate had been rewritten.”
The release also marks his first since 2022’s “Living Room.” The year prior, Aura shared his debut EP titled Plastic. It housed standout cuts like “Straight Boys” and “Feel It,” among others. Evidently, the transition signals a period of major growth and renewed focus as the burgeoning pop star continues to carve out his audience and sound in the music industry with newfound clarity and purpose.
Ahead, we spoke to Dan Aura about his upbringing, the creative process of “Rewritten,” coming back from his hiatus, and much more. Check out our conversation below.
Hey Dan! Taking it back to the beginning, what role did music play in your life growing up?
Music has always been prevalent in my life because my parents are super into music. I grew up around Nirvana, Chaka Khan, Prince, and just everything. My dad has a big vinyl collection, which I’ve definitely stolen a few albums from. It’s been a big thing in my life for a long time, but I didn’t decide I wanted to pursue it as a career until I was about 14 or 15.
Studying music in school made me realize how much I loved it and that it made me happy. Here we are. It feels like it’s happening quickly, but it’s been a long journey already, and I’m only just on the cusp of it. I’m in it for the long run and very happy.
Since releasing your debut single, “Straight Boys” in 2021, you’ve grown as an artist dramatically — how would you describe this point in your career?
“Straight Boys” was the song that really pushed me out there and grabbed people’s attention. I’m glad people love that song because it was liberating for me to talk openly about what people in the queer community go through. I love sharing similar experiences. However, I consider myself barely at the start of my career. Even though I’ve been releasing music for a bit, I’m still in such an early stage. I haven’t released half the music I want to in the next few years. I’m ready to dive headfirst into it.
That brings us to your latest release, “Rewritten.” Can you tell us more about it and what inspired the song?
“Rewritten” is definitely one of my favorite songs I’ve ever released, and I think you can hear that in the song. It’s more upbeat compared to some of my other songs, but the lyrics are not necessarily happy, though I think they go well together. We wrote it at the beginning of last year, around March, so it’s been about a year since we wrote it.
I’m very happy with that because some of the other songs I’m releasing are two to three years in the making. This one is a relief to finally have out. It was really cathartic to write because it perfectly describes a situation I was in last year. For me, the most important thing when I write music is that it expresses what I’m going through. I think a lot of people can relate to the subject matter because everyone wonders what could have happened after a breakup. It’s a very natural thing to think about.
Where does the track position itself in terms of where you want to go musically?
The track is somewhere in the middle in terms of where I want to go musically. It fits in really well with the music I’m planning to release and is representative of the kind of pop I want to put out. I think we need more male pop stars to compete with these girls. I’m super excited because it’s a good representation of my sound at the moment.
Also, taking a year or two off as a newer artist can be scary because, at one point or another, it becomes hard to gauge what your fans want from you. What were some of the thoughts going on in your head during the hiatus?
Taking a hiatus as an artist is something a lot of artists think about. For me, it was maybe a year, a year and a half, which felt like forever, but I’ve been in the studio since then. For people outside, it might seem like a long time, but for me, it feels like yesterday because I’ve just been working on getting the next couple of records done.
It’s very natural to be scared. I care about what people think of my music. While it would be nice to say I make music just for me, I want people to relate to my songs and take something from them. So, yes, I was definitely scared, but the reaction to the first single has been so positive, I couldn’t be happier. I’m really excited to share the rest with everyone.
Who are some of the artists that inspire you?
My inspirations have changed a lot over the years, which I think is natural for any artist or musician. As you go through life, you discover different people, attend concerts, meet new people, and they introduce you to more music. My main influences come from a variety of sources. I listen to a lot of pop, and Troye Sivan has been a personal beacon for me from a young age because we’re in the same world, and he speaks about things I can relate to.
His sound resonates with me. It’s pop but interesting and brings a new twist, which is what I want to do with my music. Conan Gray has also been someone I’ve looked up to for a while. I feel like in interviews, people mention legacy artists to seem cooler, but I listen to these guys and don’t care if they’re the same age as me, younger, or a bit older. I think it’s important to learn from our peers and people in the industry. They are my shining lights.
Fashion-wise, what are you wearing these days? Are there any designers you’re into?
Well, I’m quite comfy right now, this is my comfort clothes. But for me, it’s really important to be able to express how I feel and what the music says to me. I love doing shoots where I can style myself and wear whatever I want to wear. I’ve definitely done that over the years.
I love going to award shows and dressing ridiculously because I think that’s what everyone needs to do. Everyone needs to take life a little less seriously. We only have one life, and if you want to wear a silly frock on a red carpet, then you should. And if I want to wear something on a red carpet, then I’m going to. So I think I’m gonna continue doing that.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Dan Aura?
I think personally, for 2024, I just want to be happy and content with where I am because it’s hard, especially being independent. I feel like I’m being leaned on quite a lot by everyone else, and I do 90% of the work 100% of the time. This year, I just want to feel more grounded and happier. And I think that’s absolutely okay to have that goal. This music is definitely going to help me get to the next stage in my career and put me on the pedestal that I deserve to be on.
Published by Malcolm Trapp
