The Synth-Pop Singer You Have To Watch At Laneway Festival

For most fledgling singer-songwriters, the easiest path to stardom is to put their songs on digital platforms such as Soundcloud and YouTube, and then hope for the best. Some five years ago, all Aurora Aksnes wanted was to give her parents a personal song as a Christmas gift online. Well, they loved it - and so did an agent.

Fast forward to 2015, and the Norwegian’s now a music phenom to be reckoned with. “Runaway”, a track from her 2015 debut EP Running With the Wolves, went viral with 17 million views on YouTube, and achieved a million streams on Spotify after six weeks.

It’s her mix of uplifting pop sounds with dark lyrical content (she sings about love, loss and death) that beguiles – that and the attraction of her undercut bob and stylish get-ups (think Scandi-cool with an artsy edge).

With her full-length debut, All My Demons Meet Me As A Friend, dropping last year, Aksnes has gained more international traction with over 50 million streams on Spotify, and even celebrity love from Katy Perry and Jaden Smith. We heart her lots too, so much so that we invited her to take over our Instagram account. From $185, buy tickets here

Like this? Check out all the fun things to do at Laneway Festival, how to ace cool-girl dressing at the festival and the music acts that our own Female Collective are looking forward to.