Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Already known for her compassionate, altruistic take on alt-pop by this point, AURORA was inspired to write much of her fourth album after reading a 2022 letter by Indigenous activists ("We Are the Earth") calling for revolution in response to climate change. The resulting LP, What Happened to the Heart?, explores motivation, love, philosophy, frustration, and more across a sprawling, 16-song track list that includes some of the singer's glossiest, most club-oriented material yet. Much of the time, the album's sound seems almost at odds with its earthly inspirations, but that's only on a surface level. Written on tour and recorded in Norway, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S., it reflects collaborations with a succession of producers -- among them the Chemical Brothers' Tom Rowlands, Dave Hamelin (Beyoncé, Zara Larsson), Matias Tellez (girl in red, Real Ones), and singer/songwriter Ane Brun -- and is full of appeals to others' better natures. Brun is featured on the sinister-sounding "My Name" ("Will you forget I was here?"), one of several songs here to incorporate Eastern scales and melisma alongside pulsing dance beats. A track like "Starvation" dives headlong onto the dancefloor at the end, shifting from marching drum cadences to the club and then to a full-on, throbbing rave as it progresses. Meanwhile, it challenges with questions like "Why do we have to die/For us to see the light?" and "Do I need to be torn just to see who will care?" while also affirming that "My soul is hurting/But I got the stamina." Though most of What Happened to the Heart? lands in a dance-pop middle ground stylistically, ballads like the Brazilian-flavored "The Essence" and synth-enhanced "Dreams" offer room to breathe with their drum-less or drum-light arrangements. By the end of its over-hour-long runtime, AURORA implies that the answer to the early inquiry "Will the edge of my sorrow be gone in the morning?" (from tender orchestral opener "Echo of My Shadow") is no, but her soaring melodies and angular, confrontational club tracks make convincing pleas for the empathy and intentionality needed to turn things around.
© Marcy Donelson /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
From £10.83/month
Matias Tellez, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andreas Høvset, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Matias Tellez, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andreas Høvset, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Chris Greatti, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Liam Hall, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Schoeller, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Asher Bank, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2023 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Chris Greatti, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Percussion, Vocals, Mellotron, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Sam Okell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kane Ritchotte, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Jack Lawrence-Jones, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kieran Brunt, Choir Arranger, Conductor/Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Greatti, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - shArds, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Piano, Vocals, Moog Bass, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Augustus Perkins Ray, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Laurel Neighbour, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kate Huggett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Latto, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Heloise Werner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rose Martin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lucy Cronin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ailsa Campbell, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jacob Ewen, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Olivier Martin-Smith, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Michelle Leonard, Composer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicolas Rebscher, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Matias Tellez, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andreas Høvset, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Michelle Leonard, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steve Durham, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicolas Rebscher, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Bass, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - George Chung, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Håkon Aase, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Fredrik Svabø, Composer, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Sam Okell, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Jack Lawrence-Jones, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kieran Brunt, Choir Arranger, Conductor/Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - shArds, Conductor/Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Augustus Perkins Ray, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Laurel Neighbour, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Vetle Junker, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Kate Huggett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Latto, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Heloise Werner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rose Martin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lucy Cronin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ailsa Campbell, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jacob Ewen, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Olivier Martin-Smith, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Rowlands, Producer, Additional Producer - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ane Brun, Composer, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Magnus Skylstad, Composer, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Drums, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Håkon Aase, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Runyu Qian, Pipa, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Magnus Skylstad, Composer, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Drums, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Håkon Aase, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Fredrik Svabø, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Michelle Leonard, Composer, Vocals, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicolas Rebscher, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Bass, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Chris Greatti, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Michelle Leonard, Composer, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steve Durham, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hamelin, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Nicolas Rebscher, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Bass, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - George Chung, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tom Rowlands, Producer, Drums, Additional Producer, Synthesizer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Magnus Skylstad, Composer, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Drums, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Rowland, Composer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Matias Tellez, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Aurora, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Sam Okell, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Earth, ComposerLyricist - Jack Lawrence-Jones, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kieran Brunt, Choir Arranger, Conductor/Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mitch McCarthy, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - shArds, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Aurora Aksnes, Producer, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Augustus Perkins Ray, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Laurel Neighbour, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andreas Høvset, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kate Huggett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Latto, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Heloise Werner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rose Martin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lucy Cronin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ailsa Campbell, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jacob Ewen, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Olivier Martin-Smith, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
Already known for her compassionate, altruistic take on alt-pop by this point, AURORA was inspired to write much of her fourth album after reading a 2022 letter by Indigenous activists ("We Are the Earth") calling for revolution in response to climate change. The resulting LP, What Happened to the Heart?, explores motivation, love, philosophy, frustration, and more across a sprawling, 16-song track list that includes some of the singer's glossiest, most club-oriented material yet. Much of the time, the album's sound seems almost at odds with its earthly inspirations, but that's only on a surface level. Written on tour and recorded in Norway, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S., it reflects collaborations with a succession of producers -- among them the Chemical Brothers' Tom Rowlands, Dave Hamelin (Beyoncé, Zara Larsson), Matias Tellez (girl in red, Real Ones), and singer/songwriter Ane Brun -- and is full of appeals to others' better natures. Brun is featured on the sinister-sounding "My Name" ("Will you forget I was here?"), one of several songs here to incorporate Eastern scales and melisma alongside pulsing dance beats. A track like "Starvation" dives headlong onto the dancefloor at the end, shifting from marching drum cadences to the club and then to a full-on, throbbing rave as it progresses. Meanwhile, it challenges with questions like "Why do we have to die/For us to see the light?" and "Do I need to be torn just to see who will care?" while also affirming that "My soul is hurting/But I got the stamina." Though most of What Happened to the Heart? lands in a dance-pop middle ground stylistically, ballads like the Brazilian-flavored "The Essence" and synth-enhanced "Dreams" offer room to breathe with their drum-less or drum-light arrangements. By the end of its over-hour-long runtime, AURORA implies that the answer to the early inquiry "Will the edge of my sorrow be gone in the morning?" (from tender orchestral opener "Echo of My Shadow") is no, but her soaring melodies and angular, confrontational club tracks make convincing pleas for the empathy and intentionality needed to turn things around.
© Marcy Donelson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:01:53
- Main artists: Aurora
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Decca (UMO)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited ℗ 2024 Universal Music Operations Limited
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
