Aura refers to herself as a “genre-bender,” making experimental music that pulls from her life experiences — both in the way it sounds and the way it’s presented. Her 2023 single “uUuAa” (pronounced like a sexual release) brought the rising Dominican artist to her father’s hometown in Santo Domingo, where she filmed a guerilla-style video around town in his honor. Now, she’s paying homage to Brooklyn, a place she recently found herself living for longer than planned — specifically around Myrtle-Broadway, where Aura has become a regular fixture in the neighborhood bar scene.
Premiering today on PAPER, “uUuAa” gets remixed by Bojaq, a fellow Dominican who put a “Bushwick spin” on Aura’s original, sexy dembow track. With airy synths and FX sounds, Bojaq’s edit is more “lusty,” like something you’d hear on the floor of Paragon, he specifies. “With that in mind, I also sequenced a drum-heavy outro for DJs like myself to mix out of the track properly,” Bojaq says, which contributes to Aura’s greater goal of making music that can be played at spots like Bossa Nova or Mood Ring.
The accompanying music video sees Aura dancing around New York, co-directed with Ni Ouyang and co-styled with Vega Harlan. “It felt like a love letter to NYC,” says Harlan, who outfitted Aura in designs by LEAK NYC and SYRO. “My favorite look was in Chinatown. She looked so cunty, so fashion, people were stopping to take photos,” she adds. Ouyang wanted the visual to reflect Aura’s “raw, unfiltered energy” against the “mundanity of life,” most notably through her dancing at the departing door of a subway among unbothered MTA commuters.
Aura will be throwing a video release party on January 12 at Bar Jade in Brooklyn, featuring DJ sets from Waldo XB, 007, HOMEBOYEXTRA (CDMX) and Bojaq himself. The pair also just wrapped a special set for Lot Radio, where they premiered the remix single. “My goal as an artist has always been to make work that’s uplifting," Aura says, "and to exist in a way that inspires people to be kind and be themselves."
You filmed the original music video in your father's hometown in Santo Domingo. What's the significance of that location for you, personally, and how was your experience creating a video there?
My father passed away almost a decade ago now. That was my best friend, and the first and main person in my life who encouraged me to believe in myself and my dreams. He always led by example, having been an entrepreneur my whole life. He was always exploring new lanes, and was a leader and voice of reason for everyone in his family. Being able to come to his home after 14 years away and do my thing because of his love and sacrifice was truly a full-circle moment. The same place where he, as a kid, was hustling as a means to help support his mom, I was able to create art and enjoy myself. I'm so grateful and proud of every immigrant who has risked so much for a better life. Coming from the circumstances they did and still having the ability to envision better for themselves is such a magical act of faith.
The process of shooting the original “uUuAa” was such a ball. We filmed while there was an active baseball game happening on the field. The camera crew did amazing, but they were an hour late arriving — running on Dominican time [laughs] — and it was 95 degrees, so imagine how we were all seeking shade. The kitipo was right as scheduled, so we were just blasting all the best dembow per my request. All the kids were out, and having so much fun dancing and watching as we filmed. A lot of elders from the block came out as well, and shared words of respect and stories with me about my father. Everyone was so encouraging. At the end of the day we wrapped and all ate the best yaniqueque, which my mom had placed a huge order of from the local cook.
Talk through the original track. Lyrically, what is it about and who were some of your collaborators behind producing it?
The original track sums up the way I felt after my first few nights out partying on the island. It's all such a rush, so energizing, and everyone around is confident and enjoying. With our rhythms you just get so horny [laughs], so I was like, Of course my first dembow has to encompass this. I created this track with the multi-talented Jotazei. I would hop on an Uber Moto once a week and head to his flat, which was about 40 minutes from me. We worked on the song for months, from production to recording to mastering.
You describe this update as a "Bushwick spin" on the original. For you, what does that mean? Were you living in Bushwick when you made it?
After living in DR for a year, I came to stay in Bushwick for what I thought would be one month but ended up becoming seven months. I had performed in NYC plenty of times over the years, but it was always work and leave. Living here, of course, I was really able to catch the vibe. For my first few months I was always out at the Myrtle-Broadway clubs: Bossa Nova, Paragon, Bar Jade, Casa Maya, Mood Ring. Bojaq and I are a part of that scene and there's a certain BPM that we all love, so it's exciting to have something crafted for the DJs who make these nightclubs so special.
Who'd you collaborate with on the remix track itself? What did that process look like for you?
The producer of the remix, Bojaq, is a Bronx-born DJ and producer. Our collab came about after a conversation where I asked them how they felt I could grow with my work. They immediately suggested more edits and I couldn't agree more. I got a taste of the remix with some quick drums Bo sent me, then five months later I heard the final and was ecstatic. I was mind blown at the complete flip in sound they were inspired to create. Bo is such a visionary for that and I’m glad to have worked with another Dominican on this.
How was it filming in such public spaces around NYC, like the subway? I feel like New Yorkers generally don't care, but do you like the attention?
[Laughs] Love this question. I wouldn't say I necessarily like attention. I'm usually overwhelmed by the attention I get because I can be very shy. What I would say is that it’s always been very natural for me to express myself. I'm the kind of person that's gonna dance whenever I hear something I like, whether that be at the club, at the supermarket or on a sidewalk. I just be vibing.
You tapped Ni Ouyang and Vega Harlan for this video. Visually, what did you all want to create together?
Honestly, hats off and hugs to Vega, who was so down to help me get this video done — very last minute, might I add. She was basically the producer of the project. We got everything together in two days, including styling and pulls from LEAK NYC and SYLO. Vega brought Ni on board, who just has such an incredible eye with the camera and also happens to be a fellow Sagittarius. And, of course, I have to shout out my fantastic makeup artist for the video, the Dominican bombshell and icon Scarlet Molina. Overall, the video gave doll power. Working with these women was a dream.
For the direction of the video, I immediately felt the vision of strutting around the spots I spent so much time in during my months in NYC, and I wanted to capture the intensity and stillness that co-exist in every New York minute. Xoxo to my darlings at Bushwick staple Bar Jade for letting us film in their place. Can I flex and note that the braids I was rocking in the video were done by me, no mirror, on a three-hour Greyhound ride back to NYC after a visit home to Providence?
How did it feel wearing LEAK NYC looks? What do you love about that brand?
I felt like that damn girl in LEAK NYC. I love the fierce, unapologeticness of the brand and its bold colors. Co-styling with Vega was so fun, and the look she put together with the head scarf and tights combo, undefeated. That will live rent-free on mood boards from now until forever and I will be rocking that purple dress until I'm 50.
Photography: Ni Ouyang
