Aura, photo courtesy of Ana Maria Hernandez

From Providence to beyond, the artistic multiverse of Aura Moreno promises to rock your world. Boasting a catalogue that stretches visual and musical disciplines, the restless creative—better known simply as Aura—has cultivated an image that is both limitless in its references and grounded in its truths. Aura’s self-proclaimed “DIY empire” hosts stylistic impulses with a consistent respect; taking notes from Y2K, trip-hop, rap and metalcore, her multimedia creations aim to heal and provide a place for complexity.

Fresh off the release of her music video for “C U There”, Aura has doubled the pace and drops her latest independent mixtape A Love Story later this week. The tape is now available on Soundcloud, with its Bandcamp release tomorrow and full release on streaming services next week. She describes this newest venture as a “life-affirming musical collage”, a reflective and confident celebration that showcases sounds of pop and reggaetón.

In this first-half of our conversation with Aura, we peruse what led her up to this moment: the impacts of suburbia, the tools in her arsenal, and what it means to step into who you really are.

Rebecca L. Judd for Also Cool Mag: Your creative portfolio is expansive, with an exemplary spread ranging from singing and songwriting to digital art and fashion design. How have you established this “DIY empire”, and what are its foundational pillars?

Aura Moreno: I think it all came together organically. I’ve been songwriting since I was a kid, but I never really established that I was songwriting — I was just “writing”, you know. I would also do things like tear up my dad’s old pants and sew them into bags. I’ve always been creative in that way, but how it’s all tied together now goes back to when I started making music.

As a teenager, I produced for a few years before writing to and hopping on my beats. And then, I mean… I was broke, so I quickly realized “I have to take my own photos and videos and learn how to edit them.” I did that with my first music video. I directed it with an old friend, Ryan Cardoso, and we raised $400 to shoot it. With that budget, I hired an editor—Rasheed LaPointe—who taught me how to edit step-by-step on Adobe Premiere Pro. At the time, I thought you could only make a music video with money; it made things easier, of course, but that wasn’t actually true. I’m grateful we were able to raise that, but I learned afterwards that I could’ve been more nifty.

Coming up in the scene, I held shows all the time, and the fliers weren’t up to par so I started designing them myself. Back then I was using BeFunky, which I found by googling “free online graphic editor” *laughs*. From there, I began designing my own merch using Microsoft Paint and free online tools.

I was even making nameplates and keychains, after my friend Lara taught me how to use a laser cutter. I was all over the place — and little by little, all of these things folded in together because I’m an independent artist. Luckily, we have this resource here in Providence called AS220, and they help emerging DIY artists. I went lots when I was younger, learning all of these different skills like screen-printing, vinyl and laser-cutting, etc.

Aura’s latest visual, the official music video for “C U There”.

Also Cool: So this lifestyle as an independent artist, for you, came down to self-sufficiency and necessity. From there, you’ve become your own creative director, and you now have both hands on your brand. Do you see that formative time of having to craft your own vision with such hard work as being definitive?

Aura: Yeah! And you know, my music was already crazy unique, so having and wanting to be hands-on with everything else created this fresh new world. That’s what my “DIY empire” is — it’s this thing that grew because I had to make art for my music. Everything is super distinctive, because that’s who I am and have always been. The vibes will continue to develop, but what’s been really cool about the groundwork I’ve already laid is that my collaborators build off of it. For example, the Pushback 5 Remix video was my aesthetic as seen by the director Eugene Puglia.

AC: Of course. And the more you get comfortable with those mediums, the more you keep in your back pocket. It’s special to know that you didn’t have to compromise to get where you are — you can do it without having to conform or sacrifice.

Aura: For sure. And the plan is to keep that originality and authenticity as I grow. I’ve always despised conformity! And all these mediums have leaked into one another. I truly breathe every facet of design — I would make myself jewelry all the time when I was younger, and I just released an earring line made of upcycled sterling silver. I’ve also just released my first 1 of 1 constructed top.

Getting back to what you said, as great as it was that I did all my own things that way, when I started collaborating with people, it was a little difficult. I was so used to just having myself. I’m still learning how to be a great collaborator now; so much of it is communication, but at first I’d always be thinking “I don’t know if you get me, I don’t know if you’re going to do it right…”

AC: Have there ever been any examples where it felt comfortable to surrender? Can you recall where you saw something unexpected come out of trusting the process?

Aura: Yes, but it wasn’t an experience I had right away. As I was getting into collaborations, I had to remind myself: “We’re here because I love their work, and I trust we can create something beautiful together… so let’s just see what happens.” I had to really loosen up.

Also Cool: You grew up in Providence, RI, and previously identified this as your “basic bitch” phase. How did this coming-of-age impact your artistry? What is it that you still carry from this time in your life?

Aura: Growing up in Providence is interesting, because it’s such a small town. I feel like I’ve experienced a lot of different “eras” of this city — it’s much more creative than when I was younger, which is why I felt like I was a basic bitch. Those days, I only spent time partying and shopping because I didn’t want to stick out as an artist. There wasn’t a single day in school or by cousins, where I wasn’t told I was weird; having that trauma already, I didn’t want to further it. Now, I’m just comfortable and confident in my strangeness. What I still carry with me from those days is… I’m still very much a party girl! I don’t know if that’ll ever change. *laughs*

AC: I feel like that’s a universal experience for many creatives — it’s unfortunate to bear that trauma from our early years, because weirdness ultimately does become one’s strength. Going with who you are, it becomes powerful.

AC: You are super versatile in your influences. Growing up, what were you listening to? Which scenes did you explore?

Aura: I wish I could remember my first connection with music. There are so many timelines! Being Dominican, at every family party we’d have bachata, merengue, and reggaeton blasting. My parents both loved this local station, Lite Rock 105.1, which only played the greatest hits of the 80s and 90s — artists like Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, Sade, Tracy Chapman...

My mom moved around a lot too, so for a while before Providence, I lived in a suburb called Johnston. There, we would listen to Myspace-esque tracks like “Fersure” and “Babycakes”, and I remember having 50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology” on repeat. I’d visit my family in Fort Lauderdale often, where I was introduced to house and EDM. After school, I’d throw on the Music Choice EDM channel and discover music for hours. I really liked rock and metal during high school too — bands like Asking Alexandria, A Skylit Drive, Kings of Leon… and of course, I got ready for school every morning to whatever was on MTV Jams and MTV Trés! I knew all the words to each Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, Max B and Nicki Minaj song there was. And after my first time playing GTA San Andreas, whew… I studied early hip-hop for years! Slick Rick really taught me how to tell stories. I would just blast all this music in my headphones each day, from AM to PM, in and out of school. My friend reminded me recently that when we first started going to parties in high school, I would put my headphones on and not be at the party.

AC: That’s hilarious — being in your own little world and thinking “I’m here for the vibe”.

Aura: Exactly. I brought it back this year, just for myself. When I’m out, I don’t always want to interact — sometimes I like being at the club, throwing my headphones on, and enjoying the energy of the environment while being in my own zone simultaneously.

AC: As you were forming your sound and your vision, you were also experimenting with presentation. Before leaning into your identity as Aura Moreno, you released music as Iris Creamer. I’m interested in exploring your shift from a stylized character to becoming authentically you — what does it mean for you to present yourself to the world?

Aura: Honestly, within my healing, it was very necessary. Iris Creamer was a very sexual era for me, and I feel like that’s because I couldn’t access any depth within myself apart from that. I began to notice that I was put in a box because of that, and thought to myself, “If I really adore making music, and this is what I want to do with my life, I have to move forward as myself.” I’m evolving as a human being, so if the music is going to do the same thing, then we need to be together in that way.

Check back in to read part 2 of our conversation with Aura Moreno!

A Love Story

Out June 6th, 2022 via all streaming services (Soundcloud version out June 1st, Bandcamp version out June 3rd)

OUF! (snippet)
A Love Story
flip phone freestyle
guesss nottt
Culo de Oro
Canvas
fuck off (demo)
Su Música Suena (demo)

Produced by Jay Almeida, Kris Fame, Black Surfer, eqobKING, Cassius Cruz, Nestro, MasterJo, playshado, Tompsy, and Aura

Mixed by CR3AMER

Additional lines on track 5 by Debra Brito

All music written by Aura, with additional writing by eqobKING (track 4) and Kufa Castro (track 6)

Cover image by Ana Maria Hernandez

NYC Also Coolers can check out Aura’s mixtape release party this Sunday, June 5th at Pianos NYC from 8 to 11 PM! Take a peep at the flyer below (made by Aura!) for more info.