Reflecting upon the experience of being a teenager in today’s society, Au/Ra shares gripping new track plz don’t waste my youth.

Simply being a teenager nowadays is no easy achievement; against a backdrop of constant posting on social media, pressures from our family and a relentless push towards productivity, it can be overwhelming enough to just be within this climate. It takes away the time of your life where you’re supposed to go out, have fun, and gain experiences and Au/Ra muses upon this in her latest track plz don’t waste my youth. Bringing an airy melody and pattering electronics, the track has a vibrancy to it that you can’t help but latch onto. Her delicate vocals add an additional vulnerability that makes you even more sympathetic to the feeling of the track, and it’s clear that Au/Ra has a powerful ability to create music that simultaneously stirs you and offers you an escape from reality.

Explaining the track in further detail, Au/Ra shares:

‘plz don’t waste my youth’ is about how young people kinda grow-up so quickly in today’s society. I think seeing everyone’s highlight reel on social media has raised expectations on us. When you turn 18, you’re supposed to have figured out what you want from life, but that’s not how it works. Personally, I sometimes felt I wasn’t getting to enjoy the time I had as a teenager, because I was plagued with the worry of being successful enough and having it all figured out. It’s not always easy to cope with, especially when you’re already an anxious person. I just really wanted to express how difficult it can feel for young people and society’s expectations of them and yell about it.

Feeling sparked by her track, we spoke with Au/Ra further about any advice she can offer to those relating to the track, and her own youthful experiences.

What’s a motto you live by?

Try and put yourself in the way of luck. Work hard and keep at it – if you’re always trying your best there’s nothing to regret.

If your sound had a colour, what colour would it be?

That’s so tricky to answer! I feel like my sound is very experimental so it’s definitely not just one color. It’s probably more the writing style I work with has a sort of poetic but stark consistency, and that whole world is bluey green to me.

If you could set plz don’t waste my youth to a TV show or movie, what would it be the soundtrack for?

Oooh I like this question a lot. Sex Education, Never Have I Ever, On My Block.

What would you say to someone who could relate to the song and feels the pressure upon them as a teenager?

Deep breaths. I know it sucks. There is so much left for us to do, but we can’t forget we do have time, even if it feels like you don’t. You don’t have to do everything now. Things will workout in the long run. 🙂

Why do you think there’s such a pressure on teenagers nowadays?

I think it’s hugely to do with the fact that collectively we all think we have to grow up faster in today’s society. There is a certain pressure on that – the goal is to be mature. I mean it was for me at least – I wanted nothing else but to turn 18 ASAP. And naturally, as soon as I got there all I wanted was to turn back.

How do you cope with these expectations?

Honestly, it’s hard. It’s so hard not to compare yourself to others at your age. But you have to try and believe everything happens when it should and the best thing to try and do in the moment when you’re thinking like that is, stay in your current reality, and realize that life can be wonderful at any stage.

What are your fondest memories of being a teenager?

Overcoming stage fright. Playing my first gigs. Hugging and meeting listeners who had been touched or even changed by music, just like me. Falling in love for the first time. Becoming friends with someone really important to me. Making songs that altered my life forever.

And finally, slightly cliché but what does music mean to you?

Expression! I’m so in touch with my emotions because I’m always writing about them. And it really brings people together, so community too. It’s a really cool thing.