Alt-pop artist Au/Ra, a.k.a. Jamie Lou Stenzel, is stepping back into the spotlight with a renewed sense of self and a delightfully chaotic new single. After a forced three-year hiatus, a “horrible” period stuck in a contract, the 23 y.o. German-Antiguan singer has finally returned with ‘SWAMP.’ The track, an acronym for “Super Weird And Metal Please,” is a playful, Shrek-inspired dive into the “digital video gaming, meme vibe” that defines her sound.
Fantasy and escapism have always been central to Au/Ra’s world, treating her artistic persona as a character with different “video game skins” for each release. Following a recent slot opening for Katy Perry at the O2 in London, Au/Ra sat down with Schön! to discuss her difficult break, the silly energy of her new music and the “massive lesson” she learned about separating her life from her art.
After a few years of not being able to release music, what’s it been like to finally share new songs again?
It was horrible because I had been releasing music pretty consistently since 2017. Then two things happened: COVID, obviously, but then I also got stuck in a contract where I couldn’t release music for three years, unless it was a feature. It was really, really tough. I had spent most of my teenage years in the rat race and suddenly it was like, ‘Oh, you can’t do this right now.’ It was completely out of my control.
‘SWAMP’ is such a wild and vivid track. Where did that world come from?
‘SWAMP’ is quite an experimental song for me. It’s definitely the silliest song that I have ever made, but I think there’s a really fun, digital video gaming, meme vibe to it that I really enjoy. It does just tie back into escapism and my love for world-building.
From the get-go, it was very much inspired by Shrek and that kind of meme world. And also green, of course, because I’ve had green hair for like seven years. It’s such an integral colour to the project and swamps are green! It all just kind of came together.
You’ve described it as “super weird and metal, please.” What does that phrase mean to you?
Me and Janeva [the producer] were making it, and I was like, ‘How sick would it be if it was an acronym?’ We kind of just spent an hour trying to figure it out. Like straight up, that is the best we could come up with. So it does make sense, but it also kind of doesn’t, but I think that’s kind of the whole beauty of the song.
There’s a real sense of playfulness and humour in this song. How much of that reflects where you’re at creatively right now?
There’s definitely a sense of humour there I want to try and capture with this song. The way that I perform it is also very silly and very fun. I think it’s a good moment in the set and I love having a song like that.
You’ve always been drawn to escapism and fantasy, especially in your covers artworks. How does this new song reflect that?
Lyrically, ‘SWAMP’ ties back into the world, but sonically it’s different. I’ve never had my face on a cover before, it’s very intentional. I always wanted to push the idea that Au/Ra is a character and I think throughout the different cover arts and illustrations, I kind of see them as like different skins, like video game skins. With every cover, I get to explore a slightly different version of her.
‘SWAMP’ became a fan favourite at your shows. Did performing it live change how you feel about it?
I had no idea what the reaction to ‘SWAMP’ specifically would be. I knew that people would laugh because the way that I perform it is also very silly. But honestly, the reaction at every show really blew me away. It really just gave me such confidence again, like an extra boost, knowing that these are real people who are coming to the shows.
You supported Katy Perry at the O2 recently. How did it feel sharing such a personal new track on that stage?
It was insane. It’s the biggest audience that I’ve ever performed my own songs in front of. I thought I would be way too nervous to have fun, but I actually really enjoyed being on that stage. That was such a grounding feeling for me, especially after not performing actively. That was like my sixth or seventh show back in three years. I had no idea how it would feel, but it felt really, really good.
You’ve been making music since your teens. Has your relationship with your art changed as you’ve grown up?
I kind of based my whole value as a person on being an artist. When you’re young and in the rat race of the music industry, it’s really hard to then grow into an adult with a healthy mindset. I was straight-up depressed. I was like, ‘What am I going to do? I can’t put out music.’ I realised this is not a healthy way to live. I’m really thankful for that [realisation] because now in my personal life, I’m so much happier than I was before.
What’s something this new chapter has taught you about yourself – either as an artist or just as a person?
Those three years where I was gone, I went through a lot of growing up and mental rejigging. A lot of therapy. I had to overcome a lot of trauma that I had never processed. This next project is kind of me going through all of that sonically, but of course, it’s presented through a character. The whole thing has been a massive lesson for me as an artist and as a human.
What’s one song you wish you could listen to for the first time again?
‘Ultraviolence’ by Lana Del Rey.
An underrated song or artist you love?
Akiaura. There’s a song called ‘Death Wish’ that I think is really good.
The track that describes you best?
‘World Princess Part II’ by Grimes. I feel a little bit like a very international creature, kind of growing up all over the place.
An album you’d put in a time capsule?
‘Mezzanine’ by Massive Attack.
A lyric you love and the song it’s from?
‘I can see the end, in the beginning of everything.’ – ‘Janie’ by Ethel Cain.
A track that reminds you of a happy moment?
‘Radio’ by Lana Del Rey. I remember it with my sister and my mom; we love that, it’s like our song.
A song you discovered recently that you love?
‘808 Hymn’ by Erin LeCount.
Best record to get you out of a funk?
Sade. Like any Sade album or song. Put that on. I’m up, I’m cleaning.
What’s the last song you searched for on Spotify?
‘Girl of Your Dreams’ by Eli.
A song you wish you wrote?
‘Teardrops’ by Massive Attack. I feel like that song is insane and I love that melody so much.
SWAMP is out now.
photography. Claryn Chong
editing. Aanaya Dayaram
sfx + make up. Jess Hallesy
hair. Mariia Usanova
styling. Luca Wowczyna
interview. Gennaro Costanzo
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