Heartstorm

## Singles from *Heartstorm*

1. "Celestial"
Released: July 17, 2015

***Heartstorm*** is the debut extended play by Australian singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer Aurora. It was released on July 17, 2015, through Red Rose Records, in promotion of her forthcoming second studio album, *Silhouettes* (2015). Primarily a pop project, the EP also contains elements of neo-psychedelia and alternative rock, while lyrically exploring varying degrees of love; new love's thrill, destined love's calling, and eternal love's promise. It was primarily independently written and produced by Aurora.

## Background and development

Following the impressive performance of prior single "Silhouettes", Red Rose Records hoped to continue building anticipation and hype for Aurora's forthcoming second studio album by promoting a pre-release extended play, titled *Heartstorm*. Now in the penultimate stages of polishing her sophomore set for its imminent release, Aurora realised one theme remained largely under-represented. "I haven't showcased love in a very positive light this era," Aurora admitted with the project's announcement on her official website, "As I displayed on my debut, I believe love is a very complex emotion, and I always want to paint the whole picture... all of its darkness, and all of its light."

In order to restore this balance, Aurora penned three new love songs for release on the *Heartstorm* EP, with the intention of uplifting the overall tone of her album and current public persona. "This is just a taste of what is still to come," Aurora continued in her statement on her official website, "Not all of these tracks may make the final cut [of *Silhouettes*], however they have a special place in my heart, and now they have a chance to find a place in yours." Single "Celestial" encapsulates the holiness of new love, while track "Red Thread" was inspired by the Chinese mythological red thread of fate. A studio session with Spanish recording artist dwuw was also arranged for Aurora, in which the two artists composed the duet "Frightening Nights and Lightning Strikes".

## Singles and promotion

"Celestial" was released as the lead and only single from *Heartstorm* alongside the EP's release on July 17, 2015. It was met with primarily mixed reviews, discrediting it as one of Aurora's weakest single choices to date. It debuted at #12 on the Platvia HitList, receiving a rating of 6.9 by Platvian music critics.

### **Other charted songs**

Remaining EP tracks "Red Thread" and "Frightening Nights and Lightning Strikes" featuring Spanish recording artist dwuw fared surprisingly better than the project's single, both critically and commercially. "Red Thread" received a rating of 8.125 by Platvian music critics, while dwuw collaboration "Frightening Nights and Lightning Strikes" managed to receive an impressive 8.325 rating. Despite their lack of promotion, "Strikes" and "Thread" debuted on the Platvia HitList chart dated July 28, 2015, at #5 and #7 respectively, while also peaking at #1 and #4 on their respective genre component charts.

## Critical reception

*Heartstorm* received predominantly favourable reviews from Platvian music critics, considering "Celestial" to be the project's least engaging new offering. The EP received a combined Platacritic Platascore of 78/100.

## Commercial performance

*Heartstorm* debuted at #4 on the Platvian EP Chart dated July 28, 2015, spending one week at its peak. The EP has spent a combined total of 24 weeks on the chart.

It was ranked at #8 on the Platvian Year End EP Chart for 2015.

## Track listing

All tracks are written and produced by Aurora Renée Jaymesson, except where noted.

 **Total length:** | 0:00

### **Notes**

* "Frightening Nights and Lightning Strikes" was co-written with dwuw.