Alaura: The Ethereal Voice of Modern Dream Pop

Alaura is a British dream pop singer-songwriter known for her atmospheric soundscapes and introspective lyricism. Hailing from Manchester, she achieved a notable commercial milestone with her debut album, Midnight Hymns, which charted within the UK Top 40 and secured a silver certification in her home country.

Early career

Born Alaura Bennett in 1994, her musical journey began in the vibrant indie scene of her native Manchester. She started uploading self-produced bedroom recordings to online platforms around 2013, cultivating a small but dedicated following with her hazy, reverb-drenched sound.

These early demos caught the attention of the independent label Sonic Cathedral, which signed her in 2015. Her first official release was the Glass Houses EP in 2016, a collection of four tracks that established her signature blend of ethereal vocals and shimmering guitar work.

Breakthrough

Alaura's breakthrough arrived in 2018 with the release of her debut studio album, Midnight Hymns. Released through Sonic Cathedral with distribution by PIAS, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 38.

The lead single, Fading Light, received significant airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music and became a streaming favorite, ultimately pushing the album to silver status in the UK. This success solidified her position within the contemporary dream pop landscape.

Key tracks

Fading Light — This breakthrough single defined her early sound and became her first charting track on the UK Independent Singles Breakers Chart.

Silver Line — A fan-favorite album track known for its expansive production and collaboration with producer Guy Fixsen.

Northern Skies — This later single showcased a denser, more rhythm-driven direction in her music.

Echoes — A key track from her second album noted for its featured vocals from fellow dream pop artist Hatchie.

Midnight Hymns — The atmospheric title track that perfectly encapsulates the nocturnal, introspective mood of her debut record.

Following her debut's success, Alaura's second album, Celestial Navigation, arrived in 2021. While it did not match the chart peak of its predecessor, it was praised for its artistic growth and more ambitious sonic palette.

She has since collaborated with artists like Hatchie on the track Echoes and contributed vocals to a remix by the electronic act Maribou State. Alaura continues to tour extensively across Europe and the UK, performing at festivals like End of the Road and Wide Skies.

Fans of Alaura's immersive sound often appreciate the work of similar artists in the dream pop and indie sphere. Discover Hatchie for a shared love of shoegaze-inflected pop melodies. The textured soundscapes of Beach House offer a clear parallel in atmospheric composition. Listen to Warpaint for a similar focus on intricate guitar interplay and hypnotic vocals. The UK-based project Still Corners also explores a comparable realm of cinematic, retro-futuristic dream pop.

Alaura's music maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly on alternative and indie-focused stations. Her tracks are regularly featured in the rotations of online dream pop and indie rock radio streams, as well as on public radio stations dedicated to new music discovery. Independent music radio stations across Europe frequently program her hazy, melodic songs, especially during evening hours.

Listeners can explore the evocative dream pop of Alaura through the radio stations featured on onairium.com. Tune in to discover her catalog, from early EPs to her acclaimed albums, across a selection of dedicated alternative and indie stations available on our platform.