Get to Know Brandon Aura, the Rising Folk Star Living on the Run Without Stopping
A product of Daveyton, Ekurhuleni folk singer-songwriter Brandon Aura’s story is one written with the ink of perseverance. From chapters of running in search of a better life to pages bookmarked and annotated with musical notes and guitar strums, Aura has authored his journey with intention, with truth, and with hard work.
He talked about his love for music and how it budded.
“I’ve always had a passion for music. When I moved out of Zimbabwe with my parents, they always told me to find a way in which to express myself. I ended up falling in love with the guitar. When I went to an art school in Benoni, the experience shaped my writing and everything else about my music. I initially struggled a lot with expressing myself, until I got to a point where I started playing the guitar, which is what helped me to get to a place of wanting to tell a story. That’s where my first song, “Run Boy”, came from,” he said.
Brandon Aura | SUPPLIED
Inspired by the true events of being uprooted from Zim owing to famine and drought and spurred by the possibility of having a better future, the song “Run Boy” was born. Aura spoke about some of his musical influences, which included Zahara, an artist he looked up to growing up for her candid storytelling and her way with the guitar.
“Growing up, I used to listen to a lot of Zahara. There is also an artist called London Grammar—I listened to them as well. I liked their style because of how minimal they were. The whole reason behind choosing the guitar was because it was the cheapest alternative out of all the instruments. I connected a lot with the kind of music Zahara made and how honest she was in her music. Looking at her tell her stories with the guitar made me realise that I can also tell mine with just as much power and truth and also in my own way,” he said.
Brandon Aura | SUPPLIED
A bedfellow of the uncomfortable, Brandon talked about the value of walking the hard road to reach artistic mastery as well as the willingness to keep on learning.
“Someone once told me that as a creative you have to learn how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. I feel like as an artist that’s the only way you can grow. With me personally, I always feel like there’s always room for learning more. I’d say I’m proud of how hard I’ve pushed the music, but I wouldn’t say I’m completely happy with where I’m at right now,” he said.
The singer-songwriter spoke about his greatest musical aspirations.
“I’d like to be known as a storyteller. A person who painted pictures with his voice and spoke about the injustices of society through beautiful yet simple music. I’d like to be a voice for the voiceless and to take people from every walk of life on a journey with my gift of music, not just here in South Africa but worldwide,” he said.
Brandon Aura | SUPPLIED
Aura highlighted his relationship with God as a defining part of his life, an aspect that he nurtured most when not tucked in making songs.
“My faith in God is something that I really cherish, so if it’s not the mic, then I’m trying to hone my relationship with God. So if I’m not with my guitar, then you’ll find me at church,” he said.
At the heart of his journey, Aura talked about building a family, musically and as a man of the home.
“Years from now, I see myself with a family and as the owner of a music company that empowers artists and does shows all around the world,” he said.