Whilst Aerborn isn’t playing shows, you’ll often find her in a makeshift studio in the outer suburbs of Brisbane. With only her laptop, voice and a galaxy of glitter, AERBORN is a one-woman powerhouse of sound. Blending elements of dark pop and trap, she combines chilling lyrics with syrupy synthesized twists. The result - a force of positivity and self-reflection.
Ebony Bowen-Sauders found her passion for music at a very young age. Setting her sights not too far beyond the warm familiarity of her childhood city, Bowen-Saunders draws inspiration from Sydney based artists Flume and Alison Wonderland; hoping one day to inspire uniqueness and compassion through her own music.
Unheard Gems: Just for our readers to get a little bit of background on you, when did you first know you wanted to pursue music and what was your journey like?
Aerborn: I have always had music as a part of my life. I grew up in an entertainment family which was kind of like growing up in the circus, always backstage at festivals and performing on stage. When I left school, I was studying to be a chef which I really didn’t enjoy. I did that for about a year, and took a bit of time off then had the realisation of how much music was a part of my life and always had been. I realised I could make music and writing songs my job and ran inside to start producing on garageband. Ever since I’ve been learning so much more and now my style is kind of polished and unique. It took a while to work out all the kinks and because I’m self taught and there is always so much more to learn, but this is definitely going to be something I’ll always do.
Unheard Gems: You have such a unique and interesting sound and texture to your music, how would you categorize your sound according to a genre and how do you think you got there?
Aerborn: I think I like to make my style heavy, because of the lyrics and topics I sing about, but with lighter instruments and vocals to object that. I kind of inspire my sound from trap and heavier stuff. I love when you listen to a song and it takes you on a whole train of thought of self improvement or realisations. Music that makes you grow as a person has always been my passion. Genre wise, at the beginning I was inspired by people like Flume, What So Not and Alison Wonderland. I enjoy all types of electronic music, I guess I would call Aerborn alternative electronic.
Unheard Gems: Your most recent release came out early february and it's called “In a Phase”. What made you choose this as your first release since 2017.
Aerborn: In a Phase for me is kind of a story of how Aerborn came to be, I was lost and drifting between friends and jobs, partying, never being able to feel connected to any of it. Music and getting passionate about producing gave me a lot of direction and pulled me out of a downwards spiral. I think it’s very fitting to have this as my first release this year because it explains so much about me, it’s lesson one Aerborn basics.
Unheard Gems: What inspired this song for you?
Aerborn: Going to festivals and watching big names like Broods and Banks really made me step up my game both with my music, sound and the character of Aerborn. I wrote the chorus just driving along thinking about it all, and the original version was quite slow and more alternative. The inspiration came from wanting to make a song that I would have liked to find when I was in that dark place of not knowing who I was and knowing my surroundings weren’t resonating with me. I think a lot of young people will be able to connect to it because they’re going through a similar thing. I want to be the friend and voice of reason they might not have at the time.
Unheard Gems: The music video was amazing. I loved the way it was a reversed party scene, incredibly clever. What was the inspiration and how was it to film.
Aerborn: My younger brother Jesse was actually the director of the clip. Jesse, Michael and myself all got together over a couple of weeks and tried to do something that was impressive and very iconic but also keeping to our low budget and the beginning stage of the project. The way I am walking reversed to everyone kind of was to portray that disconnection I felt, and show the path of me walking out of it, getting drinks spilled on me and becoming all sparkly. Basically my brother is a kid genius...
Unheard Gems: I mentioned this being your first release since 2017. How have you seen yourself grow as an artist in that time in between?
Aerborn: My first songs were kind of all over the place. I would just write whatever I could whenever I could without a consistent theme. I remember going to see flume for the first time and looking at how his show was a whole story that flowed from beginning to end. After that I tried writing in a way that all the songs can kind of be connected to each other. I want the audience to experience a whole journey and notice they’re mentally in a different place by the end than they were at the beginning of the show. When I first started writing music it was very much for me, and things I wanted to talk about and understand myself. With time I’ve come to write my music more for the listener, but that I still enjoy. I’ve compacted my look and sound a lot more than when I started. I’m also a lot more confident with my vision and finally have the balls to show it.
Unheard Gems: What about more music that is yet to come? What can we expect and when? Any little hints you can give us.
Aerborn: At the moment everything is a little bit up in the aer 📷 But something is happening that may or may not be a lot more dancy, up beat, and involve cute and furry animals.
Unheard Gems: I love hearing what the artists we talk to are listening to. Who are some artists you think deserve more attention in the music industry and why?
Aerborn: Two boys from Brisbane that I've known for a couple years are absolutely mind blowing with their production and the way their minds work. Copycatt is a wonky bass boi and Shvrdz is an incredibly talented producer of all genres, both deserve a lot more recognition and probably to be the next big flume.
Unheard Gems: Lastly, for all of our readers, where can they find you and your music and is there anything else you want to leave us with that we didn’t talk about in our questions?
Aerborn: My music is available on all streaming platforms and youtube. As for the readers thank you so much for making it this far. I hope your enjoying the project so far, and there will be so much more to come. If you like what I’m doing make sure to show your support so I can keep doing it. And a hot tip, make sure you go for your dreams, because I have and it’s been the best decision I have ever made.
Interview by Hannah Schneider