Au/Ra has released her latest single Plz don’t waste my youth as the German/Antiguan artist looks set to enjoy a break through 2022.
Au/Ra has also scored more than a billion streams, picked up 7.5 million monthly listeners at Spotify and scooped two UK chart hits. Now she is following up on the success of I miss u (with Jax Jones) and Panic Room (with Camelphat).
Plz don’t waste my youth continues Au/Ra’s sharing of emotions and details of her own life experiences. The chart tracks some of the challenges she has faced in the industry including high expectations and intensity.
As Au/Ra explains, “plz don’t waste my youth is about how young people kinda grow-up so quickly in today’s society. I think seeing everyone’s highlight reel on social media has raised expectations on us. When you turn 18, you’re supposed to have figured out what you want from life, but that’s not how it works. Personally, I sometimes felt I wasn’t getting to enjoy the time I had as a teenager, because I was plagued with the worry of being successful enough and having it all figured out. It’s not always easy to cope with, especially when you’re already an anxious person. I just really wanted to express how difficult it can feel for young people and society’s expectations of them and yell about it.”
Au/Ra wrote the track alongside CJ Baran who has worked with Carly Rae Jepson and Melanie Martinez. CJ Baran was also on production and mixing duties.
The single is accompanied by an official video showing Au/Ra and her friends exploring the streets of London in a care-free moment.