All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox album
| name = All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend
| type = studio
| artist = Aurora
| cover = Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend.png
| border = yes
| alt = Aurora is against a dark grey background with her eyes closed and her head inclined, wrapped in light fabrics that simulate a cocoon with moth wings behind her.
| released = {{Start date|2016|3|11|df=y}}
| recorded = 2014–March 2015
| studio =
- Lydriket (Bergen)
- The Engine Room (London)
- Angel (London)
| genre =
| length = 46:48
| label =
| producer =
- Odd Martin Skålnes
- Magnus Skylstad
- Nicolas Rebscher
- Alf Lund Godbolt
- Electric
| prev_title = Running with the Wolves
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Infections of a Different Kind (Step 1)
| next_year = 2018
| misc =
{{Singles
| name = All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend
| type = studio
| single1 = Runaway
| single1date = 7 February 2015
| single2 = Running with the Wolves
| single2date = 20 April 2015
| single3 = Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
| single3date = 25 August 2015
| single4 = Half the World Away
| single4date = 12 November 2015
| single5 = Conqueror
| single5date = 15 February 2016
| single6 = I Went Too Far
| single6date = 5 July 2016
| single7 = Through the Eyes of a Child
| single7date = 28 March 2025
}}
}}
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend is the debut studio album by Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora. It was released on 11 March 2016 by Decca and Glassnote Records. The album followed the release of her debut extended play (EP) Running with the Wolves (2015), which contained two songs that were later included on the album. Aurora collaborated with several producers, including Odd Martin Skålnes, Magnus Skylstad, Nicolas Rebscher, Alf Lund Godbolt, and Electric during its recording.
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend has been described predominantly as an electropop album, along with folk, electronic, synth-pop, Nordic-folk, and alternative pop that explores fantasy, heartache, life, and death through its lyrics. The album was met with positive reviews from music critics. At the Spellemannprisen 2016, All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend won Pop Soloist and was nominated for Album of the Year; the music video of the song "I Went Too Far" won Music Video of the Year. Commercially, the album topped the Norwegian albums chart in its first week, while also reaching the top 50 in various North American and European countries, in addition to attaining modest positions on several European charts. The album was certified platinum in Norway and has sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide.
Seven singles supported the album, and 6 of which were supplemented by accompanying music videos. "Runaway" became a sleeper hit six years later and peaked at number one on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 in the United States. The second single, "Running with the Wolves" reached number 72 in Germany, becoming her first song to chart in that country. An acoustic version of "Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)" was released in August 2015 while its studio version was released a month later. Her cover of the song "Half the World Away" by Oasis was released for the 2015 John Lewis Christmas advert and included in the album's deluxe edition. The singles "Conqueror" and "I Went Too Far" were released throughout 2016. After receiving attention for its appearance in a closing scene from Netflix's TV series Adolescence, "Through the Eyes of a Child" was released as the album's seventh single in 2025, nine years after its release.
Background and development
Aurora began playing piano at the age of six, but it wasn't until she became nine that she decided to compose her own songs.{{Cite web|last=Darwin|first=Liza|title=Aurora is Living the Teenage Dream|url=http://www.populartv.com/music/aurora-singer-interview/|access-date=18 October 2019|website=Popular TV}} When a live performance at her high school's leaving ceremony and a recording of her song "Puppet" were uploaded online, it was quickly discovered by a representative of the Norwegian management agency of Artists Made Management.{{Cite web|last=Rustad|first=Eric|date=17 January 2015|title=Aurora Talks Career, New EP and Dragons|url=http://www.tapsongz.com/aurora-interview.html|access-date=18 October 2019|website=TapSongz.com}}{{Cite web|date=10 November 2016|title=Top shows this week: Aurora and more|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/11/10/top-shows-week-aurora-and-more/93260850/|access-date=18 October 2019|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}} Even though she initially denied the proposal, she accepted it since her mother advised her that "maybe there's someone out there who desperately needs [her music]."{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/64ymyb/aurora-interview-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend|title=Aurora: "Without Darkness the World Would Be Boring and Life Would Be Very Flat"|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=11 March 2016|website=Vice|access-date=18 October 2019}} In a few hours, both songs received thousands of visits in Norway, which earned Aurora some recognition in her country, in addition to a fan base on Facebook.{{Cite web|last=Boilen|first=Bob|date=2 November 2016|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/11/02/500266764/guest-dj-aurora-on-her-love-of-heavy-metal-and-leonard-cohen|title=Guest DJ: AURORA On Her Love Of Heavy Metal And Leonard Cohen|website=NPR.|access-date=18 October 2019}}
After releasing a series of non-album singles, she followed with the release of her debut EP Running with the Wolves in May 2015,{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/running-with-the-wolves-ep/id987008667|title=Running with the Wolves by AURORA|publisher=iTunes Store (US)|date=4 May 2015|access-date=5 November 2016|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531031009/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/running-with-the-wolves-ep/id987008667|archive-date=31 May 2015}} which received positive reviews from online music blogs and national press.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gigslutz.co.uk/album-aurora-running-wolves/|title=ALBUM: Aurora Running With the Wolves|access-date=14 February 2017|last=Benbow|first=Meg|website=Gigslutz.co.uk|date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214121317/http://www.gigslutz.co.uk/album-aurora-running-wolves/|archive-date=14 February 2017}} Aurora embarked on a short tour in cities of the United States and the United Kingdom to promote it.{{cite web|last=Chen|first=Jonathan|date=9 April 2015|title=Aurora Announces Debut EP Titled Running with the Wolves|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/04/aurora-announces-debut-ep-titled-running-with-the.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135945/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/04/aurora-announces-debut-ep-titled-running-with-the.html|archive-date=12 June 2018|access-date=17 April 2018|website=Paste Magazine}}{{Cite web|date=24 November 2015|title=Of Monsters & Men hit the road with Highasakite & Aurora!|url=http://nordicplaylist.com/of-monsters-and-men-tour-london-highasakite-aurora/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815065203/http://nordicplaylist.com/of-monsters-and-men-tour-london-highasakite-aurora/|archive-date=15 August 2016|access-date=27 June 2016|website=Nordic Playlist}}
Like in Running with the Wolves, most of the album was recorded at Lydriket Studios, located in her native Bergen, while additional recording was taken at The Engine Room and Angel Recording Studios in London. Band members from her live band, Magnus Skylstad and Odd Martin Skålnes produced most of the songs from the album. The songs from the album were written from Aurora's childhood to March 2015, when the album was finished.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11487130/aurora-interview-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend|title=Talking to Aurora about her new album, quitting Snapchat, and writing the perfect song|access-date=11 February 2017|last=Plaugic|first=Lizzie|date=22 April 2016|work=The Verge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711190557/http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11487130/aurora-interview-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend|archive-date=11 July 2016}} In early 2016, Aurora featured in British band Icarus' song "Home" and released a cover of David Bowie's "Life on Mars" for the HBO Girls television series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vogue.com/article/music-festival-panorama-artists-aurora|title=Aurora on Nordic Beauty and Why She Never Wears Nail Polish|access-date=11 February 2017|last=Rennert|first=Jenna|date=23 June 2016|work=Vogue}}{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/home-feat-aurora-single/1078108923|title=Home (featuring AURORA) - Single by Icarus|access-date=27 February 2017|website=iTunes Apple|date=February 2016 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227142152/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/home-feat.-aurora-single/id1078108923|archive-date=27 February 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/girls-vol-3-music-from-hbo/1083735629|title=Girls, Vol. 3 (Music from the HBO Original Series) by Various Artists|access-date=27 February 2017|website=iTunes Apple|date=19 February 2016 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227142214/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/girls-vol.-3-music-from-hbo/id1083735629|archive-date=27 February 2017}}
Music and lyrics
File:Björk @deer lake park.jpg (pictured), which Aurora cited as an influence for her.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7453631/aurora-singer-conqueror-youtube-documentary-interview|title=Aurora Q&A: Inside Her YouTube Deal, 'Possessed' Performance Style and Upcoming Documentary|access-date=19 September 2017|last=Hampp|first=Andrew|date=28 July 2016|magazine=Billboard}}]]
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend is mainly an electropop,{{cite web|title=Album of the week: Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/105900/aurora-debut-album-release-review-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-friend|website=Gigwise|access-date=12 July 2021|date=10 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508121616/https://www.gigwise.com/news/105900/aurora-debut-album-release-review-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-friend |archive-date=8 May 2021 }}{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Tara|title=Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|url=https://themusic.com.au/music/albumreviews/2016/03/04/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-tara-johnston/|website=The Music|date=4 March 2016|accessdate=12 July 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704172602/http://themusic.com.au/music/albumreviews/2016/03/04/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-tara-johnston/|archivedate=4 July 2017}} folk,{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Michael|title=Album Review: AURORA – All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|url=http://renownedforsound.com/album-review-aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend/|website=Renowned for Sound|accessdate=12 July 2021}}{{cite web|title=Aurora gets ready to fly|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend|website=The Line Of The Best Fit|access-date=12 July 2021|date=7 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308105438/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend |archive-date=8 March 2016 }} electronic,{{cite web|title=Aurora interview: I want to fight for everything that can't fight for itself|last=Smyth|first=David|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/aurora-interview-i-want-to-fight-for-everything-that-can-t-fight-for-itself-a3831146.html|website=Evening Standard|date=4 May 2018|access-date=17 July 2021}}{{cite web|last=Pareles|first=Jon|title=Review: Aurora's Debut Album Offers Pop Bait and Dark Introspection|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/10/arts/music/review-auroras-debut-album-offers-pop-bait-and-dark-introspection.html|website=The New York Times|date=9 March 2016|accessdate=12 July 2021}} synth-pop,{{cite news|last=Carroll|first=Jim|title=Aurora – All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend: melancholic, dark and alien synth-pop|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-melancholic-dark-and-alien-synth-pop-1.2585614?mode=amp|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=12 July 2021|date=24 March 2016}} Nordic-folk, and alternative pop record,{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/aurora-the-gods-we-can-touch-review-a-seductive-mix-of-bangers-and-class-3140766|title=AURORA – 'The Gods We Can Touch' review: a seductive mix of bangers and class|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|work=NME|date=19 January 2022|access-date=19 January 2022}} featuring elements of art pop, new age, disco, and trip hop.{{cite news|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|title=Pop: Aurora: All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/inspiration/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-6qkrmkblp|website=The Times|date=11 March 2016|access-date=13 July 2021}} The album is mostly a collection of experiences that Aurora wrote about while growing up in her native Norway.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/aurora-interviewed-i-started-to-write-songs-in-the-first-place-to-help-myself-get-through-things-143|title=AURORA interviewed: "I started to write songs in the first place to help myself get through things."|access-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318225408/http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/aurora-interviewed-i-started-to-write-songs-in-the-first-place-to-help-myself-get-through-things-143|archive-date=18 March 2016|url-status=dead}} According to her, the record is mainly "about bad experiences from the past that can be good memories, [and about] come to peace with everything that happened." Lyrical nature themes throughout the record present vivid lyricisms about fantasy, heartache, life, and death. The productions of the record has been characterised as "minimalist" with spacy electronics, pulsating beats, yearning modalities, and synth-driven sounds.{{cite web|title=All My Demons Greeting Me As a Friend Review|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/aurora/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-friends-review/|website=Paste|access-date=11 July 2021|date=10 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925174650/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/aurora/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-friends-review/ |archive-date=25 September 2020 }} Critics compared the record to the music of artists like Björk, Lorde, Lykke Li, Florence Welch, Goldfrapp, and Enya.
=Songs=
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend opens with the folktronica and synth-pop number "Runaway".{{cite web|title=AURORA's 2016 single Runaway is climbing the charts thanks to TikTok: "People are so beautiful!"|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/auroras-2016-single-runaway-is-climbing-the-charts-thanks-to-tiktok-people-are-so-beautiful-__32879/|website=Official Charts |access-date=12 April 2021|date=12 April 2021|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412072813/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/auroras-2016-single-runaway-is-climbing-the-charts-thanks-to-tiktok-people-are-so-beautiful-__32879/ |archive-date=12 April 2021 }} The song featured echoing water droplet effects, screeches, and transitions. Aurora has stated that the song takes an influence from Nordic folk music and is about "a girl begging to go home – the only place where she belongs, or just the only place left to go".{{cite web|last=Ginsberg|first=Gab|title=Aurora Explains How She Became the 'Voice of the Mountains' For 'Frozen 2's 'Into the Unknown'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/movies/8545647/aurora-frozen-2-into-the-unknown-emerging-artists-spotlight|publisher=Billboard|date=6 December 2019|accessdate=11 July 2021}} The second track, "Conqueror", is a synth-pop and electropop song that features "clattering drum beats building towards a euphoric chorus".{{cite web|author=i-D staff|title=premiere: aurora, 'conqueror'|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/mbe4yq/premiere-aurora-conqueror|work=i-D|date=15 January 2016|accessdate=15 July 2021}} The track has been described to be "poppy" and "playful", musically upbeat with a catchy percussive beat, sparkling synths, and a battle-ready chorus.{{cite web|last=Trunick|first=Austin|title=Aurora All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/all_my_demons_greeting_me_as_a_friend/#|website=Under the Radar|date=4 April 2016|accessdate=13 July 2021}} The Scandipop song, "Running with the Wolves" serves as the third track. Its lyrics is about "the dawning realisation that the answer is to be found in this world, however damaged it might be". The fourth track, "Lucky", is a piano and organ-led ballad with lyricisms about "someone striving against their inner voice telling them to give in". "Winter Bird" is the fifth track which has been described as a new age-tinged folk, Nordic folk, and "Enya-ambient-folk dream" with nature themed lyrics. The sixth track, "I Went Too Far" is a disco-inflected pop and synth-pop ballad.{{cite web|last=Holland|first=Luke|title=Aurora's I Went Too Far: the best of this week's music|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/12/auroras-i-went-too-far-the-best-of-this-weeks-music|website=The Guardian|access-date=8 June 2021|date=12 August 2016|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812125527/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/12/auroras-i-went-too-far-the-best-of-this-weeks-music |archive-date=12 August 2016 }} The ballad has been described as "solemn" with a synth-swirling chorus and dance-insistent beat.
"Through the Eyes of a Child" is the seventh track which is also the seventh single from the album.{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Tyler Damara |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/aurora-re-releases-debut-album-track-through-the-eyes-of-a-child |title=AURORA re-releases debut album track, "Through the Eyes of a Child" |website=The Line of Best Fit |date=31 March 2025 |access-date=8 April 2025 }} It has been described as an "icily atmospheric" ballad that "showcases [a] lovely piano and voice". The eighth track, "Warrior" has an upbeat uptempo sound that showcases the brighter side of the record with a vulnerable and authentic self-love inspired message. The lyrics are about someone "struggling to let love back into their life". Ninth track, "Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)" is a solemn and shimmering ballad with a "creeping" title that has a smooth and synthy minor. Lyrically, the ballad speaks about a mercy killing of a protagonist "recounting the story of her own death".{{cite web|last=Godwin|first=Richard|title=Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend, album review: 'a wise young soul'|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-album-review-a-wise-young-soul-a3200966.html|website=Evening Standard|date=11 March 2016|accessdate=13 July 2021}} The tenth track, "Home" has been described as a "chilly, almost robotic" song. Eleventh track "Under the Water" and twelfth track "Black Water Lillies", share the same subject about drowning and death within the lyrics. On "Under the Water", the ballad talks about the romanticisation of drowning. The closing track of the standard edition, "Black Water Lilies" follows the same theme as "Under The Water". "Black Water Lilies" features extended notes, reverberating piano, and simple beats, about "overcoming forces both in the natural and mental realms".
Release and promotion
File:AURORA, ICA, London (27536661681).jpg, London]]
Aurora initially announced that the album was expected for release in September 2015, but was later postponed. During that time, she revealed that some of the songs were "less dreamy" and "more happy" in comparison to previous ones and concluded that "it's not just a sad and dark record, there is some hope in it [...] which is nice!" Months later, Aurora announced in January 2016 that the album would be released on 11 March of the same year.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/aurora-announces-debut-album-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-145 |title=AURORA announces debut album, All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend |access-date=17 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515122336/http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/aurora-announces-debut-album-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-145 |archive-date=15 May 2016 |url-status=dead}} The album in its standard and deluxe editions was issued on 11 March 2016, by Decca and Glassnote Records. An international deluxe edition was released digitally for several countries on 26 August 2016.
To promote the album, Aurora did several performances. She performed at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Concert,{{cite web |last1=Harshavardan |first1=Rathan |title=Album Review: Aurora – 'All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend' |url=https://culturedvultures.com/album-review-aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend/ |website=Cultured Vultures |access-date=1 November 2019|date=18 March 2016}} saying that she and her family "have been following it from the living room at home for many years", and "it is an incredibly beautiful thing to be a part of."{{cite news|url=https://www.ba.no/nyheter/a-ha-og-aurora-aksnes-til-nobels-fredspriskonsert/s/5-8-183129|title=A-ha og Aurora Aksnes til Nobels fredspriskonsert|work=Bergensavisen|date=26 October 2015|access-date=11 December 2021}} Her presentation was praised by the concert's host Jay Leno.{{cite web|last=Bjørnstad|first=Silje|url=https://www.klikk.no/underholdning/pa-twitter---aerlig-talt-morten---du-kunne-ha-kosta-pa-deg-ei-penskjorte-til-nobelkonserten-4565225|title=På Twitter: - Ærlig talt, Morten - du kunne ha kosta på deg ei penskjorte til Nobelkonserten|website=Klikk.no|date=11 December 2015|access-date=5 December 2021}} She has played a sold-out headline show in London and supported Of Monsters and Men at Brixton Academy in November 2015. On 14 March 2016, Aurora made her American television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing "Conqueror", which was later performed on Conan.{{cite web|title=Aurora guests on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/guest/aurora/224266|publisher=NBC|access-date=26 March 2016}} She also starred in her own short documentaries: "Into the Light", and "Nothing is Eternal", directed by Isaac Ravishankara and produced by The Fader.{{cite AV media|title=AURORA - Nothing is Eternal (A Documentary)|people=Isaac Ravishankara (director), Mai Fujijara (producer)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vdBorK67tk|access-date=12 February 2017|via=YouTube Music|publisher=The FADER|year=2016}} She also partnered with YouTube for a creative content distribution program, becoming the first in a series of emerging artists.
=Tour=
{{Main|All My Demons Tour}}
The album received further promotion from her second headlining concert tour, the All My Demons Tour, which began on 1 February 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom.{{cite news|last=Frankland|first=Becca|url=https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Channel-4-reveals-Future-Sounds-list-/27319/|title=Channel 4 reveals Future Sounds list|date=21 December 2015|access-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107050012/https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Channel-4-reveals-Future-Sounds-list-/27319/|archive-date=7 January 2016}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 80/100{{cite web |url= http://www.metacritic.com/music/all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend/aurora |title= Reviews for All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend by Aurora |work= Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=11 March 2016 |access-date= 11 March 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-mw0002888572 |title= All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend - Aurora |work= AllMusic |date=4 April 2016 |access-date= 21 May 2016}}
| rev2 = DIY
| rev2Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url= http://diymag.com/2016/03/11/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-album-review |title= Album Review: Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend |work= DIY Magazine |publisher= |date=11 March 2016 |access-date= 21 May 2016}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3Score = A−{{cite magazine |url= http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/11/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-friend-ew-review |title= AURORA's 'All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend': EW Review |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |publisher= |date=11 March 2016 |access-date= 21 May 2016}}
| rev4 = Gigwise
| rev5 = The Guardian
| rev5Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/10/aurora-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-review-angsty-melodrama |title= Aurora: All My Demons Greeting Me As a Friend review – angsty melodrama |work= The Guardian |publisher= |date=10 March 2016 |access-date= 21 May 2016}}
| rev6 = The Irish Times
| rev7 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev8 = The Music
| rev8score = {{rating|3.5|5}}
| rev9 = musicOMH
| rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=John|url= http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/aurora-demons-greeting-friend |title= Aurora - All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend |work= musicOMH |publisher= |date=11 March 2016 |access-date= 21 May 2016}}
| rev10 = The Times
}}
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 80, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 10 reviews.
Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Madison Vain commended Aurora's vocals and production and added that the record "channels a similar magical vibe as the art-pop superstar [Björk]". The song "Conqueror" received particular praise as being "simply a cut above the rest of the songs. It’s a glorious mix of synths, powerful drumbeats, and a chorus that is as memorable as it is fun to listen to."{{Cite web |last=Dwek |first=Joel |date=2021-01-13 |title=NORWAY: All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend - Aurora |url=https://www.200worldalbums.com/post/norway-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-aurora |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=200worldalbums.com |language=en}}
Accolades
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend won the Norwegian GAFFA Award for Norwegian Album of the Year and the Spellemann Award for Pop Soloist and Music Video of the Year for the song "I Went Too Far".{{Cite web|url=http://gaffa.no/nyhet/102579/gaffa-prisen-2015-og-vinnerne-er|title=GAFFA-Prisen 2015: Og vinnerne er...|access-date=20 October 2017|date=1 May 2016|website=GAFFA.no|language=no|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021005137/http://gaffa.no/nyhet/102579/gaffa-prisen-2015-og-vinnerne-er|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/marcus-og-martinus-ble-arets-spellemenn-1.13347948|title=Marcus og Martinus ble Årets Spellemenn|access-date=2 March 2017|date=30 January 2017|language=no|website=NRK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302074232/https://www.nrk.no/kultur/marcus-og-martinus-ble-arets-spellemenn-1.13347948|archive-date=2 March 2017}} It was also nominated for Album of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://spellemann.no/arets-nominerte-2016/|title=Årets Nominerte (2016)|website=Spelleman.no|access-date=14 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207185224/https://spellemann.no/arets-nominerte-2016/|archive-date=7 February 2019}} She was also awarded a plaque on the Bergen Walk of Fame, which is located on Nøstegaten Street in the Nøstet district.{{Cite web|url=https://www.midtsiden.no/arne-og-aurora-heidra-i-bergen|title=Arne og Aurora heidra i Bergen|access-date=23 April 2021|last=Hamre|first=Andris|date=8 September 2017|website=Midtsiden.no|language=no}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" width=9% | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |
|---|
| rowspan="3"| 2017
| Norwegian Album of the Year | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite web |url=https://gaffa.no/nyheter/2017/januar/gaffa-prisen-2016-og-vinneren-er/ |title=GAFFA-Prisen 2016: Og vinneren er... |access-date=8 April 2025 |date=26 January 2017 |website=GAFFA.no |language=no}} |
| rowspan="2"| Spellemannprisen
| Album of the Year | {{nom}} |
| Pop Soloist
| {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite web |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/marcus-og-martinus-ble-arets-spellemenn-1.13347948 |title=Marcus og Martinus ble Årets Spellemenn |access-date=2 March 2017 |date=30 January 2017 |language=no |website=NRK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302074232/https://www.nrk.no/kultur/marcus-og-martinus-ble-arets-spellemenn-1.13347948 |archive-date=2 March 2017}} |
Commercial performance
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend debuted at number one on the Norwegian VG-lista Topp 40 Album with first-week sales of 4,800 units, topping the chart for 2 consecutive weeks.{{cite web |title=All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend (Deluxe) |url=https://www.vglista.no/album/all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-deluxe/ |website=VG-lista |publisher=Verdens Gang |accessdate=14 June 2024}} It was the fourth best-selling Norwegian album in Norway in 2016 and is the most streamed album of all time by a Norwegian female artist.{{fact|date=March 2025}}
In the United States, the album debuted at number #150 on the Billboard 200 with 5,000 album-equivalent units.
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend has sold 500,000 units worldwide as of September 28, 2018.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/aurora-infections-of-a-different-kind-step-1-new-album-interview-2384198|title=AURORA tells us about her surprise 'empowering' new album 'Infections Of A Different Kind – Step 1'|date=28 September 2018|magazine=NME|accessdate=2 October 2018}}
Track listing
All tracks produced by Odd Martin Skålnes and Magnus Åserud Skylstad, except where noted.
{{Track listing
| headline = All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend{{nobold| – Standard edition}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 46:48
| title1 = Runaway
| length1 = 4:08
| writer1 = {{hlist|Aurora Aksnes|Magnus Åserud Skylstad}}
| extra1 =
| title2 = Conqueror
| length2 = 3:27
| writer2 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Geir Luedy|Odd Martin Skålnes|Skylstad}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Skylstad|Jeremy Wheatley{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| title3 = Running with the Wolves
| length3 = 3:14
| writer3 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Michelle Leonard|Nicolas Rebscher}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Rebscher|Skylstad}}
| title4 = Lucky
| length4 = 4:04
| writer4 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Skålnes}}
| extra4 =
| title5 = Winter Bird
| length5 = 4:07
| writer5 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Jonathan Wright}}
| extra5 =
| title6 = I Went Too Far
| length6 = 3:27
| writer6 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Skylstad|Skålnes}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Skylstad|Wheatley{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| title7 = Through the Eyes of a Child
| length7 = 4:34
| writer7 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Leonard|Alf Lund Godbolt}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Skylstad|Godbolt}}
| title8 = Warrior
| length8 = 3:43
| writer8 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Leonard|Alexander Knolle|Rebscher|Skylstad|Janis Liphardt}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Skylstad|Wheatley{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| title9 = Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
| length9 = 3:20
| writer9 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Skålnes}}
| extra9 =
| title10 = Home
| length10 = 3:32
| writer10 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Daniel Wilson|Thomas Hull}}
| extra10 =
| title11 = Under the Water
| length11 = 4:24
| writer11 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Edvard Førre Erfjord|Henrik Barman Michelsen}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Electric|Skylstad}}
| title12 = Black Water Lilies
| length12 = 4:42
| writer12 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Skålnes|Skylstad}}
| extra12 =
| all_writing =
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend{{nobold| – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 64:40
| title13 = Half the World Away
| note13 = Oasis cover
| length13 = 3:18
| writer13 = {{hlist|Noel Gallagher}}
| extra13 =
| title14 = Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
| note14 = Acoustic
| length14 = 3:38
| writer14 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Skålnes}}
| extra14 =
| title15 = Nature Boy
| note15 = Acoustic
| length15 = 2:59
| writer15 = {{hlist|George Alexander Aberle}}
| extra15 =
| title16 = Wisdom Cries
| length16 = 4:07
| writer16 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Leonard|Rebscher}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|Rebscher}}
| title17 = Running with the Wolves
| note17 = Pablo Nouvelle Remix
| length17 = 3:50
| writer17 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Leonard|Rebscher}}
| extra17 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Rebscher|Skylstad|Pablo Nouvelle{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend{{nobold| – International deluxe edition (bonus tracks)}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 77:07
| title18 = I Went Too Far
| note18 = PWNDTIAC Remix
| length18 = 4:43
| writer18 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Skylstad|Skålnes}}
| extra18 = {{hlist|Skålnes|Skylstad|Wheatley{{ref|b|[b]}}|PWNDTIAC{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| title19 = Under Stars
| note19 = Loon Remix
| length19 = 3:33
| writer19 = {{hlist|Aksnes|Dan McDougall}}
| extra19 = {{hlist|McDougall|Skålnes|Loon{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| title20 = Mr. Tambourine Man
| note20 = Bob Dylan cover
| length20 = 4:11
| writer20 = {{hlist|Bob Dylan}}
| extra20 =
}}
Notes
- {{sup|{{note|b|b}}}} signifies an additional producer.
- {{sup|{{note|c|c}}}} signifies a remixer.
- "Conqueror" contains elements of "Now We Are Free" by Lisa Gerrard.
- Physical releases of the album title "Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)" as "Murder Song".
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend.{{cite AV media notes |title=All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend |type=booklet |others=Aurora |publisher=Decca Records |year=2016 |id=4737926}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Musicians
- Aurora Aksnes – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 1, 6, 7, 12)}}; synth {{small|(track 1)}}
- Alf Lund Godbolt – synth {{small|(tracks 2, 4)}}; programming {{small|(track 7)}}
- Nicolas Rebscher – synth {{small|(track 3)}}; keyboards {{small|(track 16)}}; programming {{small|(track 3)}}
- Odd Martin Skålnes – synth {{small|(tracks 1, 5-9, 12)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 10, 13)}}; drums & percussion {{small|(track 2)}}; programming {{small|(tracks 2, 4-6, 11-13)}}; bass guitar {{small|(tracks 2-4, 9, 10)}}; acoustic guitar {{small|(tracks 14, 15)}}
- Magnus Åserud Skylstad – synth {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 7, 8)}}; piano {{small|(track 2)}}; drums & percussion {{small|(all tracks)}}
- Øystein Skar – synth {{small|(track 10)}}
- Pete Davis – keyboards & programming {{small|(tracks 2, 6, 8)}}
- Michelle Leonard – keyboards & programming {{small|(track 16)}}
- Edvard Erfjord – programming {{small|(track 11)}}
- Henrik Michelsen – programming {{small|(track 11)}}
- Matias Monsen – cello {{small|(track 15)}}
- Askjell Solstrand – wurlitzer organ {{small|(track 13)}}
- Geoff Lawson – conductor (The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) {{small|(track 13)}}
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra {{small|(track 13)}}
{{col-2}}
Technical
- Magnus Åserud Skylstad – production & recording {{small|(all tracks)}}, mixing {{small|(tracks 1-4, 7, 10, 12, 14-16)}}
- Neil Comber – mixing {{small|(tracks 4, 5, 9, 11)}}
- Odd Martin Skålnes – production & recording {{small|(all tracks)}}, mixing {{small|(tracks 1-4, 7, 10, 12, 14-16)}}
- Jeremy Wheatley – additional production, programming & mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 6, 8)}}
- Alex Wharton – mastering {{small|(all tracks)}}
- Edvard Erfjord – production & recording {{small|(track 11)}}
- Henrik Michelsen – production & recording {{small|(track 11)}}
Artwork
- Jane Long – artwork, graphics, design
- Knut Skylstad – photography
- Bent René Synnevåg – photography
{{col-end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/aria-albums-zayn-has-the-no-1-album-in-australia-20160402|title=ARIA Albums: Zayn Has the No 1 Album in Australia|publisher=Noise11|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|date=2 April 2016|access-date=2 April 2016}}
| 51 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Austria|50|artist=Aurora %5BNO%5D|album=All My Demons Greening Me as a Friend|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|40|artist=Aurora %5BNO%5D|album=All My Demons Greening Me as a Friend|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|95|artist=Aurora %5BNO%5D|album=All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|43|artist=Aurora|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Czech|33|year=2016|week=36|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 September 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|17|artist=Aurora %5BNO%5D|album=All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend|rowheader=true|accessdate=25 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|24|id=296592|artist=Aurora %5BNO%5D|album=All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland|66|year=2016|week=11|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 March 2016}} |
| scope="row"| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista){{cite web |url=http://lista.vg.no/artist/aurora/album/all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend/13750 |title=VG-lista - Aurora / All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend |website=lista.vg.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321112520/http://lista.vg.no/artist/aurora/album/all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend/13750 |archive-date=2016-03-21}}
| 1 |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|41|artist=Aurora %5BNO%5D|album=All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend|rowheader=true|accessdate=23 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|28|date=2016-03-24|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|150|artist=Aurora|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 March 2016}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|21|artist=Aurora|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 May 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|28|artist=Aurora|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 May 2021}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|artist=AURORA|title=All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|award=Gold|relyear=2016|certyear=2025|id=14980|access-date=13 February 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=album|artist=AURORA|title=All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|award=Platinum|certref={{cite web|title=Norwegian album certifications – AURORA – All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|url=https://ifpi.no/trofe/trofeoversikt/?aar=&searchterm=AURORA|access-date=27 October 2022|publisher=IFPI Norge|language=no|archive-date=29 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129113110/https://ifpi.no/trofe/trofeoversikt/?aar=&searchterm=aurora|url-status=live}}|number=2|relyear=2016|certyear=2020|accessdate=3 February 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Aurora|title=All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|award=Silver|salesamount=73,383|salesref={{cite magazine|title=Decca co-presidents salute 'magic artist' Aurora ahead of Friday night Glastonbury performance|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/decca-co-presidents-salute-magic-artist-aurora-ahead-of-friday-night-glastonbury-performance/090016|date=26 June 2024|magazine=Music Week|accessdate=15 January 2025}}|relyear=2016|certyear=2022|id=18445-4357-2|accessdate=22 October 2022}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Philippines|type=album|artist=AURORA|title=All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend|certref={{Cite Instagram|postid=DGisppCTOfJ|user=enzovaldez|title=@auroramusic Live in Manila ❤️🔥|first1=Enzo|last1=Valdez|date=26 February 2025|access-date=1 March 2025}}|award=Gold|streamsonly=true|salesamount=600,000,000|salesref=|relyear=2016|certyear=2025|certmonth=1|access-date=1 March 2025}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=500,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/aurora-infections-of-a-different-kind-step-1-new-album-interview-2384198|title=AURORA tells us about her surprise 'empowering' new album 'Infections Of A Different Kind – Step 1'|date=28 September 2018|magazine=NME|accessdate=2 October 2018}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Version ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various
| 11 March 2016 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming|CD}} | {{hlist|Standard|Deluxe}} | rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Decca|Glassnote}} | align="center"| Standard and deluxe edition releases:
|
|---|
| 26 August 2016
| {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | International Deluxe | align="center"| {{Cite web|title=All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend (Deluxe)|url=https://music.apple.com/fr/album/all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-deluxe/1442702135|date=|access-date=6 January 2022|website=Apple Music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126001433/https://music.apple.com/fr/album/all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend-deluxe/1442702135|archive-date=26 January 2021}} |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://aurora-music.com/}}
- {{Discogs master|type=album|970718|All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend}}
{{Aurora (singer)}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Magnus Skylstad
Category:Albums produced by Electric (music producers)
Category:Glassnote Records albums
Category:Aurora (singer) albums