Live shows at Gurtenfestival Bern, Moon&Stars Locarno or Reeperbahnfestival Hamburg, Supporting Act for Poliça, Vök or Jacques Greene and comparisons my online media with Massive Attack, FKA twigs or MS MR – all before the release of her debut EP! With her already released 4 singles AYU already proved her vocal, songwriting and production skills as well as she demonstrated a variety of stilistic influences. Her first EP 'I Changed My Mind' presents a highly multifaceted image of the the Hamburg based Swiss artist. In 5 tracks AYU juggles with emotions and reflects openly about herself, the universe, love and pain - sometimes soft, sometimes tempestuous. The debut EP 'I Changed My Mind' is out on March 6th 2020 via AYU/recordJET. From March 5th she will be touring with Dabu Fantastic in Switzerland. Festival dates tba soon.
BIO
AYU does her own thing. The Swiss songstress & producer delivers a mixture of contemporary Pop, future-thinking Electronics, catchy RnB tunes and sweet Indie. Her so-called Trip Pop is a deep push-pull dialogue in which heart-stoppingly honest lyrics meet rhythmic x dreamy vocals, and futuristic beats are combined with swirling guitar patterns. At the centre of her playful genre clash, the singers warm and soulful voice attracts everyone who listens to her right away. Her music was already compared to Massive Attack, MS MR, FKA twigs or Portishead.
In 2016 AYU participated as a „New Talent“ at Pop-Kultur Berlin and played some first live shows in Germany and Switzerland. In the summer of 2018 she released her debut single ‘Kings & Queens’, which made it into the Spotify Viral Charts and which is played on various radio stations in Switzerland and Germany - high rotations including. Moreover she played her first festival season in Germany, Switzerland & Italy, striking with her band and signature ayuanic dance moves at e.g. Gurtenfestival Bern (w/ Gorillaz, MØ, alt-J or Sofi Tukker) or Moon&Stars Locarno (w/ Rita Ora or Emeli Sandé) or L-Beach Festival, where after her gig on the newcomer stage she could jump in on the main stage for Joan As Police Woman, whose flight had been cancelled. Furthermore she was chosen as one of six upcoming German + Danish talents to be part of the c/o pop Festival x Spot Festival 'Aarhus Sessions' in Köln. In autumn 2018 she played support shows in Germany for Poliça x Stargaze or Eleanor Friedberger. At the beginning of 2019 AYU released her second single 'Another Mess, I' and in spring her 3rd single 'Throw Roses'. Both tracks went on air in Switzerland, Germany and Norway and were featured by international blogs. In 2019 AYU is playing a few chosen support shows e.g. as opening act for VÖK and festivals like Reeperbahn Festival. On March 6th her debut EP 'I Changed My Mind' will be out.
REVIEWS
«Here’s the very first 24 karat gold hit of 2019.
I’m not drunk and I’m not joking. ‘Another Mess, I‘ has all the right sonic ingredients. It’s soulfully trippy, emotionally atmospheric and charmingly poppy with a mid-tempo groove that reminds me of the introspective side of some of Massive Attack‘s dreamy soundscapes. This is a gorgeously arranged and tenderly composed mixed emotions musing with Ayu‘s characterful and heart-whole vox in the middle. I repeat: this is a hit, this is a winner.»
– Turn Up The Volume!
«Die paar Songs, die AYU bis jetzt digital und live präsentiert hat, sind cool, sind eine Wucht: Da ist moderner, emotionaler und komplexer Pop. Da ist diese Stimme: hitzig und doch entspannt, sanft und kraftvoll, vollmundig. Ein bisschen Pamela Méndez, ein bisschen Lana Del Rey. [...] sich den Namen mit wasserfestem Stift hinter die Ohren schreiben: A-Y-U.» – Berner Zeitung
«Swiss frontwoman brings the same brooding energy as Portishead to her latest lo-fi groove» – Mystic Sons
«AYU's vocals & arrangements make our skin virtually drip with anticipation. A feeling of empathy & understanding is embedded deep within her lyrics, and the honesty pours out, because of it. AYU is here and you should be listening to her» – Comeherefloyd
«Von ihr wird man noch hören. Mark my words.» – 20 Minuten
«Völlig befreit von Klischees und Konventionen macht AYU ihr eigenes Ding. Ein perfektes wie einfühlsames Arrangement von Gesang, Text, Melodie und Komposition verschmelzen somit zu einen modernen und überzeugenden Song. Da darf gerne schnell die nächste Single folgen, damit so viel Potential nicht lange brachliegen muss. Stay tuned!» – Soundkartell
“AYU zeigt sehr gut, wie schön Popmusik doch sein kann. Mit ihrer ausdrucksstarken und mal träumerischen Stimme erinnert sie mich an einigen Stellen an MS MR [...], aber immer mit ihrem eigenen Touch. Mir fällt dafür einfach immer wieder dieses Wort ein: zauberhaft! [... ] Ohrwurm garantiert!” – Schumyswelt
««Snowblind» wird umschlungen von einem minimalistischen Schleier an düsteren Bässen und Trommelschlägen, während sich «Astrophobia» ein bisschen mehr an die zeitgenössische Popästhetik von FKA Twigs und co. wagt.» – Orange Peel
«[...] lushly administered rays of hazy synth and icy cool electronic soul [...]» – Monolith Cocktail
