Tomora, a name derived from the fusion of its members, Tom Rowlands and singer Aurora, is one of the latest additions to the extensive lineup of the Bilbao BBK Live festival. This intergenerational duo, combining Rowlands' experience with Aurora's youth, promises to turn the festival upside down with its advocacy for human unity and connection.
Their debut work, Come Closer (Fontana/Capitol), navigates between ethereal passages, trip hop nods, and heavy rave electronics. Aurora, though less known to the general public, has already released several experimental pop albums that have left their mark on discerning listeners with tracks like Runaway, Cure for Me, and Into the Unknown.
Meanwhile, the long career of The Chemical Brothers is well-established, with their debut album, Exile Planet Dust, nearing its three-decade mark. Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, with their pulsating basslines and stadium-sized electronic sound, have made millions dance with their ten albums and numerous concerts, including double performances at Bilbao BBK Live and BIME. Hits such as Hey Boy Hey Girl, Galvanize, Go, Let Forever Be, Out of Control, and Block Rockin´ Beats have led the duo to sell over 13 million records.
Tomora's proposal, which oscillates between ethereal, enveloping, and mysterious passages and the rhythms of rave techno and festival music, gains its own artistic life and identity, proving to be much more than just another collaboration. Rowlands was captivated by Aurora's performance at Coachella in 2016, sparking their connection. Aurora, impressed by The Chemical Brothers' soundtrack for Hanna, lent her voice to three tracks on the band's 2019 album, No Geography. Rowlands, in turn, reciprocated by producing Aurora's latest album, What Happened to the Heart?.
“"It's about connection, and we hope people like it as much as we do, because it's everything we've always dreamed of."
This joint debut advocates for human connection and confronting existential and physical anguish with shared emotion. The album, which began its genesis in 2024, includes a dozen songs, almost an hour in length, born from the mutual respect between its creators.
