I had an Auratone once. Just once. I think it got infected and then I went to the doctor. With that out of the way, here’s some information:
Brooklyn-based musician and multimedia artist Frances Chang has unveiled her haunting new single and accompanying video, “Auratones of desire,” the latest preview from her forthcoming third album, been thinking bout confession, arriving August 21 via RVNG Intl.
Following the ethereal lead single “Is affect real?”, “Auratones of desire” explores the psychology of longing, projection, and identity. Chang describes the track as a “classic psychological story of projection,” beginning with the anxiety of encountering someone before revealing that the mysterious figure is ultimately another reflection of the self. Musically, tense string arrangements inspired equally by Igor Stravinsky and classic film noir underscore the song’s slow-building emotional suspense.
The accompanying black-and-white Super 8 video, co-created with filmmaker Annie Horner, leans into psychological horror and cinematic surrealism. Inspired in part by Persona, the film embraces the unpredictability of analog filmmaking, blurring the line between dream, memory, and performance. Chang has said the concept reflects recurring dreams in which she becomes the projector rather than the audience, reinforcing the song’s themes of fractured identity and self-examination.
Recorded between Chang’s home studio in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and collaborator Andréa Schiavelli’s Queens studio, been thinking bout confession combines intimate piano compositions with orchestral arrangements, analog electronics, and experimental pop textures. While comparisons have been drawn to Björk and Broadcast, Chang also cites influences ranging from Chet Baker to Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach.
With “Auratones of desire,” Frances Chang continues to establish herself as one of experimental pop’s most compelling voices, crafting deeply introspective songs that merge cinematic storytelling with adventurous sonic landscapes.
Frances Chang Tour Dates
Wed. July 22 – New York, NY @ Spring (bar)
Thu. Aug. 20 – Santa Fe, NM @ The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing Co. +
Fri. Aug. 21 – Florence, CO @ Desert Reef Hot Springs +
Sat. Aug. 22 – Denver, CO @ Federal Theatre +
Sun. Aug 23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah Museum of Contemporary Art +
Mon. Aug. 24 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club +
Tue. Sep. 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Philosophical Research Society
+ = with Bill Callahan
^ = with Prymek & Sage
# = with Lina Tullgren
