Cuco's "Aura" Is a Hypnotic Bilingual Love Letter
Photo: Richard Brooks
Nothing is dreamier than the newest song from Omar Banos, better known as Cuco to his millions of monthly listeners. "Aura," the latest track from the Mexican-American singer-songwriter, blends Cuco’s stellar lyricism with verses in both Spanish and English, flowing beautifully forward with fluttery, easy-going production that leans into layered harmonies, enchanting synth work, and a driving drum beat. This new alternative-indie track is just a sneak peek at Cuco’s upcoming album Fantasy Gateway, set to release July 22 before a highly anticipated North American tour at the tail end of summer.
Opening on buzzing chords and an echoing beat, Cuco sings “Do you wanna come home with me? / Do you wanna get lost with me tonight?” before breaking into a verse in Spanish where he sings “Ves que me causan celos cuando te habla alguien más / Nunca te quiero lejos, la distancia me hace mal / Eres siempre el tema del que quiero platicar / Echamos fiesta solo, nos ponemos a bailar,'' which roughly translates to “You see that they make me jealous when someone else talks to you / I never want you far away the distance hurts me / You are always the topic I want to talk about / We have a party, we just start dancing.”
While sharing the extensive feelings the artist has for someone special—a sentiment we can all relate to—Cuco shows us that it shouldn’t be so daunting to be vulnerable. The upbeat, joyful, and danceable "Aura" captures the magic of a love so powerful that it simply can’t be expressed in a single language. Incorporating both Spanish and English, Cuco shares his experiences as the bilingual son of two Mexican-American immigrants and represents those who have grappled with multiple parts of themselves and their identities while finding their own space in the world.
Listen to "Aura" below:
