“I don't want to be taken too seriously. I'm not a superhero, I'm not a unicorn, I'm not any different from anybody who listens to my music. I am a creator because that's my calling, and I do it because it gives me multiple opportunities to help others and make a difference,” singer-songwriter-producer Luna Aura declares.

The Phoenix resident, who calls herself a purveyor of dream-pop-electronica, just released her EP Supernova in August. The set—which firmly places feminist lyrics and emotional narratives within trap beats, trippy synths and pop melodies—also showcases just how confident Luna Aura is. “I love that I'm silly and not afraid to laugh at myself. I was just on stage performing this past weekend and I did the weirdest dance move with my hands while walking backwards...I love being silly, and it reminds people I'm just trying to figure it out too.”

Hometown and homebase: Phoenix, Arizona

Is Luna Aura your real name?

No. The name "Luna Aura" came from a Marvel comic-book character named Luna Maximoff. She had the power of aura vision, which was the ability to sense, remove and alter the emotions of others at will. As an artist and musician, that is your power.

Why did you choose it as your monicker?

I felt very close to her story, so I adopted her name. Luna Aura as a creature... is a whole other story. She's that part of me that is constantly silenced by all the other parts of me. She's the wild, outspoken, unapologetic side of me that gives me the power and courage to stand on that stage and say exactly what I need to say.

How did you discover that electronica was your genre?

I feel like I'm a blend of electronic and pop music. I started off playing indie-acoustic music for a few years, but I hated that I couldn't truly perform the way I wanted to sitting behind a guitar. The songs I wrote were definitely pop songs, so I just took the next step and learned how to use different systems to produce my music.

When did you know you wanted to be a performer?

Singing and performing has definitely been my thing since day one. I used hide in my closet and sing Toni Braxton and Kelly Clarkson songs to myself in the dark. I don't know if that makes me a freak, but it took me a while to get comfortable enough with myself as a performer to start singing for others.

Do you remember the first song you wrote?

I started writing songs when I was 10. I didn't know how to play an instrument but I knew melodies, and I knew my voice. The first song I ever wrote was this epic love-ballad about getting over a relationship, and not needing a man. I was 10, so I didn't have any experience with boys, but I was sassy as hell and I watched too much television.

Who are your musical heroes and why do they inspire you?

Toni Braxton, Katy Perry, Norah Jones, Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morissette, Hayley Williams, and Beyonce all hold a special place in my soul. I've just always gravitated toward female powerhouses, even as a little kid. There's something magical about the way they present themselves to the world. So fearless, so unapologetic, and so willing to say exactly what they want to say.

What’s the story behind your EP Supernova?

The definition of Supernova is a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness, and for a moment it's the brightest object in space. It's a metaphor for myself and my career, and it's something that sums up all my dreams as an artist. You have to dream big if you want anything in life, and I'm dreaming huge.

Did growing up in Arizona influence your songwriting style?

I love Arizona, and I grew up in a smaller town called Gilbert. It wasn't physically small, but it was just a bunch of dairy farms, churches, nothing to do... So it had a "small-town" vibe to it. It gave me that itch to get out and actually experience the world and other cultures, and I felt that music was going to be that for me.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

[When they] sing my words back to me when I'm on stage. There is no better feeling than somebody knowing your lyrics. It means something you created resonated with them in some way, and that's exactly why I'm doing this. It's a reminder that I would be nowhere without them, and that is incredibly humbling.

Who are your biggest songwriting influences?

I am so inspired by my family, my friends, and all the other beings that have been put into my life by divine intervention. Life is so small and can be scary, and these are the people that you happened to run into between the beginning and the end. There is something so special about that, and my songwriting is so inspired by all the relationships in my life.

How do you describe your music to people who haven't heard it before?

I usually call it Dream-Pop-Electronica, and I leave the rest up to the imagination. It's so difficult to pin myself down to a specific sound because I feel like every song is so different, and it's honestly so much more fun making something up and allowing the people to decide what it means.

You've described yourself as a weird girl, and your music has statements on pop culture and feminism. Is it important to have a message within the music?

It's so important to have a message in the music. I have so much to say and I stand for a lot of things that are very important to me as both a woman and human being, so I absolutely feel the urge to share that in my music. A lot of people want to push off the role-model platform as an artist because they feel it hinders them from being who they truly are, but I see it as an opportunity to show people that being imperfect and making mistakes is the best kind of role model you can be. If you can show people you're not sorry for being you, it'll help them do the same.