ABOUT

True August is his real name. It’s also a name he never goes by, unless he’s making music. With a keen interest in the pop genre and a knowledge of its history in music, True August has created a body of work that draws a long list of influences, yet remains coherent through its songwriting.

After writing and recording music in his dorm for over a year, True August released a self-titled EP his sophomore year of college. It was unexpectedly reviewed by the one of the biggest newspapers in Norway, Aftenposten, and given rave reviews. The songs were praised for their complex soundscapes and haunting melodies. In the background of these songs, the lead vocal was hidden beneath a dense layer of instruments.

In the year before graduation during covid, True August used the downtime to take a deep dive into production, songwriting, and pop music; the result is his new album, Breathing Room. It is a departure from the EP that sounded private and designed for headphone listening. The new songs are meant to feel in-your-face and heavy on the hooks. These ten songs combine meticulously crafted arrangements, analog gear, and traditional songwriting with more contemporary, experimental elements like vocal manipulation and sampling. From thumping dance music to slow indie ballads, the album borrows from several different decades, styles and sounds. Despite these influences, Breathing Room sounds uniquely distinct and original.