A Quick Chat with Max Aurora & The Southern Lights

Max Aurora & The Southern Lights channel post-breakup clarity into How I Know It’s Right, an explosive indie pop punk release. The Naarm outfit fuse dreamy indie textures with raw, driving energy, pairing overdriven guitars, punchy drums, and gritty bass with Max Aurora’s sharp, emotionally charged songwriting. Written in a single night, the track captures the strange mix of relief and curiosity that follows walking away, reaching toward the idea of something healthier without losing sight of the past. We caught up with Max to talk about the single, its meaning, and more.

Can you tell us what this track means to you and what you want people to take away from it?
This track is about the journey of moving on from an incompatible relationship and trying to figure out what comes next. It’s about the space between learning why something didn't work and starting to ask yourself what a truly wholesome connection actually looks like. The yellow boa and the ballet are symbols of that transition—they represent taking back the 'loud' sensory joys and the bright colours I used to feel embarrassed by.
I want people to bop and dance to this, but I also hope it sparks a thought about their own agency. I want them to feel that freedom that comes from wearing your colors with pride and finally exploring your own rhythm.

Who are some of your influences, and why?
My influences are a bit of a spectrum. I started with Green Day; I taught myself guitar by playing learning all their songs at fifteen. I loved the simplicity and the earnest nature their energy. As I grew as an artist, I pivoted toward Kate Bush. She is the ultimate example of how to combine sensory joy with grand storytelling. Her ability to build an entire aesthetic world around a song, both musically and through fashion, is something that deeply inspires the way I approach my own work.

What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
For this track, and the one coming after it, the writing happened in one buzzy session. My process is usually about 'throwing things against the wall to see what sticks’.
I often start with a title, an image or a theme; once I have that 'vibe' locked in, I improvise the music to match it. I’ll step away and come back to 'sculpt' the lyrics. Sometimes it happens in a flash, and other times it takes a while to refine. Once I have a demo, I take it to my band and my producer to flesh it out slowly into a final track.

What do you think makes a great song?
For me, a great song balances simplicity and poetic imagery with a real emotional swell. But mainly, I just love a song that's fun to belt out—I'm the kind of person who is always singing in the car or the kitchen, so I’m naturally drawn to melodies that feel good to sing and take you into a world.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I’d have to say Aimee Mann. She is so good at narrative-driven songwriting. She even wrote a brilliant concept album about addiction, and as someone who is currently planning my own concept record, I’d love to collaborate with her just to see how she 'sculpts' those stories with lovely melodies. I’d be there to soak up every tip she has on world-building through music.

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?
I find a lot of creative calm in fashion, particularly the 1940s through to the '70s. Curating Pinterest boards for those eras is a big sensory outlet for me. I’ve also been fostering a cat lately, and honestly, creatively designing her space to make her feel at home has been a project in itself.

Who are some local bands we should check out?
There are two Naarm-based bands I’m really loving right now. We all played a sweet gig together recently and they’re both incredible. First is Meraki Minds; they have this glittery, rhythmic, math-rock-meets-indie-jangle vibe that I’m obsessed with. The second is Grevillea Hedge; they have such a wholesome, genuine and earnest sound. Both are doing such cool things in the local scene.

Winter or summer and why?
Definitely winter—specifically that bridge between late winter and spring when the flowers start to bloom and all those scents come out. I grew up in Canberra, so I’m used to the cold. I’d much rather be in a cozy knitted jumper than hiding indoors from the summer heat, though I’ll always make an exception for a trip to the beach!

What else do you have planned for 2026?
It’s going to be a big year! We were lucky enough to receive a Creative Victoria grant to help release a trilogy of songs. This first track is just the beginning; there are two more coming later this year, each with their own unique vibe. Outside of the studio, I’m also working toward finishing my Master of Music Therapy. It’s a bit of a balancing act, but I’m really passionate about the clinical side of music as well as the creative side. I’m just taking it one release and one placement at a time!

Follow Max Aurora & The Southern Lights
https://linktr.ee/maxauroramusic