The song ‘Exquisite’ by Aurealis embodies the peculiar thrill of being pulled towards someone whom you know you ought not to pursue. With its shiny synth-pop production and a cinematic atmosphere, it occupies the uneasy area between attraction and self-restraint. The narrator is seen staring, then looks away, loses his composure and pictures a conversation which will most likely never take place. Instead of using that sensation as a justification for crossing a line, Aurealis concentrates on the internal conflict—the excitement, the awkwardness and the self-control that arise simply from realizing how much someone has affected you.
The phrase “mind, mind, mind” being repeated gives the song a restlessness, as if the narrator can’t entirely get out of his own thoughts, and then all of it opens up into the unforgettable line, “You’re absolutely exquisite”. The polished pop appeal of the song comes about due to the use of layered vocals and happy synths, while the songwriting maintains a more vulnerable element beneath the surface. There is a good contrast between the confidence shown by the production and the uncertainty of the person at the heart of the song, so that “Exquisite” doesn’t sound like a simple love song but rather like a snapshot of a brief emotional obsession.
The visual aspect of the work beautifully continues this sense of tension using images in black, white and silver, featuring mirrors, reflections, light and two magnetic figures which are always circling each other. This gives the song a dreamy character at the same time as underlining the idea of attraction that stays just out of reach. Since Aurealis is an independent artist who works mainly in the studio, he has developed a well-defined identity centred on cinematic electronic pop, layered vocals and visual storytelling, and ‘Exquisite’ fits perfectly within that sphere. The song is refined and atmospheric, but its most notable feature is the human quality of the emotion: sometimes the greatest difficulty is not acting on an attraction, but merely accepting the fact that it exists.
Aurealis turns the forbidden attraction into a sparkling synth-pop daydream, with the actual battle taking place within the mind.
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