Alex Lahey is a name you should expect to hear a lot more of. Following the release of her debut EP, B-Grade University, Alex kindly made time in her busy schedule – amidst touring and conquering the world – to have an intimate chat to Fashion Industry Broadcast about her new debut EP, quitting her job in pursuit of her music, upcoming tours and her mild fixation with the Quokka.
Alex initially graced our ears with her track ‘Airmail’ released back in 2015. Since then she’s been providing us with songs that ooze in traits of her wit, canny-personality, humour, and some that are, well, borderline brutal – although ‘soft brutal’ is the preferred term. Much deserving of her recent popularity, Alex has been hard at work, offering a unique sound and talent that has shot her to the forefront of upcoming Aussie talents – and we couldn’t be more thrilled for her. Coming off the release of her debut EP and catching her just before she heads out on tour, we had to chat the the legend herself.
FIB: Thanks so much for giving up your morning to chat!
ALEX: No worries, sorry I’ve been so hard to get a reach of, I’ve been swamped lately!
FIB: I bet! Well thanks so much! I guess we’ll just start off with a few questions about your new EP which is all new and fresh! Coming into writing the EP, you have a canny but personal song writing style. Where did you draw your inspiration from when working on the EP?
ALEX: I think it was kind of an accidental concept and I think the reason why it was so accidental is because I just innately, write songs about personal experiences. I’m not one of those song writers who can do the whole Paul Kelly, third person, narrative kind of thing, it’s just not something that I’ve really developed or kind of given-a-go. And because of that I think that my songs are directly drawn from personal experience, things that have happened to me, things I’ve done, conversations I’ve had, people I’ve met.
So that’s the biggest inspiration for me with my writing and perhaps why. Some of the feedback we’ve been getting for the record is, yeah, it’s really personal, but to me it’s not like I’m going out of my way to be like “I’m going to tell you about me” it’s just the way it is because I’m just writing about stuff that happens to me because that’s all I know.
FIB: Yeah definitely. I think that really comes across in your music as well. One of the first tracks I heard from you which initially introduced you to me as an artist was the song ‘You don’t think you like people like me’ which is really catchy and really great. When I initially listened to that I loved it because I felt it was actually quite a badass song and it was really coming at a time where people place a lot of emphasis on the need to be likeable. But then again I heard you play the song acoustically on Balcony TV and it actually gave me quite a different outlook on the song. It is actually quite a personal and quite an emotional song, is that what you tried to convey through that track and through your music?
Alex: I don’t think it’s deliberate but I think a good song depth and I think a good song is sort of multifaceted. I think ‘Hey Ya’ is a classic example! Like, it’s such a banger, but you hear people do these stripped back versions of it and the song just takes on this whole new persona.
I think with ‘You don’t think you like people like me’ that was kind of accidental. I wrote the song as an entire arrangement, I wrote all the parts when I took the demo to studio it was finished in terms of the arrangement itself. When we recorded it, you know like you said, it’s a pretty full on kind of emo-banger basically. And when it came to me playing solo shows and having that song in my repertoire, I was kind of like “how am I supposed to do this”. You know? There’s no way that I can pull this off solo, it’s such a big production. I remember just playing around with some chords one day and just a few sort of open chords in the same key as the song and just slowing it down making it really open and delicate, and it just sort of worked. Luckily the lyrics were able to fit that sort of feel as well. It wasn’t necessarily a deliberate thing. Part of it was that it was a necessity I guess because I had to play it by myself, but also luckily the song was able to hold up in that sort of setting as well. I think that says a lot – even though It does kind of have this “errrrh” thing going on in the band version – it’s actually pretty sensitive, it’s about somebody who’s been rejected and trying to come to terms with that. There’s almost like a bit of bargaining in it, or something. So yeah, a very long answer, but yeah!
FIB: A very good answer though! So you’ll also be touring and playing some festivals coming up in the next few months, are there any venues you’re looking particularly forward to playing?
ALEX: Ok so, there’s this festival in WA that we’re playing called ‘Rottofest’ and it’s on Rottnest Island which is this tiny little island, about 15kms away from Perth, you have to take a boat to get there, but Rottnest Island is the home of the Quokka which is like the cutest little thing in the world, I’ve never met one and I’m really excited to meet one.
FIB: Yep! So it’s not even about the music, it’s all about the Quokka? Haha
ALEX: Oh man, I’m stoked about the Quokka. I’m ready for the Quokka.
FIB: It’s going to be a highlight!
ALEX: But in terms of where I’m playing shows, of course doing hometown headliners is always the fucking-best and I’m really excited to do this Gaso show, I think that’s going to be great. I think finally doing my own proper headlining show in Sydney as well, is going to be really fun. We’re doing a festival in Adelaide called ‘Stonecutters’ which has this incredible line up, I’m just so excited to go as a punter, so that’s really exciting. I think every show on that tour is something new for me and my band and the whole touring experience and being on the road for that long is something that’s going to be really new and challenging and exciting for us so I think overall it’s going to be great. But, you know, if there’s a Quokka here and there, then I’m not gonna complain.
FIB: Yes! Put a few photos up on Instagram so we can live it with you.
ALEX: Oh man, Quokka selfie!
FIB: Beautiful. So it’s pretty crazy, I guess, to think this time last year you would have been starting out and now you’re playing a headlining tour, released your debut EP and played at festivals such as Splendour – which is a bucket list moment for most artists – it must all seem a little bit surreal?
ALEX: Yeah, well it does. I think this time last year we’d just put out my first single which is ‘Airmail’ which was just a song we kind of put out. A lot of people have asked me or kind of suggested that this has been some sort of overnight thing. It just so happens we’ve been able to achieve some really cool things, this year in particular. I’m so thankful, so fortunate and appreciative of all the support that’s come through for my music because at the end of the day I’m just writing songs in my room and I’m not doing anything that anyone else isn’t doing.
Obviously I can just appreciate how fortunate that is and want to make sure I make the most of that opportunity. But at the same time, you know, I’ve been playing music my whole life and it’s not like I picked up a guitar two years ago and was like “I’m going to play Splendour”. It’s just something I’ve always done, something I’ve always loved doing and it just so happens that things have fallen into place the way that they have. And if they didn’t fall into place the way that they have, I’d still be doing what I’m doing. So I’m just sort of sitting here like – this is fucking awesome that I’m able to do this as a job. But I love it so much that even If I wasn’t able to do it as a job I’d still be doing it anyway.
So you know, I think having that outlook is what really makes me happy and playing Splendour and doing shows and touring is just the cherry on the top. And you never know when it’s going to end, so you’ve just got to make the most of it.
FIB: Definitely. So I saw on Instagram you quit your job in pursuit of your music?
ALEX: Yeah I did quit my job
FIB: That’s crazy! Was it a peaceful send off or a “stuff you I’m quitting” type of thing?
ALEX: No, my contract doesn’t finish until the end of the month so the timings kind of good because as soon as I finish up Bigsound kicks off and then my tour kicks off, pretty much. But it was super amicable, it was just one of those things, I was kind of looking at the next 3 months of my life and with all the touring and stuff on it was like every single day of my life was accounted for. And I just sort of looked at it and thought, fuck, how am I going to write songs? You know, that’s actually my job. The only reason I’m able to do all these things is because I’ve written songs that have allowed me to have these opportunities and that’s what I need to be doing.
So I sort of looked at my savings and looked at my calendar and just looked at where I was spending my time. Then I spoke to my producer and he was kind of like “now is the time that you need to be focusing”. Obviously being an independent artist, ever since this project started 2 years ago, I’ve been putting my own money into it because it’s the labour of love and it’s what I want to do. So it’s not like I’m just forking out this cash, it’s kind of like starting a business.
FIB: Of course.
ALEX: Yeah, and lucky I’m in a position where I don’t have to do that to that great of an extent anymore. But I was speaking to my producer and saying like “fuck man I don’t know what I’m going to do, I’m just looking at my diary and surely it’s not good for my health to be working this hard” and what’s more of a concern is he and I want to do another record and I’ve got an EP’s worth of songs but I want more! I have all these songs in me and I don’t have time to put them down. And he sort of said “now is the time you need to be making a significant time investment into this”. He’s like, “you’ve got to think about it that way”.
I think the idea of quitting my job has kind of crossed my mind before and when he said all that it was sort of just like him putting his hand on my shoulder and saying “it’s ok, just do it” offering that reassurance. But it was pretty scary because I’m such a sensible person with that sort of stuff. I think this is the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, quitting my job. But I’m really excited about it because there is so much awesome stuff happening and you know, before, during and after finishing up I think I’ll be OK.
FIB: Oh yeah, for sure. We expect good things! I guess surrounding that same topic with quitting your job, the Josh Pyke partnership did that help out as well? Getting that support and that backing from him and that acknowledgement?
ALEX: Absolutely. What Josh does for young Australian musicians is amazing, this partnership is just one of the many things he does to support Australian music beyond his own project and I think that’s not only a sign of someone who has incredible musicianship qualities but the sign of someone who is just a really good person.
FIB: Yeah, for sure.
ALEX: Yeah, so the Josh Pyke partnership gave me a little bit of cash which really helped out with my initial touring up until now. Without that there’s no way I could have invested in doing those sorts of trips so early on and unfortunately with Australia being where it is geographically, it is quite expensive to tour around here, it’s a big fucking country. So it’s helping us now get to more regional areas, so I’ve got a couple of regional shows in my headlining tour which is really exciting. But more than that I think the most invaluable thing about this grant is that he does mentor you.
I remember when he called me to tell me that I’d got the grant, he was just like, “anyway, so you’ve got my number now so just call me anytime” and that was just really generous, him just saying you’ve got a direct line to me, anything you want to ask, just go for it. His management and his agents are also involved in that, they also give advice and guidance to the person who gets it. With Josh it’s not some sort of sit down formal thing, for example I was signing a publishing deal and I was navigating myself around it – being a solo artist, you are by yourself as an artist – which is at times daunting and scary and it’s hard to find someone to debrief with or discuss these things with who will understand exactly what you’re feeling. Even though you have wonderful management, or wonderful PR or your mum. It was still really handy for me to be able to pick the phone and call Josh and get an honest artist perspective on what to expect, because he’s been there.
You know, you can’t buy that, that just comes out of pure generosity on his part and it says a lot about the type of person he is and I’m very grateful for his generosity and his time and for him offering his advice to just little old me. It’s pretty great.
FIB: Yeah great. So jumping back to your EP, another track I’m quite fond of is ‘Leave Me Alone’. I love the lyrics “Your new girlfriend kind of looks a lot like me”. So I need to know, is it about a somebody in particular, is there an underlying story?
ALEX: Oh it’s totally about somebody! When I was younger I went out with somebody who was quite a bit older than me and obviously that relationship ended and they’re a wonderful person. But when we broke up, he just lingered. You know what I mean?
FIB: Yes!
Alex: Not in a malicious way or anything, he would just hang out with my friends or call up my friends and ask them out for coffee just stuff like that. He’d come to my gigs.
FIB: Oh really?
ALEX: Yeah, it was just kind of like, “man, go away” you know “leave me alone”, I know what you’re doing just leave me alone. I remember one time I went out and they were there and the new girlfriend was there and I was just like, “oh my god, you look exactly like me”, so I wrote a song about it. But I think the song sounds a bit more antsy or frustrated then what it actually is – like I really didn’t care at the time. But I thought it would be kind of funny, there’s something kind of tongue in cheek about it. The new girlfriend thing, I don’t know if you see it at times, but you know when you go on Facebook and your ex has a new girlfriend or boyfriend and you’re like – mate you definitely have a type.
FIB: Yeah, the “type”.
ALEX: I guess it’s funny to think your drawn to someone based on a consistency of physical features. But that song definitely is about someone, but that persons great, we’re mates. There’s no bad blood or anything but they did message me when the EP came out so..
FIB: I was going to say, did they pick up on the fact that it’s kind of about them?
ALEX: Yeah they picked up on it. I don’t know how I managed to obscure that situation. I was just kind of like, “yeah, but, chill out”.
FIB: It’s a good song though!
ALEX: I had a pretty rough time relationship wise at the start of this year, and I’ve got all these demo’s that are pretty reflective of that time and I sent them to my manager and he was like, “they’re gonna know”. But I was like “whatever, who cares”. Never date a songwriter! haha!
FIB: It should be taken as flattery though, their having a song written about them!
ALEX: I don’t know, it depends on the content.
FIB: True, that’s very true. I guess sort of carrying on from what you said there, listening to your EP it does really transition through a lot of different emotions. One of your tracks, “Wes Anderson” is quite loved up, it’s quite sweet, as opposed to what we were just talking about with ‘L-L-L-Leave me alone’ which is quite sweet but brutal.
ALEX: It is brutal isn’t it? Fuck.
FIB: It’s a fun brutal though, not the kind of brutal where it’s nasty. It’s just a soft dig, you know?
ALEX: Soft-brutal
FIB: Just on the surface. So did you centre your EP around the motions of going through relationships and just on those personal experiences?
ALEX: Yeah, like I said, it wasn’t a conscious thing. I actually had an interesting conversation with someone the other day, who said the EP almost reads like the progression of a relationship.
FIB: Yeah definitely
ALEX: Which I thought was a really interesting observation. Funnily enough, no two songs on the EP are about the same relationship or the same encounter OR the same person. Which is pretty interesting I think. I think it just shows that every relationship is different and I think it shows you learn so much from being with different people and through that you gradually learn more about yourself. All the songs on the record are very reflective of what I was doing and the type of person that I am.
If you go through all the songs there is one thing that has happened to me in my life that has triggered those songs being written and I think from there a big picture came around them in the writing process. For instance, with [the song] ‘Wes Anderson’ I went out on a date and saw Grand Budapest Hotel and then from there, I thought, ah that’s a concept and that really started the song. Then all of the sudden it turned into this full blown love song, basically, that goes through the motions of the little things in a relationship that maybe pass us by but are actually quite beautiful – which starts from holding hands in a movie.
With [the song] ‘Ivy League’ the thing that started that song was that I stopped getting shifts at my job after I got back from a trip from Europe and I was like “fuck, well maybe I should have tried harder at UNI because I’m totally unemployable”. So that’s how that song started. So it’s just sort of things that have happened to me that have triggered this need to write about it. Then in the end they kind of manifest themselves into something bigger than what they are. Which I think is one of the beautiful things about song writing and listening to songs. A perfect example is ‘Depreston’ by Courtney Barnett, that was triggered by going to an open house in the suburbs. But to me it’s this full on observation of life and death and mortality and what it is to be human and what it means to be in a family and what it means to be someone who’s just another part of the urban sprawl. But that’s what makes the song so beautiful and I think that’s what makes really good song writing.
I’m not there yet, but it’s interesting that these tiny little things that have happened to me, have a course for something bigger and that’s what really gets me excited about writing songs because you never know what’s going to happen. And I learn more about myself by writing songs
FIB: I bet, and I’m sure, for you, just seeing how the audience receives and takes it? It would be so exciting when you put something out there, to get that feedback and support and I know triple J have been very supportive but it must just be very overwhelming and exciting?
ALEX: Yeah! Well I plan to be a musician/ songwriter for the rest of my life, and I’m sure I’m going to put out some shit records – every songwriter does – and for this one to be received the way that it has, is a pretty cool response, being so positive. I think the best way to describe how it makes me feel is very fulfilled. It’s a really good feeling and it’s really motivating and I just want to keep going and hopefully continue that dialogue with this audience and build a dialogue with a larger audience. Music isn’t just about putting it out it’s also about getting that feedback and what listeners are getting out of it – it’s a beautiful give and take and it’s something that I want to keep doing and explore.
FIB: So lastly I really wanted to talk about your track ‘Ivy League’. I personally love this song, I think it’s the pinnacle of the EP for me. I was wondering what convinced you to write this track and was it an expression of your feelings towards university and university life and having to get a degree – what sort of stemmed that?
ALEX: Well like I said, I did the whole 22-year-old, trip to Europe.
FIB: Yep!
ALEX: Yep, we’ve all done it! It’s so fucking middle class isn’t it? But I went back to my job, and I was like “hey guys I’m back” and they were like, “yeah, cool, you have no shifts”. And it got me really down, I just felt a bit useless and I thought, well “what the fuck else am I going to do”. I’ve got this shitty arts degree, I don’t want to go back to UNI, because I really didn’t enjoy going to UNI, so I was like, “what am I going to do”. I remember having breakfast with a friend and she was like, “you’re going to write me 8 songs this month because you don’t have any work” and I was like, “ah, fine, alright”. I actually only wrote one and that happened to be “Ivy League” which I kind of felt was a bit of a joke song, it only goes for 2 and a half minutes or whatever – it’s not even a full song, it’s just a throw away kind of thing, it didn’t really have a chorus, it was a bit weird. I remember taking it to Oscar Dawson who produced the EP and he was like “this is kind of interesting, I reckon we should run with it” and I was really surprised. But I’m really lucky he decided to explore it the way he has because, now it’s got that roaring guitar solo in it and all sorts of stuff.
It was quite funny, but the track itself was actually difficult to produce from a musical perspective because there were times when it got a bit too real. The music almost got emotional, and I was like “nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, the whole point of the song is that it’s super tongue in cheek, there’s a playfulness to it”. Like eye-rolling cynicism, I just wanted to keep it light. So it was interesting working with Oz to find the balance with that. But the irony of it is that I wrote it as a throw away thing and then I got into the studio and I was like “no it has a point, there is a feeling that I want to convey with this, which I guess is this sort of first world problem, tongue in cheek cynicism – almost just being like pissed off for the sake of being pissed off, even though you’ve got it so good because you have a fucking degree and a job, even though you’re not getting any shifts, you know, like, your life’s not so bad.
I think everyone to same degree is disenfranchised with their UNI experience, to a level. But I guess it’s also being frustrated or cynical for the sake of it because, you probably live at home, you probably get Centrelink because you’re at UNI and you get to go out with your friends and fuck around – you have zero responsibility. No one’s dependent on you and we’re all complaining, it’s hilarious. So I think the song is pretty reflective of that.
FIB: Yeah, I felt like being somebody who’s lived through university and felt exactly the same way, it really encapsulates that whole university experience and weighing up your options.
ALEX: Yeah exactly, well I’m glad it resonated with you. Well I don’t know if I’m glad, I’m sorry it resonated with you?
FIB: Sorry we all feel this way about UNI haha?
ALEX: Oh man, that was it for me. I had a fucking blast in high school, then I got to UNI and I was like “this sucks”.
FIB: Yep, been there. Well I think we’ll leave it there, I think you’ve dedicated enough of your time to answering questions.
ALEX: Oh no, that’s fine, I love having a chat!
FIB: Thanks so much again and all the best with the EP and touring!
If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and give B-Grade University a spin! Alex doesn’t disappoint! It’s honest, gruelling, loved-up and cynical all at the same time – but we love it! You can also catch her on tour as she sets off this September!
