Pocket rocket pop newcomer alice is aiming high. We’re talking Madonna, Beyoncé and Lady GaGa levels of triple-threat superstardom, all on-point choreography, high-concept videos and attitude-laden vocals that aren’t afraid to belt. Bored of a modern pop landscape that’s rigid and way too-cool-for-school, alice is here to shake things up, with the help of some of pop’s biggest names: Max Martin’s right hand man Rami Yacoub; fellow Swede Carl Falk; Years & Years’ producer Mark Ralph; Katy Perry collaborator Bonnie McKee and Mozella, who penned Wrecking Ball. Not bad. If that’s not enough, she impressed will.i.am so much after a one off meeting on a night out that he’s become a mentor, helping kickstart a major label rush that was won by Virgin Records in the UK and Capitol Records in America.
Introductory track GIRLS X BOYS is the perfect encapsulation of what makes alice so special; a provocative pop banger that pays homage to the past while looking firmly forward. “GIRLS X BOYS is all about being rid of labels and being open minded to try anything at least twice!” says alice. “When we wrote it I was adamant that the lyric should be inclusive of everyone. I hope it talks not only to my generation but to everyone. The vibe of the track is definitely representative of my darker side and I like that it’s about exploring things sexually whilst also expressing my confidence as a woman and an artist.”
“I’m inspired by real entertainers,” she continues. “Those are the elements I grew up with. I love the old music videos where the choreography was so fierce and of such a high standard. I want full on choreography, theatrics, acting, and absolutely loving being a pop star. I’m also heavily influenced by old Hollywood glamour. I love that aesthetic, so there’s always a nod to that too.”
She found herself in writing sessions with world renowned hitmakers including Christoph Andersson (Dua Lipa, The Chainsmokers) and Martin Sjoile (Sigrid and RAYE), while other sessions included people like Caroline Ailin (who co-wrote Dua Lipa’s New Rules) and Bonnie McKee (all the Katy Perry bangers). The next stop was Sweden to work with Rami and Carl, while UK sessions have included Mark Ralph. Alongside her every step of the way has been her songwriting mentor Kee Ingrosso, wife of Sebastian Ingrosso, and co-writer of J.Lo’s On The Floor among others. While all these future-hits percolate – there’s the Human League-sampling Hourglass; the stripped back Paper Planes and the heartbreaking Breathe – alice is laying the foundations for what’s to come with re-workings of songs by her heroes including Madonna’s Hung Up and Mariah’s Vision of Love. “I recorded that with the man who wrote it with Mariah, Ben Margulies. He suggested it when we were in the studio together.”
Intro track ‘GIRLS X BOYS’ hits streaming this Spring, produced by Swedish pop impresario LIOHN. Visual intro video ‘My Name Is Alice’ comes with a video that screams superstar in big letters. “It’s a visual introduction to me and welcoming you to my Alice world,” she says excitedly. So why is there a massive spider in it? “The spider is called ‘Baby A’, and the spider is the fierce side of me, because sometimes I can be a little bit shy or goofy, but when I’m ‘Baby A’ I can fight my demons and be a fierce woman who doesn’t take any bullshit.”
And that right there is alice’s M.O: a proper, multi-faceted pop star who can actually properly sing, dance and perform, who is as vulnerable as she is fierce. “I just love pop bangers that make you feel amazing and make you want to dance,” she says. You can’t say fairer than that really.
