Alice Merton’s recent singles have established an uncompromising new attitude as she laces her sound with edge, experimentation and outspoken honesty. At the same time, her darker approach is only making her alt-pop more enticing by adding a fresh element to a style that took her to a
billion+ streams and a rush of
Top 10 charts across
Europe. She’s now positioned to breakthrough into a wider international audience, as evidenced by her recent single
‘Same Team’ – being named as
Jo Whiley’s Infatuation on
Radio 2.
Today Alice strides towards the June 17th release of their second album ‘S.I.D.E.S.’ by sharing the new song ‘Loveback’. Listen HERE. Watch the visualizer HERE.
‘Loveback’ opens ‘S.I.D.E.S.’ with a bang. At first it feels like a bellicose leap into indie-rock and power-pop, but cheerleader-style group vocal shouts and leftfield alt-pop traits soon set its fun factor to stun. While it provides a playful opening punch to the album, there’s a serious note too. Her lyrics introduce the themes that follow throughout with the rebellious statement: “Watch my lips as I say: I don’t need you!”
Alice says, “‘Loveback’ talks about waking up one day and realising someone has stolen a part of you that you want back. It was the realisation that I didn’t ‘need’ anyone to exist. I was never dependent on anyone or anything, even if it at times felt like it. I felt like I was handing out something I was rarely getting back. At some point I felt like I had forgotten why I’m doing what I’m doing, and felt like I had lost sight of what’s really important to me.
‘Loveback’ was written and produced by Alice with Tim Morten, who is one of her main collaborators on the ‘S.I.D.E.S.’album. It was then mixed by the Grammy nominee Matty Green (Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Royal Blood).
As signposted by ‘Loveback’, ‘S.I.D.E.S.’ sees Alice fighting against the things that have held her back in the past. Whether it’s with relationships, work conflicts or simply her own self-doubt, Alice isn’t afraid to face up to every challenge she faces. What emerges is an artist with a new-found confidence and determination to do things her way. Her vision has been fully realised with a team of celebrated collaborators, which also includes Koz (Dua Lipa), Jonny Coffer (Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding), Jennifer Decilveo (Anne-Marie, Andra Day) and Matty Green (Dua Lipa, Royal Blood).
‘S.I.D.E.S.’ is available to pre-order HERE.
Alice Merton is just about to embark upon a US tour as special guest to Bastille. Her first run of Stateside shows in three years includes a major Los Angeles show at the YouTube Theater. She recently achieved a lifelong ambition when she performed two special orchestral shows alongside the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, while her live plans continue with a major autumn European tour in support of ‘S.I.D.E.S.’. Please see HERE for a full list of dates and ticket information. The UK shows are:
OCTOBER
18th – Manchester, Gorilla
19th – Glasgow, Oran Mor
21st- London, Islington Assembly Hall
