When Coachella rolls around in April, Alison Wonderland – real name Alexandra Sholler – will make history, becoming the highest billed female DJ in the festival’s tenure. This will be hot off the back of releasing her sophomore album Awake, the follow-up to 2015’s Run. An album that made waves not only in the electronic and dance music communities, but with a wide range of music lovers around the globe.
Awake is the first real time she’s allowed her vulnerability and genuine self to flow into her songwriting in earnest. This change is apparent on album opener ‘Is It Good Enough?’, that leads to a huge drop after shouting the title of the song repeatedly. It’s Sholler showing how desperate she is for her fans to like this new direction, showcasing her anxiety and genuine feeling of ‘Am I good enough?’ Luckily, over the course of 14 songs, she answers her own question through the music she’s created with an emphatic yes.
‘No’ shows off Sholler’s pipes in a way that we haven’t heard before. The volume of the beats often falls around her voice, allowing it to take centre stage. It’s clear she’s more comfortable with her voice and the final product benefits.
‘Easy’ is the best song on the album. With lyrics like ‘I think too much and I’m worried I’m never coming back’ and ‘Why don’t you find someone easy?’ Sholler shows she is at her best when she lets her raw thoughts translate to lyrics. There’s many songs on the record that feel relatable, including ‘Cry’ and lead single ‘Church’. ‘
High’ featuring Trippie Redd, feels somewhere between a love song and an attempt to distract Sholler from her own thoughts. She’s long been open about dealing with anxiety and self-doubt, and the importance of these conversations is truly evidenced by how rare they are amongst her peers.
She has channelled her worst thoughts, unprecedented levels of honesty, greater confidence in her vocal ability and her exemplary production skills to produce one of the finest electronic/dance albums Australia has seen in years. Sholler has taken herself well and truly out of her comfort zone to deliver a near-faultless album.
