“I can’t help but dancin’ all night/ The beat has got me losin’ my mind…”
We’re long-time Alice Ivy fans, sure. But holy CRAPballs! When this album’s opening lead single, Howlin’ At The New Moon (feat. Mayer Hawthorne), dropped mid-last year, we played it on loop for hours.
“Benihana”, “Chateau”, “Mericana”, “Giorgio” – we’d follow that slinky bassline wherever Mayer namechecks during this song, known or otherwise.
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As for that unexpected, recurring hip-swivelling breakdown: you can’t help but surrender to the sonic wizardry at play here. It’s also smooth and laidback overall, though – yep, we can legit “feel the wind in [our] hair”.
2023 was a strong year for bangers, but Howlin’ At The New Moon landed in this scribe’s Top 3 Songs Of The Year (behind Kylie’s Padam Padam and Troye’s Rush).
“Don’t pay me no mind/ Just admiring the fact that you’re fine… You being this fine should be criminal” – Criminal sees Kah-Lo falling under the spell of someone “fine”. Following a slow build, sirens tease this pogo-friendly belter’s laser-pew-enhanced release. Can’t wait to experience this one live, hands in the air.
Uplifted by a sweet whistling refrain, the sultry, woozy Wildlife “la-la-la”s toward its eventual fantasyland-sounding conclusion. Annika Schmarsel (the legend behind the namesake) exudes fresh jubilance and her voice can be heard singing lead on the pulsing, sheeny Dandelion.
All In My Head (feat. Elohim)’s metallic, descending riffs somehow capture swirling self-doubt – illustrating the lyrics.
Written between Melbourne, London, New York and Los Angeles, Do What Makes You Happy captures the post-pando joy of collabing IRL – with some of your musical heroes, no less.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
LABEL: HELIXED
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