Welcome welcome one and all to another succulent slice of Beneath the Surface. Today we have the incredible, evocative singer-songwriter Alice Osian chatting to us upon the release of her debut EP ‘Painkiller’. So grab a seat, get comfy and lets get to it!
What would you say first sparked your interest in music/who inspired you to make music?
I’d say music and creative writing are things I’ve been naturally drawn to from a young age. I started playing the piano when I was in elementary school and have always kept some sort of journal/ wrote a lot of poems and stories growing up. I feel like it was inevitable for me to end up writing my own songs which started happening more consistently in college. At that point, I was listening to a lot of indie folk and chamber/baroque pop which inspired my very early work.
How would you describe the music you are currently creating?
This EP and my previous two singles have covered a lot of ground stylistically, but there is an inherent darkness to what I create thematically or sonically. I’m drawn to creating more cinematic atmospheres and textures. If I had to define it, I’d say I tend to lean towards dark dream pop/ alt rock.
What does your creative process look like?
I try to let inspiration come as it may, which usually ends up being at inopportune moments like while I’m driving or brushing my teeth haha. If I purposefully sit down to write, I’ll usually start with a 5-10 minute free writing session or I’ll noodle around on my guitar and see what comes together. If I end up finding a good flow, I try to get out as much of a complete song as I can and then revisit it after a few days to make edits and revise lyrics.
Who would you most like to collaborate with? (let’s send it out to the universe and make it happen!)
I’d love to collaborate with Beth Gibbons or Grace Slick. It would also be fun to work on a score for a movie or fashion show!
What is the one message you would like to send out to your fans?
Along with obviously thanking them for their support, I always try to encourage other people to get their own art out into the world. So in that vein: just do it and dare to fail.