"I feel like I’ve come full circle on what genuinely excites me about making music; live instrumentation, analogue sounds and music written outside of the box."
Alice Ivy (Credit: Dominik Schmarsel)
Four years on from the release of her latest record, Naarm/Melbourne-based musician Alice Ivy has returned with her new album, Do What Makes You Happy.
A long time coming, Do What Makes You Happy has been in the works for quite a while now, serving as the follow-up to 2020’s Don’t Sleep, which garnered two ARIA Award nominations, including Best Dance Release.
However, after releasing a record in the miasma of lockdowns, an overwhelming sense of relief would be associated with the resulting writing sessions for Alice’s next album. Now able to travel, tour, and reconnect with artists, the result is a record which is diverse in its focus and its collaborations.
Written and recorded between Melbourne, London, New York, and Los Angeles, it features amyriad influences and sonic references in addition to a truly mesmerising list of collaborators, including Mayer Hawthorne, Mallrat, Kah-Lo, BJ The Chicago Kid, Josh Teskey, Sam Sparro, Chlothegod, Sam Austins, and more.
"Do What Makes You Happy was written at a time where we were finally allowed to create music in the room with each other again,” she explains. “You can just feel the emotion and energy, because we were all so grateful to be back doing what we love. I feel like I’ve come full circle on what genuinely excites me about making music; live instrumentation, analogue sounds and music written outside of the box.
“Most of the vocal recordings on the album were tracked on the first day of writing,” she adds. “The music that inspires me, Motown and soul music, was generally done in a few takes and everything feels so raw and warm, that’s how I like to sonically describe, Do What Makes You Happy. I like to think of every layer of this record as art in its purest and most natural form."
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In addition to the record finally showcasing just what she’s capable of when operating at her fullest capacity, it’s an album that allows Alice Ivy to capture the very recognition that she’s been deserving of since entering the male-dominated music world.
"It took a few years of releasing music for people to recognise that I was a music producer, they would always assume I was just the singer,” she explains. “I’ve dealt with my fair share of gaslighting and discrimination as a female producer over the years, but I’ve definitely grown more confident in dealing with those situations.
“The best thing about being Alice Ivy is being able to travel the world and work from the most incredible studios with phenomenal artists and make records,” she adds. “Music has taken me to some pretty incredible places. Eight years into my career now, three albums deep and still going strong, I want to be known for making timeless records and for paving the way for future female and GNC producers to feel like they have a place in the world."
Alongside the release of her album, Alice Ivy has also been named an ambassador for Ausmusic T-Shirt Day on Thursday, November 28th, alongside the likes of Missy Higgins, Ayesha Madon, Tony Armstrong, Vera Blue, and others.
To celebrate all facets of her current musical world, Alice Ivy will be heading along to Melbourne's Soundmerch to share a special live in-store performance and signing. It's a free event, which runs from 5pm to 7pm, but attendees are urged to get in early to ensure your spot.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body