Track of the Day: Alicia Lis – Shape Up (2025)

Singer-songwriter Alicia Lis may reside Down Under, but her music reaches ears, hearts, and souls far beyond Australian borders. With her debut single ‘Lola’, released in 2022, Lis quickly caught the attention of listeners in North America, leading to interviews on Hearts of Nashville Radio and the Los Angeles-based Spotify podcast series, We Write About Music. Along with powerful yet intimate performances, her moving ‘Lola’ reached the Top 10 Track alongside Lauren Daigle and Carrie Underwood. Join us as we delve into her most recent release, ‘Shape Up’.

Following the well-received 2024 single ‘Something Wild’, ‘Shape Up’ sees Alicia Lis lean further toward the realm of funk and soul music. Produced by Iain Mahanty, ‘Shape Up’ is a toe-tapping, mellifluous concoction of guitars, keys, and horns to capture the core of vintage funk. As much as the instrumentation twirls about you like a comfortable brush of warm, kaleidoscopic sounds, it is Lis’ vocals that really up the ante. Her honey-drenched vocals grab you hand and get you dancing within the smile-inducing pool of… well, whatever makes you grin.

Charming and elegant, with a bit of a classy kick, ‘Shape Up’ is the tune to brighten a dreary day; trust me, rainy Mondays aren’t for everyone. A ray of sunshine gently warming your skin, ‘Shape Up’ is that happy place you love. Moreover, it’s a song of empowerment, resilience, and acknowledgement that there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Alicia Lis explains:

“This track is very close to my heart… When I first wrote it, I wanted to create something that reminded women, including myself, that we don’t have to wait around for someone to recognise our value. We can move forward with strength and dignity.”

This is my introduction to Alicia Lis, and it’s safe to say ‘Shape Up’ will be on repeat for a while. I highly recommend you take a listen to ‘Shape Up’ and delve into her previous singles for something sophisticated, sincere and elegant, but with a cosy feeling.

Find out more about Alicia Lis on her Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator

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