A Chat with Maeve Alexander (21.01.26)
Maeve Alexander’s ‘Nailbiter’ captures the quiet unravelling of a friendship with striking clarity and emotional precision. Born from the fallout of a seven-year bond, the track transforms personal loss into something intimate, resonant, and deeply human. We spoke with Alexander about vulnerability, creative growth, and finding meaning in the moments that break us.
OSR: When did you first realise music was going to be your career path?
Maeve Alexander: I first accepted music was the career path I was going to take around 15. I had been playing the flute for five years and thought I was headed toward a seat in an orchestra, but once I started singing publicly and writing my own songs, something clicked. Building creative worlds through songwriting helped me understand myself in a deeper, intimate way, and that clarity stays with me while I figure out my place in this industry.
OSR: How do your classical training and punk pop roots influence your current sound?
Maeve Alexander: My classical training gave me a foundation in how I absorb and examine music. Reading music and learning theory taught me how to speak the language. Performing in punk-pop bands gave me nerve and taught me that rules are just suggestions if you want to create something worth fighting for. The classical part of me wants things intentional and composed, while the other half wants them messy and immediate. My current sound comes from the tension created from me no longer choosing between the two.
OSR: What’s a typical day in your life as a songwriter and performer?
Maeve Alexander: Right now, a typical day is pretty full. I’m working on a new project that’s longer than anything I’ve released before, spending a lot of time writing and learning about production. I’m working on sets while training to become a certified Intimacy Coordinator. I’m grateful to be able to stay creative and continue pushing my music forward, even while working full-time to fund it.
OSR: Which artists have influenced your approach to songwriting and emotional storytelling?
Maeve Alexander: I’ve always been drawn to artists who write emotionally honest songs. Hayley Williams, Florence Welch, and Kate Nash really helped shape how I think about storytelling. There’s a fearlessness in how they write and a willingness to sit in discomfort that I have always admired. At the same time, rock bands like Breaking Benjamin and A Skylit Drive influenced my sense of intensity and catharsis. All of it comes back to artists who are unafraid of sitting in their shortcomings, complicated pasts, and most vulnerable moments.
OSR: What was the inspiration behind ‘Nailbiter’, and how did the song come together?
Maeve Alexander: ‘Nailbiter’ was inspired by the end of a long-term friendship and the realization that someone I loved so deeply was not meant to be part of what feels like the most important chapter in my life so far. I wrote it from a retrospective place, looking back while coming to terms with my new reality.
OSR: How did writing this song help you process the end of a long-term friendship?
Maeve Alexander: I think the beauty of this song is that I could only write it because I had already done a lot of the processing quietly. I didn’t write or sing about it at the time. After the “bed rotting” phase passed, I just lived, experienced new moments, places, and people. Writing the song felt like pouring a seal on that chapter, a way to acknowledge and honor everything I’d been through.
OSR: Your sound blends alternative pop and indie rock. How do you approach balancing vulnerability with sonic energy? How does ‘Nailbiter’ fit into the larger narrative of your upcoming projects?
Maeve Alexander: My focus is writing honestly while capturing real emotions people can recognize in themselves. Sometimes that means pairing heavy themes with energetic, engaging production. ‘Nailbiter’ fits into my upcoming work as part of an ongoing story; one about processing experiences, finding strength, and sharing it in a way that’s emotionally honest and sonically compelling.
OSR: Are there themes of healing or growth you see emerging across your work?
Maeve Alexander: Absolutely. My next project will be shaped by my experiences in my 20’s – failing, falling, and getting back up again and again. Making music and finding my way in this industry hasn’t been easy. I’ve stumbled a lot, but I’ve never quit, and I’ve grown immensely while figuring out my purpose. That growth shows up in my new work through honesty, vulnerability, and the relentless will to keep going.
OSR: What was the most challenging part of translating personal grief into a public song?
Maeve Alexander: Honestly, the hardest part was getting past the embarrassment of being so vulnerable. Putting something this personal into the world feels like cutting off a piece of myself I’ll never get back. At the same time, I knew this song could reach someone navigating heartbreak who has no idea how they will survive it. ‘Nailbiter’ is proof that even in grief, there’s a way through; that your heart is still beating, and you’ll be stronger on the other side.
OSR: What advice would you give to aspiring songwriters trying to write from a place of honesty?
Maeve Alexander: Stop thinking about anyone else’s opinion of what you write while you write. Being selfish with your thoughts lets you explore your true feelings and express what you may not have known you needed to say. Write often, and write badly. Don’t let perfection stop you from creating or sharing your work. Go outside, meet people, read books. Learn about yourself, feel what you feel, and let it flow into your writing.
Many thanks to Maeve Alexander for speaking with us. Find out more about Maeve Alexander on her TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, and Bandcamp.
