A Chat with ALEXIS (30.07.25)
Filipino-Australian pop newcomer ALEXIS makes a dazzling debut with her first single ‘Blue Jeans’, a flirty, synth-pop anthem capturing the excitement of a spontaneous crush. Blending catchy melodies with heartfelt storytelling, the 22-year-old artist introduces her signature “upbeat sad girl” sound, marking her as a rising star in Australia’s pop scene. We chat with ALEXIS about all things music.
OSR: Congrats on the release! What was the most exciting and most challenging part of putting ‘Blue Jeans’ out into the world?
ALEXIS: Thank you so much. I’m so excited that this song is finally out in the world – it really feels like it’s been a long time coming. I think the most exciting part was getting the final master back and showing it to my family for the first time. They loved the original demo when I first showed them, but my producer, Tyler, and I made a few changes and seeing their reactions when I played the final version, I think I’ll remember forever. They were so excited and proud of me. I’ve been working really hard on my whole artist project, but getting that final version and showing them made it feel real.
I think the most challenging part was navigating this release rollout. I’m an independent artist, so organising the mix, master, visuals, etc was done all by myself. Some things throughout this process went really smoothly, and some things took a lot longer than I was expecting.
OSR: You’ve already worked with some big-name producers. How have those collaborations shaped your growth as an artist?
ALEXIS: I’ve learnt so much being in many different writing rooms. I’m always wanting to push myself out of my comfort zone, so working in these sessions, seeing how other people write and come up with ideas, is always so interesting and inspiring to me. I find that in these sessions I’m like a sponge – absorbing new techniques, different ways of thinking, trying out new melodies and pushing myself to try something new. I think it’s very easy to become comfortable and stagnant in your songwriting, so I absolutely love collaborating with people, and these sessions are always so much fun, and we always create something special.
OSR: What’s something unexpected you’ve learned about the music industry so far?
ALEXIS: I think one thing I’ve learnt so far is that if you’ve got a timeline, make sure that you give yourself way more time than you think. One thing that I wasn’t expecting was the pushback and unprecedented delays that occurred during this rollout.
OSR: You’ve written songs in Bali and Cabo San Lucas. How do different environments impact your creativity?
ALEXIS: There’s definitely an added sense of excitement whenever I’ve gotten to go overseas and write. I’ve got a few songs coming out that have been written in these camps. There’s just something about being in a new environment with other people that’s exciting but also inspiring. It’s easy to feel stagnant being in the same place, so the change in scenery somewhat rejuvenates me. I’ve been very lucky to have been able to go on these trips with some of my closest friends, and after travelling so far, I’m always wanting to make the most out of it.
OSR: Who’s on your dream collaboration list, any producers or artists you’d love to work with?
ALEXIS: Oh gosh, that’s hard to pick. I definitely have a few different songwriters, artists and producers I’d love to work with. Songwriters-wise, I’d love to work with Sarah Aarons – she’s an Australian songwriter who’s written some of my favourite songs of all time. Sometimes I’ll really love a song and I’ll see the credits and see her name on it and think “oh yes, that makes so much sense”. Julia Michaels and Amy Adams are also at the top of that list.
Artist-wise, I have so many artists whose music I adore and I would love to write with, but I think my top six (I really couldn’t get the number lower, I just love my pop icons) would have to be Olivia Rodrigo, Conan Grey, Sabrina Carpenter, Maisie Peters, Holly Humberstone and Griff. Producers I’d love to work with are Dan Nigro and Ian Kirkpatrick – they’ve written some of my favourite songs, and I’d love to be in a room with them.
OSR: How do you balance your artistic vision with the pressures of making something “radio-ready” or commercially viable?
ALEXIS: I think I’ve been lucky that I haven’t had that external pressure yet, and I try not to put it on myself. I’m at the start of my career, so I try not to head into sessions thinking “I need to write a pop hit” or anything like that, as I find if I do, I end up feeling blocked or not loving the song that we wrote. Each session, I try to go along with how I feel – sometimes I reference something very “radio pop” like Taylor Swift or other times I’ll reference something more indie-pop or alt-pop. Sometimes I’ll even reference country because that’s just what I’m vibing with. I’m very lucky that I get to work with my friend/long-time producer, Tyler, and I have enough trust that he knows me and my project that he’s able to use whatever reference I give and build a track that’s cohesive with my “world”.
OSR: Pop is such a fast-evolving genre. How do you stay inspired without getting caught up in trends?
ALEXIS: I think writing different types of songs and using a variety of references – both old and new, and across different genres can keep you inspired. I also think it’s important to listen to different types of music. I love exploring Spotify’s curated playlists and finding something new – that definitely keeps me inspired and creative. Also, I think it’s super important to take a break from music at the end of the day and to reset, too. It’s super easy to get listening fatigue, so my brain just doesn’t want to work. I’ve learnt that it’s okay to call it a day and come back to an idea later.
OSR: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young artists trying to find their voice in the industry?
ALEXIS: I think one piece of advice I’d give is to make sure the music that you are creating resonates and is what you like. I’ve written heaps of songs early on that didn’t feel like me, and you could definitely tell. Once I started articulating what I liked and what I didn’t like, the music I was making felt more authentic to my project and my personality, and eventually, you will find the people that it’ll resonate with as well.
OSR: Are there any upcoming releases, EPs, or live shows we can look forward to from you?
ALEXIS: Yes. I’m super excited for this year. I’ve got a few more releases planned ’til the end of the year, and I’ve already started writing what’ll hopefully be my first EP for next year. As for live shows, I had my first live show in June as a little project launch party, and it was so much fun. I haven’t got anything locked in yet, but I’m hoping to be up on stage more.
OSR: Where do you hope ALEXIS is a year from now, personally and professionally?
ALEXIS: Hopefully, in a year from now, I’ll have more music out and also be performing more shows – both my own as well as hopefully supporting some of my favourite artists too. I also hope that my music finds more people who resonate with it and that the world I’m creating is a safe space for them, the same way my favourite artists’ music feels like a safe space for me. Also, I hope that a year from now, I’m still getting to write and travel with my friends.
Many thanks to ALEXIS for speaking with us. Find out more about ALEXIS on her Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.
