Track By Track: Alpine

Love songs can have many more facets than expected, as Alpine’s dual vocalists LOU JAMES and PHOEBE BAKER prove when revealing the specific emotional backdrops for ‘A Is For Alpine’.

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]

‘Lovers 1’

This was originally called ‘Lovers’ and was written before ‘Lovers 2’. We had envisioned this song as being the perfect way to begin the album. It’s a dreamy atmospheric soundscape. Love in its simplest form: “High all lovers go.” Blissful and uplifting.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Lovers 1 by alpineband

‘Lovers 2’

In this song's early stages, it was going to be an entirely different song. We, however, realised it would work if it followed on from ‘Lovers 1’. “Take my lies and tear them in parts” – when all deceits and sadnesses are gone, it allows pure, real and simple love to exist.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Lovers 2 by alpineband

‘Hands’

Accepting your emotions, be they happy or sad. Accepting the fact that you can give someone so much love. But there is a point of them not returning that love, when you finally realize it’s the end. And you feel exhausted of love, and foolish for putting in all the effort – but you feel relieved and in touch with yourself and nature once again.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Hands by alpineband

‘Villages’

Learning the pain that love causes through heartbreak and recognizing how liberating it is to experience both the negatives and positives of being in love. This song is a celebration of love.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Villages by alpineband

‘Softsides’

It's about feeling lost and disconnected from the world and yourself. It's about reassuring yourself of your inner strength and your ability to always, always take control, step out of the haze and find clarity.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Softsides by alpineband

‘Seeing Red’

It's the disintegration of a relationship and recognising that it's time to move on. You've reached a fork in the road and it's time to decide which direction you want to go. ‘Seeing Red’ is seeing the warning signs come the end of a relationship. It's sad yet joyous.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Seeing Red by alpineband

‘Gasoline’

This is our primal instinct song. Desire. Having feelings for someone that you can never be with and yet being totally satisfied and consumed with the fantasy that exists only in the night-time.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Gasoline by alpineband

‘All For One’

This was the last song written on the album. ‘All For One’ is about craving love and yet also fearing love. Having the barriers which prevent letting people/love in when it's all around [and] there for the taking, if you are brave enough.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] All For One by alpineband

‘Too Safe’

Wanting to escape a relationship, feeing too safe in it, not challenged or excited enough. Time to get off stable land and drink some Chandon and sail off in tempestuous seas and feel free.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Too Safe by alpineband

‘In The Wild’

Originally this song was going to be called NSEW. This song is the call of the wild! Wanting to escape from the familiar and mundane and get lost and absorbed in everything outside of your comfort zone. Being excited by the possibilities, you can go any direction and do it any way you want.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] In The Wild by alpineband

‘The Vigour’

This song is about experiencing anxiety, and the vigour of fear in such moments. How overwhelming it is when you are in the midst of anxiety and how every little thing can become fearful and oppressive. How unfathomable it is to think that the smallest things become so wildly difficult to tackle.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] The Vigour by alpineband

‘Multiplication’

This song is a spiritual song about accepting your vulnerability and fears and self-doubt. Learning to open your soul for others to see, and expressing yourself.

[Historical embedded media is withheld pending rights review.] Multiplication by alpineband

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‘A Is For Alpine’ is out now through Ivy League. Read Matt Shea’s review. Alpine are touring Australia now.