South Africa-born, Portugal-based singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou has released her first single since the critically acclaimed 2023 album Shelter, titled “The World Above.” This release coincides with the announcement of her upcoming Fall tour supporting Clairo.
Recorded between Tropico Beauty in Los Angeles and Freedom Studio Infinity in Tokyo while on tour, “The World Above” is geographically global and universally meaningful.
The song is a self-reflective metaphor about looking up from underwater, with Alice’s hopeful lyrics gaining confidence alongside celestial keys and cascading guitars that lift each other.
Featuring David Parry on guitar, Dekel Adin on bass, and Ziv Yamin on drums and keys, Alice remains committed to her artistic independence on this Parry-produced track—now available for streaming.
Alice Phoebe Lou comments on “The World Above”
“This song feels like a hand reaching down and pulling me up from the abyss, helping me rise to the surface after a difficult time,”
“I wrote it in a moment of intense self-reflection as I began embracing who I am, loosening the grips of addictions and feeling as though I am enough. It’s a celebration of self and an acknowledgment of the paradox of our depths and darkness as well as our infinite lightness.”
Alice Phoebe Lou and her band will be on the road with Clairo from late September to early November 2024. Performing in thoughtfully selected, intimate venues, both artists will have the opportunity to showcase the depth of their artistry in the most fitting format.
Following the tour, Alice will headline her own show at New York’s Brooklyn Steel. Get details HERE.
You can stream/download “The World Above” HERE.
More info about Alice Phoebe Lou
Alice Phoebe Lou’s fifth album, Shelter, is about creating a place of safety through forgiving the world and oneself.
After moving from South Africa to Berlin in 2012, Alice began her musical journey as a busker, embracing a self-determined lifestyle. Over time, she learned to trust her instincts and write without fear of judgment.
Her debut album, Orbit (2016), marked the beginning of her music career, while Paper Castles (2019) established her as a musician to watch. Glow and its surprise follow-up Child’s Play (2021) allowed Alice to delve deeply into personal and vulnerable themes, which resonated with listeners.
In contrast, Shelter is a celebration of self-assurance and directness. The album, at times feeling like a purge and at other moments capturing a second coming-of-age, strives to show the beauty of vulnerability and emotional honesty.
Still fiercely independent, Alice hopes to inspire young people to pursue happiness unconventionally, with Shelter serving as a defiant soundtrack to that journey.
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