Kiwi indie pop quartet Alae issue the sultry new slow jam Please, their fourth official single and one of 7 tracks to be included on Lucy’s Mix Tape. A brand new video, shot in the sumptuous surrounds of Auckland’s iconic theatre, The Civic, also releases today.
Please shows yet another musical side to Alae, who have infused their latest collection of singles with a heady blend of pop, served with a side order groove. Please places full focus on Alex Farrell-Davey’s vocals, which are underpinned by Marika Hodgeson on bass, Allister Davey on Keys and Jayden Lee on Drums. Alex explains what drove the lyrics; “Please is about looking at your life, or current situation and putting things into perspective. Figuring out what you want and what YOU are willing to do to make that your reality.”
Joining Please on the new mixtape are the radio hits Hit Me Where It Hurts, Summer Thing and Lucy, alongside fresh new reworks and collaborations with vocalist Nate Dousand with a hot acappella take on Lucy, and neo-soul songstress, Bailey Wiley lends golden voice to her own version of Please. Bailey says: “In my eyes, Alae as a band are a divine fusion of musical goodness, so when I got the call to create a version of their song 'Please,' I jumped at the opportunity. The song itself really did all the hard work. I simply just sang my own version while consciously trying to stay true to the original. Accompanied by Alae's bass player Marika, it felt like a match made in heaven.”
Lucy’s Mixtape captures Alae as a band on the rise, and brilliantly showcases the relationship with Canadian producer Justin Gray, who’s work began with the band in 2019 after meeting at an APRA AMCOS Songhubs writing session. Says Alex of the compilation; ““I can’t wait to get the mix tape out for everyone to hear, this has been a year in the making and is something the band are really proud of.”
To celebrate the Lucy’s Mixtape release, Alae are delivering some very special live shows at Auckland’s Tuning Fork on Saturday 19 September, and Wellington’s Meow on Saturday 10 October. Tickets available now through Live Nation.
While it’s been a challenging year for musicians and artists in the wake of Covid-19, Alae have continued to make their mark. The band have issued a second remix of Hit Me Where It Hurts with local hip-hop hero Kings, and unleashed the radio smash hit Summer Thing in NZ, Australia and the US.
Following single Lucy, accompanied by an eye popping video to match, has been reworked by Nate Dousand, who has created a special acapella version of the tune for Lucy’s Mix Tape and performs it alongside AJ and Harry Pualau from Brotherhood Musiq. Nate explains: “I’ve always enjoyed working in groups and creating music, sometimes without instruments. Marika reached out to me about the possibility of making an acapella version of ALAE’s Lucy. As we were in the lockdown period, I had all the time in the world to make something out of it. I absolutely love this jam. First time I heard it I knew it was gonna go off!!! And now that there’s an acapella version of it, it just gives it that extra push to acapella music lovers.”
Expect another single from Alae, plus more summer gigs to be announced soon.
Lucy’s Mixtape is available now through all digital streaming platforms.