Alice D
Alice D is a singer/songwriter from London.
Coming from a musical environment, Alice D is creating her own path in the music industry.
Inspired by the likes of Aaliyah, Brandy, Kelela & Banks, the r&b English artist has just revealed her debut EP entitled “Narcissus”. Produced by Oscar Scheller, (Mabel, MNEK and GIRLI.), the 5 track EP features the first single “More 2 U” as well as “Mama Said”.
“Mama Said” is about craving the attention & love from a guy who just wants you for one thing. You ignore your Mama’s advice when she tries to tell you that he’s not worth it,” explains Alice D.
Alice D’s debut EP “Narcissus” is now available on major streaming platforms.
Introduce yourself - What's your story?
Hi Thread Official, thanks for talking to me! I’m Alice D, currently an independent artist who’s been releasing music for close to 5 years. I’ve worked with a string of producers over this time & experimented with an array of different musical genres but I finally feel like I’ve found my sound. This month I released my debut EP Narcissus which is the perfect body of work to showcase me as an artist!
You grew up in a musical family. What did their experiences in the industry teach you as a person and as an artist?
My mum has always been head strong & fiercely independent. Bananarama have always dressed the way they wanted & done things on their terms, which is admirable considering the music industry can try to mould you into something you’re not sometimes. Staying true to yourself & who you are as an artist is definitely something I’ve learnt from her. Also to be incredibly wary, there’s a lot of chancers & people that ‘talk the talk’ so you have to keep your wits about you! My dad was a singer-songwriter himself & was the first person that I wrote a song with when I was 11. He ignited the music spark in me for sure. He had a little studio set up & we’d spend days writing songs! Both my parents are hugely encouraging & have always championed my creativity.
Could you tell us about your first experiences in the music industry?
The first proper thing I worked on was with the producer Joey Mccrilley. We were introduced through mutual friends & I co-wrote a couple of tracks on his first EP, one of which was played on BBC Radio 1xtra so that was pretty cool! Considering I wrote & recorded it in my bedroom haha. It was quite daunting but also really exciting to be given the opportunity to write for someone else’s project. I then went on to work with a lot of producers & tried & find my feet. I’ve always had a positive experience whilst working with people & they’ve been really accepting of my ideas.
When did you decide to become an artist and release your original music?
The first time I felt like I really wanted to pursue music was with Oscar Scheller (who’s worked on Narcissus with me). We were in our teens & we wrote & recorded a few tracks in his bedroom. I’d always loved music- writing songs at a young age, participating in plays & Jazz concerts at school but that was the first time I had properly recorded a song with the intention to release it.
How would you define Alice D the artist?
Someone who’s maybe a little bit mysterious! Someone who writes from the heart & someone you can relate to. I want to reassure people that we’ve all been there & that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
What can you tell us about your debut EP "Narcissus"?
Narcissus discusses growing up, the highs & lows of different relationships & all the frustrations life can throw at you. The situations I write about are real & authentic to me but they are also universal predicaments we find ourselves in. I wanted people to accept what’s happened to them but come out of them with a renewed sense of worth. That’s the underlying message of all the songs on the EP.
How was it like to work with Oscar Scheller on this project?
As I’ve said above, I’ve known Oscar for over 10 years so it was easy to work with him. We have the same weird sense of humour so the long writing sessions never felt like ‘work,’ we’d be laughing a lot. He’s classically trained & has the best ear for music!
What are the different topics you are talking about on this EP?
I discuss coping with anxiety whilst being in a relationship, unrequited love, a lifeless relationship where the spark needs to re-ignited, being played by a guy & taking it slow at the beginning of a relationship & not wanting any external pressures getting involved. I cover a lot of bases!
Why did you name your EP "Narcissus"?
Narcissus is a Greek mythological character who fell in love with his own reflection. I felt this title fitted perfectly with the sentiments of the EP.
What's the story behind "Mama Said"?
“Mama Said” is about craving the attention & love from a guy who just wants you for one thing. You ignore your Mama’s advice when she tries to tell you that he’s not worth it. I guess the song is about growing up & having to make your own mistakes & learning from them. There’s a vulnerability in this song but also a realisation that if someone is being disrespectful & not treating you right, leave them & love yourself instead.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
Self-worth for sure. Sometimes you get blind-sided & forget who you are & what you deserve.
How would you define your music?
I would define my music as ‘atmospheric RnB’ with a hint of 90s RnB, haha. It’s hard to pin point…I know it doesn’t follow the typical commercial sound at the moment but I like that!
What's the best advice you've ever received?
I think just to do things at your own pace. A lot of us compare ourselves to others & how much they have achieved by their age etc. but in reality we are all on our own journey so you can’t compare. I think also just remaining true to yourself & not changing in order to fit in- express yourself in whatever way you want!
2018 is coming to an end. What lessons did you learn this year?
2018 has been such a positive year for me! I’ve grown as an artist & felt like I’ve found my feet on so many levels. I learnt I’m a great multi-tasker & how to be patient & trust this musical journey I’m on. I often doubt myself but I’ve had such a great response from my EP so far & I’m genuinely really proud of what I’ve achieved.
What are your plans for 2019?
I’m currently getting a band together to do some live shows! It’s always been a dream of mine & will be working on new music.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
If people could love as much as they hate. The quote I always go back to is by Martin Luther King, Jr: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." It’s a seemingly simple concept but so powerful.
What's your purpose?
I think my purpose is to just to continue making music. Despite the twists & turns of life I always come back to it. Whenever I’m feeling a certain emotion, singing is like a release for me. I think also to just strive to be the best version of myself.
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