ALLYSE.
Singer/songwriter/producer ALLYSE. has just released her newest single “Backup Plan”.
Based in Austin, Texas, the artist has been crafting her talent during the pandemic. “Backup Plan” is the third single off her upcoming EP, to be released in 2023.
Fusing pop melodies, powerful vocals and and some r&b influences, the new single came from the feelings of frustration after being treated as a backup plan in different relationships. The new single was co-produced with producer/artist waverly.
ALLYSE. has a lot more to offer, and it’s just the beginning of a beautiful journey.
“Backup Plan” is now available worldwide.
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hi, my name is ALLYSE. I’m a singer, songwriter, producer based in Austin, TX. I like to make music that combines catchy pop melodies and R&B style production. I’m releasing my third single “Backup Plan” on April 21st, ahead of my EP releasing in fall of 2023. A lot of these songs are about leaving behind things that are draining or negative, and running towards what’s new, exciting, and life-giving. It all reflects the journey of growth and self-confidence I’ve been on over the last few years.
Even though this is the debut collection of songs I’m releasing as a solo artist, I’ve been creating music since I can remember. I grew up in a military family and moved all around the country and the world – attending 10 schools in 12 years, living in places like England, South Korea, Las Vegas, Colorado, Washington, and Georgia (just to name a few!). Even though my environment was always changing, music was one of the steady constants in my life. My mom was a piano teacher, so there was no escape from piano lessons (which I’m really grateful for now!) and I was also very active in musical theater, band, and choir no matter where I was. Music was not only something that fed my creative soul but it was also just a practical way to make friends and find community quickly. I always dreaded the “where are you from?” question because I never knew how to answer it, but I did know how to talk about music and my passion for it. Doing music was always a no-brainer for me.
I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally so I studied classical voice in college. I had a great time and learned a ton but learned pretty quickly that I didn’t want to become a choral conductor or an opera singer, so I had to get creative and forge my own unique path. I moved to Austin, where I spent a few years playing in bands and musical projects before finally striking out on my own as a solo artist as ALLYSE.
What did you grow up listening to?
I was kind of a late bloomer when it came to finding the style of music I listen to and love today. I grew up in a very musical household, but mostly on a steady diet of jazz, classical, gospel/sacred music, and show tunes (LOTS of show tunes!). But I remember really latching on to the music of Brandy and listening to her albums on repeat. When I went off to college, I developed a deep love for R&B, Soul, and pop music – I was deeply influenced by Alicia Keys, Adele, Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Sinead Harnett, and Lauryn Hill.
When did you start producing your own tracks? What was the biggest challenge when you first started?
I have been writing and creating music in some capacity since I was a kid, but I didn’t get serious about the craft of music production until the pandemic in 2020 kind of forced us all to spend a lot of time in our homes and in front of our laptops. At the time I was in a band, and since we couldn’t always meet in person, we developed a method of songwriting where we each wrote and recorded our demos to send to each other. This really sparked my creativity and opened up the world of production for me! The band eventually stopped but I kept on making all my songs this way.
The biggest challenge through it was just maintaining the patience to wade through all the bad songs I had to make before I started making good ones I was proud of. There was a gap between how I wanted it to sound in my head and how it sounded in real life and I wanted to give up so many times!
When did you know you could sing?
Singing was such a constant part of my life, I’m pretty sure I came out of the womb singing, laughs. My parents have recordings of me at a very young age to prove that I was constantly singing and making up songs about whatever was on my mind at any given moment! I don’t think I thought it was anything until I reached 5th/6th grade and started auditioning for plays or talent shows and started getting encouragement from other people besides just my parents.
At what point did you realize it was time for you to be an artist and release your original music?
It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and has always been a goal. But I think it took me a while to figure out who I was and what I was about. I spent a few years playing in bands and other people’s projects and having a blast making music with my friends. But when my last band project dissolved at the beginning of 2022, I knew it was finally time to strike out on my own. Playing in these projects had provided me with a valuable chance to experiment, hone my skills, figure out what I wanted and what sounds I liked. Middle of last year, everything started coming together and felt like the perfect time for me to confidently step into my identity as an artist and say “This is who I am and what I’m about.”
"Backup Plan" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
Backup Plan is a fun and bouncy song that was actually born out of feelings of frustration and exasperation! It’s not about one real person as much as a combination of my past experiences with one-sided relationships, where someone says they value you but never shows up for you. (You know, people who are basically “MIA” until they need something from you!) There was a time in my life when I might’ve been a magnet for these sorts of relationships, but this song has been a helpful way to draw those boundaries and stick up for myself and say “enough” to being treated like a backup plan.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you create it? When did you start working on it?
I wrote this song in late summer of 2022. I knew I wanted to create a track with a real bouncy synth so I started with the chord progression on keys which helped to drive the feel of the song. Once I had the chord progression and rhythm established, the lyrics came to me fairly quickly because I was coming from a place of such strong emotion and point of view. I started with the line “You’re lovin me like an option / M.I.A. till ya drop in” and built the rest of the song around it. I filled out the production with drums and other instruments and then showed it to my producer, friend, and collaborator, waverly. He liked it and helped really beef up the bass part, adding some hits and countermelodies, and just really took the production to the next level. Last fall we recorded final vocals and harmonies together in my home studio. Then I let waverly work his production and mixing magic and ended up with the song we have now!
What's your favorite lyric on "Backup Plan"?
“Baby it’s basic, you can ace it // It ain’t commitment it’s a yes or no”.
I like it because the near internal rhyme (“basic” and “ace it”) is fun to sing, and it kinda sums up what the whole song is about!
What made you want to release "Backup Plan" as a single?
I played a demo of this song for some friends at a songwriters retreat last fall and they all really like it
What can you tell us about the artwork?
For the artwork, I wanted something vibrant to match the upbeat tone of the song. The style of the photo was influenced by the release of my previous single “Like A Drug” which came out around Valentine's Day, so I was already using a lot of pastel colors and candy heart motifs in the artwork, and wanted to continue a similar style for this single. It’s all very DIY – and because it was all art directed and shot in my own home studio, I had the freedom to experiment with a lot of different types of photos before landing on this one.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The best part is getting to bring your songs, your message, your vision to life! The feeling of sharing your art with people and connecting through some shared experience is so powerful and just one of the coolest things about being human :)
Art is vulnerable. Whether you’re putting out a song or a 20-second video, you’re taking a risk when you put it out into the world. The hardest part is staying the course and mustering enough bravery to stay vulnerable and consistent in your art, even despite voices of disapproval or your own voice of self-doubt. I try to just focus on the creation part (the part I can control) and just let the joy of creating music I love overshadow those other fears.
How's it like to be a woman in the music industry? What advice would you give to women?
In the past I’ve definitely walked into environments that feel like an exclusive boys club and immediately make me feel alienated and uncomfortable. However, as I’ve grown more confident in my abilities and my artistry, I’ve learned to select for healthier, more positive environments. Now I choose to work with talented men and women who appreciate the unique set of perspectives and skills I bring to the table and truly want me to succeed.
As for advice? First, do the work to learn your craft and really know your sh*t. No one can deny skill, and your competency will shine through! Secondly – let other people be the ones to tell you “no.” Don’t tell yourself “no” first. It’s not selfish to be your own biggest hype-woman; it’s smart! Be your own biggest advocate and keep knocking on doors, looking for opportunities, making connections, trying stuff, and asking for what you want. It’s already hard, so don’t let your own reservations or insecurities make it any harder. Plus, you’ll be surprised at what doors open up when you simply ask. :)
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I like the fact that the music industry seems to be becoming more and more democratic each day, with the TikTok and creator economy. I love that it’s becoming easier for DIY and independent artists to gain audiences for their music! If I could change one thing, I’d change the obsession with chasing viral social media moments to creating more long-lasting sustainable careers and deeper fan<>artist connections. Also, I’d love to wave a magic wand and fix the mind-boggling gender disparity that still exists in the music industry. How cool would it be if 50% of all songwriters, producers, engineers, artists, and festival acts were women, and actually reflected the talent pool and population of the world? Art, of all things, should accurately reflect and represent the audiences for whom they’re created.
Could you list a few records that influenced the music you are making today?
“Strings” by iyla + pretty much everything iyla has ever done :)
Amelia Moore’s “teaching a robot to love” EP
Thuy’s “i hope u see this” album
Doja Cat’s “Plane Her” album
Kehlani’s “blue water road” and “while we wait” albums
Jojo’s “Spiral SZN”
Emeline’s “What It Means to Be A Girl”
You are based in Austin, TX. How's the music scene out there? Any artist(s) you'd like to recommend?
Austin has had a vibrant music scene for many years, especially in the genres of blues, rock, and country. But I’m excited to see increasingly more pop and R&B acts cropping up! Some of my favorites include Daniel Fears, prom queen, waverly (obviously<3), Grace Sorensen, Moody Bank$, primo the alien, and Tameca Jones.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Hmm…the world would be a better place if people always defaulted to kindness, if people viewed their own thriving as intertwined with the thriving of others … and if more dresses had pockets!
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Oof – how much time do you have? laughs. I think the biggest lessons for me have centered around a growing sense of confidence. I think I spent a lot of my life wearing myself out seeking approval from people, and losing my true self in the process. The last few years have been me quietly, slowly letting go of that need for external validation, trusting myself, and learning to stand confidently in who I am. It means I’ve had to draw some boundaries, abandon some old pursuits, negative relationships, bad habits or distractions that weren’t moving me in the direction of the person I ultimately wanted to become.
What can we expect to see/hear from you this year?
I’m going to be releasing several more singles and my first solo EP this fall! So stay tuned for some more beat-driven pop/R&B bops, some more waverly collabs, and some fun visuals to go along with them. They’re getting increasingly light-hearted and vibey, so get ready to dance!
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