MUMBAI: Making history as the highest ever billed female DJ at last year’s Coachella, Alison Wonderland has unveiled her 14-track LP, titled Awake, landing today, 6 April.
Featuring Alison’s previous singles Happy Place and Church as well as an array of brand-new vibrant mainstage bangers from the highly acclaimed singer, DJ, and producer, the album also includes ‘No’; the recently released third track from the album which has gained notable support from BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong as well as Kiss Fresh.
A mix of digital-pop and bass-heavy beats, Alison’s second album follows her 2015 album Run and marks a mature evolution of her sound honed by many years of playing headline shows and festival slots, including EDC Las Vegas and Lollapalooza.
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“I just wanted to go bigger and really push myself on this album,” she explains. “Vocally, I can hear a massive difference. I’m a lot more comfortable with my voice now. I’m not afraid to get on the mic and just go for it.”
Recruiting a stellar cast of collaborators across Awake, including Grammy Award winner Joel Little, Illangelo, Party Favor, and BFF Lido – Buddy Channels laces Cry with his rich and silky vocals, whilst Ohio rap star Trippie Red takes the helm on LP track High, a production laced by sweeping synths, and crushing chords from Alison, who fuses deep trap-elements with a more emotive tone to areas of the release. The track has received over five million YouTube views since being released at the end of March.
Chief Keef – who has previously worked with Kanye West, Lil B and Travi$ Scott guests on Dreamy Dragon, throwing down rhymes over Alison’s euphoric house beat. Alison says, “It’s the perfect mash-up of his world and mine. Chief Keef was so much fun in the studio. I was playing the track super loud and he just put his ear right against the speaker. During takes, he was dancing in the booth.”
Over chiming synth and bubbling beats, ‘No’ delivers hard truths in the face of a broken relationship, utilising a deep tropical melody with more ominous, brooding tones, whilst the soaring synth-pop of Church relates to “realising your self-worth, when the person you’re with doesn’t” according to Alison. As for the title? Ironically, Awake came to her in a dream. “I think it was my subconscious telling me things,” she reasons. “The more I wrote, the more it seemed the perfect name.”
“I believe writing an album’s a lot like a time capsule if you’re doing it right and being honest with yourself. Many of these songs are about myself-struggle, my depression and being with someone who has their own problems you have to deal with.”
Amid the chaos, Awake became her outlet. Seeking solace in the studio, she spun her struggles into songs and ultimately, hope. You can hear it ringing out in the title track, which closes the album on a triumphant high. With the album bedded down, Alison is ready to take awaken to the world.
