Artist Profile – Alice Ivy
by Sarah Kidd
If you haven’t already heard of Alice Ivy, then you are missing out on something rather exceptional. You see there is nothing that Ivy likes better than to party … well maybe one thing, to party with you.
So just who is Alice Ivy? Born Annika Schmarsel, Ivy cut her teeth on guitar strings and funk, immersing herself and her talents in various bands haunting the Melbourne scene. But sometimes premier talent grows too big to be contained within; and so Ivy began setting up a home studio, honing her skills in the areas of writing, composing and producing her own work which included the laying down of vocals.
Que 2016 and the twenty-five year old Ivy releases – independently – her debut single ‘Touch’ featuring the vocals of London based singer Georgia Van Etten, her layers of pop laced reverie dripped over funky guitar riffs and topped off with crystalline vocals catching the attention of taste-makers across the world.
The Alice Ivy train had left the station.
2017 saw more work released, triple j knowing a good thing when they hear it and adding her to their high rotation list. International licensing deals with Last Gang records saw her proudly be the first Australian female to ever be signed to the distinguished boutique label.
2018 is the year of Alice Ivy, February seeing the release of her debut album I’m Dreaming, her live performances seeing her grace the stages of festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, Listen Out and SXSW. She has also supported such iconic acts as Foster The People, The Jungle Giants and a personal favourite for Ivy the incomparable Billie Eilish.
And now New Zealand has the chance to see Alice Ivy in action too! Performing solo (Ivy ordinarily performs with a band) on her jaunt around the country, Ivy has a spirit that fills a room with an energetic exuberance, her mile-wide grin lighting up the stage. Auckland fans last night had the chance to bask in the Ivy glow, her humour and obvious delight at having the chance to tour around New Zealand palpable and infectious.
Remarkably working her mixing board while simultaneously playing both the guitar and drum pad, Ivy bounced around the stage like a fluorescent version of Tash Sultana, a background of technicolour images framing her set. Dropping tracks such as the upbeat ‘Be Friends’ and it was clear that not only is Alice Ivy talented, but she puts the ‘art’ in party, magically creating an atmosphere that transcended a run of the mill gig into a house party whose memories will remain your fondest.
Despite the expulsion of physical energy, Ivy never misses a beat, infusing her music not only with that stunning voice but with healthy doses of big band samples from the 40’s and 50’s, the combination something completely different yet utterly intoxicating and impossible not to move your body too. ’Bella’ and that career defining track ‘Chasing Stars’ showcasing all that Ivy has to offer and so much more.
So, keep an eye out New Zealand and check out Alice Ivy while you can as the world stage keeps calling … and they just might not let her go.
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For more information on Alice Ivy you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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