Alex Lahey
Lahey performing in 2019
Background information
Birth nameAlexandra Lahey
Born (1992-07-30) 30 July 1992
Albert Park, Victoria, Australia
Genres
  • Alternative
  • indie
  • rock
  • pop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • saxophone
  • keyboards
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websitealexlahey.com.au

Alexandra Lahey (/ˈleɪhi/ LAY-hee[1]) (born 30 July 1992) is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her debut album I Love You Like a Brother was released on 6 October 2017 and peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[2] Her second album, The Best of Luck Club followed in 2019, peaking at number 30. Following an EP issued during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she released her third record, The Answer Is Always Yes, in May 2023.

Early life

Alex Lahey was born in 1992 in Albert Park,[3] a suburb of Melbourne, where she lived with her mother, Vicki, her father Bill and her brother, Will.[4] At 13-years-old, she started learning saxophone and guitar.[5] She started university courses in both jazz and the arts but dropped out of the jazz component to join a local pop group, Animaux, on vocals and saxophone.[5] After completing her arts degree Lahey decided to start a solo music career.[5]

Career

In June 2016 Lahey won the Josh Pyke Partnership, for unsigned artists, which is co-sponsored by Pyke, Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS).[6] She received a AUD$7500 grant, a song writing mentorship from Pyke and introduction to music industry officials.[6] Lahey won the prize ahead of 200 entries and Pyke explained, "the song she submitted was immediately stuck in my head, and her lyrics were compelling and clever. Her turn of phrase was quirky and intelligent, and really relatable... I reckon most of us have been in the situation that's portrayed in the song 'You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me'."[6]

"You Don't Think You Like People Like Me" also received Pitchfork's Best New Track Award,[5][6] and it was listed in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2016 at No. 97.[7] Lahey subsequently won a Triple J Unearthed prize, leading to a performance slot at Splendour in the Grass and a nomination for a J Award as Unearthed Artist of the Year.

Lahey's debut extended play (EP), B-Grade University, was released on 29 July 2016, via Caroline Australia Records with distribution by Universal Music Australia.[8] For the five tracks Lahey provided vocals, guitar, saxophone and keyboards; she was joined by Oscar Dawson on guitar, vocals, percussion and keyboards; Sam Humphrey on guitar; Kai Chen Lim on bass guitar; and Lachie McGeehan on drums.[9] Dawson also produced, engineered and mixed the EP.[9] It reached No. 95 on the ARIA Top 100 Physical Albums and No. 8 on the ARIA Hitseekers Albums charts.[10]

In January 2017 Lahey signed to the Dead Oceans label, which re-released her EP.[11] On 6 October 2017 she issued her debut album, I Love You Like a Brother, through her own independent label, Nicky Boy Records/Dead Oceans via Caroline Australia/Universal Music Australia.[2][12] It reached No. 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart;[2] Laura Stanley of Under the Radar observed, "[she] shares scenes from her own period of self-discovery, which makes for a fierce and incredibly fun debut full-length... the record standouts happen when Lahey and her bandmates zoom through spells of heartache with candidness and in a sharp pop-punk style."[13]

I Love You Like a Brother was placed on several albums-of-the-year lists, including Bandcamp Daily (at No. 40),[14] Noisey,[15] the Sydney Morning Herald,[16] Under the Radar, BrooklynVegan, and redbull.com.[17] Spin Magazine would also cite the album as one of the magazine's 13 "Favorite Overlooked Albums of 2017".[18] After touring Australia through October 2017, Lahey undertook an international tour of US and Europe from December 2017 and April 2018.[19] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018 she was nominated for Breakthrough Artist – Release.[20]

In May 2019, Lahey released her second album The Best of Luck Club. The album was produced by Catherine Marks along with Lahey. Lahey spent all of 2019 touring Australia, North America, Europe and the UK and had extensive touring plans for 2020 before they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The song "Misery Guts" from the album was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2.[21]

In 2020, Lahey wrote and recorded the original song "On My Way" for Sony Pictures Animation's The Mitchells vs. the Machines, now Netflix’s biggest original animated release of all time.[22] The song was also released on the official film soundtrack via Sony Classical.

On 21 October 2021, Lahey revealed she had signed with Liberation Records and released "Spike the Punch".[23]

On 31 August 2022, Lahey released single "Congratulations" and announced national tour, commencing in October 2022. It will be her first since 2019.[24] Her third studio album, The Answer Is Always Yes, was released on 19 May 2023.

Personal life

Lahey identifies as gay.[25] Her partner is fellow Australian musician Gordi. The two released a collaboration, "Dino's", in early 2021.[26]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[27]
I Love You Like a Brother 15
The Best of Luck Club
  • Released: 17 May 2019
  • Label: Nicky Boy Records/Dead Oceans (NBR002/DOC196)
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 30
The Answer Is Always Yes 55

Extended plays

List of EPs, with release date and label shown
Title EP details
B-Grade University
  • Released: 29 July 2016[29]
  • Label: Caroline Music Australia/Dead Oceans
    (AL001CD/DOC134)
  • Format: CD, LP, Digital download
Between the Kitchen and the Living Room
  • Released: 29 May 2020[30]
  • Label: Caroline Music Australia/Dead Oceans[31]
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Certification Album
"Air Mail"[32][33] 2015 Non-album single
"You Don't Think You Like People Like Me"[34] 2016 B-Grade University
"Let's Go Out"[35]
"Ivy League"[36]
"Wes Anderson"[37] 2017
"Every Day's the Weekend" I Love You Like a Brother
"Lotto in Reverse"[39]
"I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself"[40]
"There's No Money"[41]
"I Love You Like a Brother"[42] 2018
"Don't Be So Hard on Yourself"[43] 2019 The Best of Luck Club
"Am I Doing It Right?"[44]
"Unspoken History"[45]
"Welcome to the Black Parade"
(Triple J Like a Version)[46]		 Non-album single
"Sucker for Punishment"[47] 2020
"Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)"[48]
"Dino's"
(with Gordi)[49]		 2021
"Spike the Punch"[23]
"Congratulations"[24] 2022 The Answer Is Always Yes
"Shit Talkin'"[24]
"Good Time"[24] 2023
"They Wouldn't Let Me in"[50]
"The Sky Is Melting"[51]
"On the Way Down"[52]
"Ego Is Not a Dirty Word"[53] Mushroom: Fifty Years of Making Noise (Reimagined)
"Newsreader"[54] The Answer Is Always Yes (re-issue)
"When the Rain Comes Down"[55]
Title Year Album
"Alaska"
(The Cactus Channel featuring Alex Lahey & Animaux)[56]		 2014 non album single
"Skinny Dipping"
(Stand Atlantic featuring Alex Lahey)[57]		 2019 Skinny Dipping

Other appearances

Title Year Album
"On My Way" 2021 The Mitchells vs. the Machines
(Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Production and writing discography

Year Artist Song Label Role
2020 Approachable Members of Your Local Community "Small Change" Independent Co-writer, co-producer
2020 Sweater Curse "Close" Independent Co-writer
2020 Imoagen Clark "My Own Worst Enemy" Independent Co-writer, add. programming
2020 Gordi "Sandwiches" Jagjaguwar/Liberation Add. engineering
2020 Gordi "Limits" Jagjaguwar/Liberation Add. engineering
2020 BLOXX "Give Me The Keys" Chess Club Co-writer
2020 Maggie Lindemann "Knife Under My Pillow" swixxzaudio Co-writer
2020 Maggie Lindemann "Crash and Burn" swixxzaudio Co-writer
2020 Sam Windley "Neighbours in the Morning" Piper's Son Co-writer
2021 Sarah Saint James "Heather" Independent Producer, engineer, co-writer
2021 Kely Holiday "Where You Feel" Independent Co-Writer
2021 Eilish Gilligan "Up All Night" Independent Co-Writer
2021 Eilish Gilligan "First One To Leave the Party" Independent Co-Writer
2021 Japanese Wallpaper "Leave A Light On" Wonderlick / Sony Music Co-Writer, backing vocals

    Awards and nominations

    AIR Awards

    The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    2017[58] herself Best Independent Artist Nominated
    Breakthrough Independent Artist Nominated
    B-Grade University Best Independent Album Nominated
    "You Don't Think You Like People Like Me" Best Independent Single or EP Nominated
    2018[59][60] herself Best Independent Artist Nominated
    I Love You Like a Brother Best Independent Album Nominated
    "Every Day's the Weekend" Best Independent Single or EP Won

    APRA Awards

    The APRA Awards have been presented annually since 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".[61]

    Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
    2018 "Everyday’s the Weekend" Song of the Year Shortlisted [62]

    ARIA Music Awards

    The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry.

    Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
    2018 I Love You Like a Brother Breakthrough Artist Nominated [20]
    2023 The Answer Is Always Yes Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated [63]

    J Award

    The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    2016[64] herself Unearthed Artist of the Year Nominated
    2017[65] I Love You Like a Brother Australian Album of the Year Nominated

    Music Victoria Awards

    The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

    Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
    2016 "You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me" Best Song Nominated [66][67]
    herself Best Female Artist Won
    Best Emerging Artist Nominated
    2018 herself Best Solo Artist Nominated
    2019 herself Best Solo Artist Nominated
    2021 "Dino's" (with Gordi) Best Victorian Song Nominated [68][69]

    National Live Music Awards

    The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

    Year Nominee / work Award Result
    2016[70] herself The Heatseeker Award (Best New Act) Nominated
    2017[71][72] herself International Live Achievement (Solo) Nominated
    People's Choice - Live Act of the Year Nominated
    2018[73][74] herself International Live Achievement (Solo) Nominated
    Victorian Live Act of the Year Won

    References

    1. ↑ "Diggin' In The Crates With Alex Lahey". Cool Accidents. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via YouTube.
    2. 1 2 3 Wallace, Ian (16 October 2017). "Week Commencing ~ 16th October 2017 ~ Issue #1442" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (1442): 2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    3. ↑ Stanley, Laura (14 December 2017). "Alex Lahey Taking Care". Under the Radar. Retrieved 9 December 2022. Born and raised in the suburb of Albert Park, Lahey was interested in music from a young age.
    4. ↑ Roberts, Christopher (19 March 2018). "Alex Lahey Shares 'I Love You Like a Brother' Video Costarring Her Actual Brother". Under the Radar. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    5. 1 2 3 4 Ross, Annabel (22 June 2016). "Blast-off for Local Singer-songwriter Alex Lahey". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
    6. 1 2 3 4 "Alex Lahey wins the Josh Pyke Partnership for 2016". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    7. ↑ "1-100 | Hottest 100 2016". Triple J. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    8. ↑ Danielle McGrane (20 September 2016). "Alex Lahey gave it all up for a song". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
    9. 1 2 Alex Lahey (performer). B-Grade University (liner notes). Caroline Australia/Universal Music Australia. AL001CD.
    10. ↑ Wallace, Ian (22 August 2016). "Week Commencing ~ 22nd August 2016 ~ Issue #1382" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (1382): 7, 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    11. ↑ "Alex Lahey Signs to Dead Oceans". deadoceans.com. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
    12. ↑ "Instagram post by Alex Lahey • Oct 16, 2017 at 7:06am UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
    13. ↑ Stanley, Laura (4 October 2017). "Alex Lahey: I Love You Like a Brother (Dead Oceans) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    14. ↑ Jarman, Casey (14 December 2017). "Best Albums of 2017: #40 – #21: 40 Alex Lahey: I Love You Like a Brother". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    15. ↑ "Noisey's 100 Best Albums of 2017". Album of The Year. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
    16. ↑ "The Sydney Morning Herald's Top 20 Albums of 2017". Album of The Year. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
    17. ↑ "Alex Lahey - I Love You Like a Brother - Critic Lists". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
    18. ↑ "Spin's Favorite Overlooked Albums of 2017". Spin. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
    19. ↑ "Alex Lahey | Touring". alexlahey.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
    20. 1 2 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (28 November 2018). "And the ARIA Award Goes To..." Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    21. ↑ Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 soundtrack complete song list, 11 September 2020
    22. ↑ 'The Mitchells Vs. The Machines' Becomes Netflix Biggest Animated Film As Streamer Reveals More Viewing Data, 20 July 2021
    23. 1 2 Kelly, Vivienne (21 October 2021). "Alex Lahey signs with Liberation Records". The Music Network. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
    24. 1 2 3 4 "Alex Lahey Releases New Single "Congratulations", Plots Australian Tour". Music Feeds. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
    25. ↑ @AlexLahey (19 March 2020). "Quarantine Diary Day 4 Still gay" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    26. ↑ "Alex Lahey and Gordi team up to pay tribute to a Nashville dive bar on 'Dino's'". NME. 12 February 2021.
    27. ↑ Peak positions for releases in Australia:
    28. ↑ Mack, Emmy (26 July 2017). "Alex Lahey Announces National Tour For Debut Album 'I Love You Like A Brother'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
    29. ↑ "B-Grade University (EP)". Apple Music. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    30. ↑ Langford, Jackson (29 May 2020). "Alex Lahey releases surprise EP 'Between the Kitchen and the Living Room'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    31. ↑ "Between the Kitchen and the Living Room – EP by Alex Lahey on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
    32. ↑ "Air Mail - single". Spotify. 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    33. ↑ ""Air Mail" - single". Apple Music. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    34. ↑ "You Don't Think You Like People Like Me - single". Apple Music. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    35. ↑ "Let's Go Out lyrics". Genius. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    36. ↑ "Alex Lahey Shares "Ivy League" Video". DIY Mag. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    37. ↑ "Alex Lahey finds love in the finer details with "Wes Anderson"". The Line of Best Fit. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    38. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles". ARIA. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
    39. ↑ "First Listen: Alex Lahey's "Lotto In Reverse" is her heaviest track yet". ABC. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    40. ↑ "First listen: Alex Lahey "I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself"". ABC. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    41. ↑ "There's No Money (Solo Version) – Single by Alex Lahey on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    42. ↑ "Alex Lahey - I Love You Like a Brother (Official Video)". YouTube. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    43. ↑ Roberts, Christopher (20 February 2019). "Alex Lahey announces new album, shares video for new song "Don't Be so Hard on Yourself"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    44. ↑ Roberts, Christopher (4 April 2019). "Alex Lahey shares new song "Am I Doing It Right" and announces new U.S. tour dates". Under the Radar. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    45. ↑ DeVille, Chris (8 May 2019). "Alex Lahey shares new song "Unspoken History": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    46. ↑ "Welcome To the Black Parade (triple j Like a Version) – Single by Alex Lahey on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    47. ↑ Young, David James (10 February 2020). "Alex Lahey releases new single 'Sucker For Punishment'". NME. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
    48. ↑ "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)". Apple Music. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
    49. ↑ Jenke, Tyler (12 February 2021). "Gordi and Alex Lahey Share Collaborative New Single, "Dino's"". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
    50. ↑ "Alex Lahey Shares New Single 'They Wouldn't Let Me In'". Music Feeds. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
    51. ↑ "Alex Lahey shares new single, 'The Sky Is Melting'". Far Out Magazine. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
    52. ↑ "Alex Lahey has released her new single, 'On The Way Down'". Upset Magazine. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
    53. ↑ "Alex Lahey – "Ego Is Not A Dirty Word" (Skyhooks Cover)". Stereo Gum. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
    54. ↑ "Alex Lahey Releases New Single 'Newsreader'". Our Culture Mag. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
    55. ↑ "ALEX LAHEY HAS RELEASED A NEW SINGLE INSPIRED BY SHERYL CROW'S CAR TROUBLE, 'WHEN THE RAIN COMES DOWN'". Read Dork. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
    56. ↑ "Alaska (feat. Alex Lahey) – Single by Stand Atlantic on Apple Music". Apple Music. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    57. ↑ "Skinny Dipping (feat. Alex Lahey) – Single by Stand Atlantic on Apple Music". Apple Music. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
    58. ↑ "A.B Original dominates 2017 AIR Awards nominations". theindustryobserver. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
    59. ↑ "2018 AIR Awards Nominees". 17 April 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
    60. ↑ "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
    61. ↑ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
    62. ↑ "Meet the contenders for the 2018 APRA Song Of The Year". The Industry Observer. January 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
    63. ↑ "Nominees Announced for 2023 ARIA Awards". Music Feeds. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
    64. ↑ "The J Award 2016". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
    65. ↑ "The J Award 2017". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
    66. ↑ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
    67. ↑ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
    68. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards Reveals Line-up And Nominees for 2021". Noise11. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
    69. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards 2021 Winners". scenestr.com.au. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
    70. ↑ "Nominees 2016". NLMA. 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
    71. ↑ "NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees". NLMA. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
    72. ↑ "Winners 2017". NLMA. December 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
    73. ↑ "NLMA announce 2018 nominees and Live legend". NLMA. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
    74. ↑ "Winners of the 2018 NLMA". NLMA. December 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
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