Alex the Astronaut | |
---|---|
Birth name | Alexandra Lynn |
Born | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | 3 March 1995
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instruments |
|
Years active | 2016–present |
Labels |
|
Website | alextheastronaut |
Alexandra Lynn (born 3 March 1995), known professionally as Alex the Astronaut, is an Australian folk-pop singer-songwriter.
Her [a] debut album The Theory of Absolutely Nothing was released on 21 August 2020, and peaked at number 22 on the ARIA Album's Chart. Her second studio album How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater was released on 22 July 2022. [1]
Lynn has her own record label, Minkowski Records, which was named after the Minkowski diagram. [2]
Lynn graduated from Pymble Ladies' College in Sydney before studying maths and physics at Long Island University, New York, [3] including a thesis on sonoluminescence, [4] where she played soccer for the LIU Post Pioneers as a forward. [5]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2020) |
Lynn released her debut EP To Whom It May Concern as Alex the Astronaut in 2017. The EP features the single "Already Home", which was described by HuffPost Australia as "a melancholy number about a bus ride and ruminations on the mundanities of life". [6]
Lynn's second EP See You Soon featured the single "Not Worth Hiding", [7] and was nominated for a J Award for Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2017. [8]
"Not Worth Hiding" ranked at number 23 on Triple J Hottest 100 and it described as an unofficial anthem for the "Yes" campaign in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. [9]
Lynn performed at The Great Escape Festival [10] in Brighton, UK, and at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona. [11] Alex the Astronaut commenced their first national Australian headline tour in November 2018. [12]
Lynn released the single "I Like To Dance" on 8 August 2019. which Brooklyn Vegan described as "tuneful folk-pop to tell a haunting story". [13]
In January 2020, Alex the Astronaut released the single "I Think You're Great" and "Split the Sky" in April. [14] The track references the film franchise, Harry Potter , in the opening line where Lynn sings "I've been colder, watching Harry Potter looking older". Alex The Astronaut tweeted the inspiration upon release, and James and Oliver Phelps, who played the Weasley twins, both retweeted the post. [15]
In May 2020, Lynn announced her album The Theory of Absolutely Nothing, scheduled for release on 21 August 2020, and released a subsequent single titled "Lost". [16]
The Theory of Absolutely Nothing was released on 21 August 2020, with Lynn releasing the single "Caught in the Middle" on the same day. [17] The accompanying music video for the single features an appearance from Lindy Morrison of the Go-Betweens, and shows the two playing tennis and drumming competitively. [18] The Line of Best Fit described her debut album as "a record packed full of vibrant, witty, insightful and heart-rending storytelling, all hooked around rich and tender folk-pop melodies". [19] NME Australia praised the album as a "dynamic, ambitious debut" and gave it a five-star review. [20]
On 19 November 2021, Lynn released "Growing Up" [21] which according to triple j, is her "favourite, most honest song" she has written. [22] Its sequel "Airport" was released in January 2022. [23] On 3 March 2022, Lynn released "Octopus" and announced the release of her second studio album, How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater. [1]
Lynn identifies herself as gay. [24] She has been quoted as saying she is "not at a definitive spot" in her gender identity journey. [25] Lynn uses she/they pronouns. [26] Lynn was diagnosed with autism in May 2021. [27]
Lynn's music has been described as folk pop and folktronica, and has drawn comparisons to Australian musician Paul Kelly. [6] [28]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [29] | ||
The Theory of Absolutely Nothing | 22 | |
How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater |
| 47 [31] |
Title | Details |
---|---|
The Space Tour Live (At Your Place) |
|
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [33] | ||
To Whom It May Concern | — | |
See You Soon | — | |
Rage & All Its Friends |
| 19 |
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Already Home" [38] | 2016 | To Whom It May Concern |
"Rockstar City" [39] | 2017 | |
"Not Worth Hiding" [40] | See You Soon | |
"Waste of Time" [41] | 2018 | Non-album single |
"Happy Song" (original or Shed mix) [42] [43] | The Theory of Absolutely Nothing | |
"I Like to Dance" [44] | 2019 | |
"I Think You're Great" [45] | 2020 | |
"Split the Sky" [46] | ||
"Lost" [16] | ||
"Banksia" [47] | ||
"Christmas in July" [48] | ||
"Caught in the Middle" [49] | ||
"Growing Up" [21] | 2021 | How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater |
"Airport" [23] | 2022 | |
"Octopus" [1] | ||
"Haircut" [50] | ||
"Ride My Bike" [51] | ||
"South London" [52] | ||
"Cold Pizza" [53] | 2024 | Rage & All Its Friends |
"If You Have to Go" [54] | ||
"Road Rage" [37] | ||
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Dickheads" (Tuka featuring Alex the Astronaut) [55] | 2020 | Non-album single |
Notes
The Australian Independent Record Awards (known colloquially as the 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 | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | See You Soon | Best Independent Album | Nominated | [56] |
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. Alex the Astronaut has received one nomination. [57]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | The Theory of Absolutely Nothing | Breakthrough Artist – Release | Nominated | [58] |
2022 | How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater | Best Adult Contemporary Album | Nominated | [59] |
Giulia Giannini McGauran for Alex the Astronaut How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater | Best Cover Art | Nominated |
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 | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Herself | Unearthed Artist of the Year | Won | [60] |
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 | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Herself | Best New Act | Nominated | [61] [62] |
People's Choice – Best Live Voice of the Year | Nominated |
Ball Park Music is an Australian five-piece indie rock band from Brisbane consisting of Sam Cromack, Jennifer Boyce, Paul Furness, Dean Hanson and Daniel Hanson. Since forming in 2008, the band has released seven studio albums. Their debut, Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs (2011), was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards, and its 2012 follow-up, Museum, debuted at number nine on the ARIA charts. Their third album, Puddinghead (2014), was supported by the certified-platinum lead single "She Only Loves Me When I'm There".
Peking Duk is an Australian electronic music band from Canberra, made up of disc jockeys and record producers Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles. The pair first garnered attention in 2012 with the release of a Passion Pit bootleg remix. Their biggest hit, "High", reached 5 on the ARIA Singles Chart, achieved a triple platinum certification, and won the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 2014. Notable festivals Peking Duk have performed include Falls Festival, Spilt Milk, Splendour in the Grass, and Big Day Out.
Tomas Henry Gaynor, known professionally as Allday, is an Australian rapper, singer and songwriter from Adelaide. Gaynor became active in 2011, when he began uploading his music for free online. Following his works becoming increasingly popular, he moved to Melbourne, to pursue a serious career before later relocating to Los Angeles in February 2017. His works have been influenced by acts such as Silverchair, Frank Ocean, and TLC. Gaynor released his debut album, Startup Cult, in July 2014 to Australian audiences. Startup Cult achieved success and reached number three on the ARIA Charts.
Holy Holy are an Australian indie rock band formed by songwriters Timothy Carroll and Oscar Dawson (guitar) in 2011. The pair were later joined by touring musicians Ryan Strathie (drums), Graham Ritchie and Matt Redlich. They have released four top-20 studio albums and have been nominated for two ARIA Awards.
Client Liaison is an Australian indie pop duo made up of vocalist Monte Morgan, and keyboardist and producer Harvey Miller. The pair first came to prominence in 2012 after the release of their first music video "End of the Earth", and went on to release a self-titled EP in 2014, and studio album Diplomatic Immunity in 2016. Their second studio album, Divine Intervention was released on 1 October 2021.
Hockey Dad is an Australian surf rock band from Windang, New South Wales. The duo consists of drummer Billy Fleming and vocalist and guitarist Zach Stephenson. Since 2013, they have released one EP, Dreamin' (2014), and four studio albums – most recently, Rebuild Repeat, on 14 June 2024.
Alexandra Lahey is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has released three full length albums: I Love You Like a Brother (2017), The Best of Luck Club (2019) and The Answer Is Always Yes (2023).
Luca Brasi are an Australian rock band formed in St Helens, Tasmania in 2009. The current line-up of the band features Thomas Busby on lead guitar, Nick Manuell on rhythm guitar, Danny Flood on drums, and Tyler Richardson on lead vocals and bass guitar. To date, the group have released six studio albums: Extended Family (2011), By a Thread (2014), If This Is All We're Going to Be (2016), Stay (2018), Everything Is Tenuous (2021) and The World Don't Owe You Anything (2023). Stay became their first ARIA top 10.
Methyl Ethel is an Australian art rock band from Perth, signed to Future Classic in 2021 and formerly to Dot Dash and 4AD.
Danzal James Baker, known professionally as Baker Boy, is a Yolngu rapper, dancer, artist, and actor. Baker Boy is known for performing original hip-hop songs incorporating both English and Yolŋu Matha and is one of the most prominent Aboriginal Australian rappers.
Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw, known professionally as Mallrat, is an Australian musician, singer, and rapper from Brisbane. Mallrat has released three EPs: Uninvited (2016), In the Sky (2018) and Driving Music (2019). She also released her full-length debut studio album titled Butterfly Blue (2022) in May 2022 to critical acclaim. In 2019, her tracks "Groceries" and "UFO" placed at number 7 and 70, respectively, in the 2018 Triple J Hottest 100, in 2020, "Charlie" and "Nobody's Home" placed at number 3 and 59, respectively, in the 2019 Triple J Hottest 100 and in 2021, "Rockstar" placed 13 in the 2020 Triple J Hottest 100.
Stella Donnelly is a Welsh-Australian indie rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. After the success of her debut EP Thrush Metal in 2017, she signed with Secretly Canadian in 2018. She released her debut studio album Beware of the Dogs to critical acclaim in March 2019, peaking at number 15 on the ARIA Album Charts, and winning Independent Album of the Year at the AIR Awards. Her second studio album, Flood, was released in August 2022, debuting at number 29 on the ARIA Charts.
The Chats are an Australian punk rock band that formed in 2016 in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. They describe their sound as "shed rock". The current band lineup is composed of guitarist Josh Hardy, drummer Matt Boggis, and bassist and vocalist Eamon Sandwith. Known for their songs about Australian culture, they initially went viral for their song "Smoko" and its music video in 2017, and later with "Pub Feed" in 2019. To date they have released two EPs, The Chats (2016) and Get This in Ya!! (2017), and two studio albums High Risk Behaviour (2020) and Get Fucked (2022).
Confidence Man are an Australian indie electro pop band formed in 2016 in Brisbane, Queensland. They released their debut album Confident Music for Confident People in April 2018. The front-duo and their band members have been a part of many festivals across the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, most notably Glastonbury Festival.
Kian Maxwell Bytyci Brownfield, known professionally as Kian is an Australian singer and songwriter from Castlemaine, Victoria. He is best known for winning Triple J Unearthed in August 2018. His breakthrough single "Waiting" was polled at number 20 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018.
Waax are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, Queensland that formed in 2012. The band was co-founded by drummer Tom Bloomfield and lead vocalist Marie "Maz" DeVita, who oversaw every iteration of the line-up until 2023. Waax have released two studio albums, Big Grief (2019) and At Least I'm Free (2022), as well as two independent EPs Holy Sick (2015) and Wild & Weak (2017).
Ruby Phillips, known professionally as Ruby Fields, is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Cronulla, New South Wales. In 2018, she released her debut EP Your Dad's Opinion for Dinner, followed by the singles "I Want", "P Plates", and "Ritalin". Her single "Dinosaurs" reached number nine on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018.
Amyl and the Sniffers are an Australian pub rock band based in Melbourne, consisting of vocalist Amy Taylor ("Amyl"), drummer Bryce Wilson, guitarist Declan Mehrtens, and bassist Gus Romer. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2019. It was followed by Comfort to Me and Cartoon Darkness, in 2021 and 2024, respectively.
Kofi Owusu-Ansah, known by his stage name Genesis Owusu, is a Ghanaian-Australian rapper and singer from Canberra. He is the younger brother of fellow hip hop rapper, Kojo Owusu-Ansah p.k.a. Citizen Kay. Owusu's debut studio album, Smiling with No Teeth, reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 30. At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards he won four trophies for Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art.
Spacey Jane are an Australian indie rock band formed in Fremantle in 2016. The group consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Caleb Harper, lead guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, drummer Kieran Lama and bassist Peppa Lane, who replaced Amelia Murray in 2019.
I'm not at a definitive spot in my journey, but what I'm certain about is the discomfort many people have speaking about gender — and the opportunity there is for that to change.