Switched On: Alex The Astronaut

Merging the profound and playful, Alex the Astronaut has been described as one of Australia’s “most powerful and important songwriters”. On her new album, How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater, she takes seemingly mundane occurrences and imbues them with sensitivity, humour and self-awareness — a haircut is a transformative experience, and a snorkeling trip becomes an exploration of personal growth. Alex brings this perfectly paired sonic shift to City Recital Hall on 19 August and flicks the switch on our iconic venue as part of CRH Presents Switched On series.

Born and raised in Sydney before moving to New York in 2017 to study a degree in maths and physics, Alex released her first folk-pop EP, To Whom It May Concern and its follow-up See You Soon, whose opening track 'Not Worth Hiding' became the unofficial anthem of the ‘Yes’ campaign during the Australian marriage equality referendum. In addition to releasing her first album, The Theory Of Absolutely Nothing, to widespread acclaim and an ARIA nomination, Alex has since taken the stage at major festivals like Primavera Sound, The Great Escape, and Splendour in the Grass and has adoring media fans at The New York Times, NPR, and BBC Radio 1.

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Supporting Alex the Astronaut is Gumbaynggir man and artist Tasman Keith, who will perform tracks from his recently released debut album, 'A Colour Undone'.

Tasman Keith uses his music as a voice for the voiceless and has become an indispensable leader of Australia’s new hip hop vanguard. He has collaborated with Jessica Mauboy, Genesis Owusu, Midnight Oil, Kuya James and Jimmy Little, and has performed on stages around the country with Laneway Festival, Groovin’ The Moo, and more. From syrupy 90s West Coast synths, to neo-funk, skittering trap hi-hats and emotive R&B, his music defies categorisation, but his message remains hard to ignore.

A resonant debut full of ambition and emotional vulnerability

NME, review of A Colour Undone.