New Zealand-born, Los Angeles-based artist Alisa Xayalith is gearing up for the release of her debut solo album, 'Slow Crush,' on Nettwerk, scheduled for April 4, 2025. To whet our appetites, she's dropped a new single, 'What The Hell Do We Do Now?'. This track, co-written with Jacob Munk, is accompanied by a music video directed by Brandon Black.
'What The Hell Do We Do Now?' dives into that uncomfortable moment in a relationship when you hit a wall. It's a space where time seems to stand still, everything hangs in the balance, and your mind gets stuck on one nagging, unanswered question. The song captures this feeling perfectly, offering no easy outs or neat resolutions, instead leaving the listener with that same, lingering question: What the hell do we do now?
Xayalith explains, “I came across a songwriting tip which unlocked something in my creative process. Something along the lines of how you don’t have to be the good guy in your songwriting. The protagonist in ‘What the hell do we do now?’ is this ugly, guilty character while the rest of the record navigates my experiences with limerence, grief, and heartache.” This fresh approach to songwriting clearly resonates in the raw honesty of the track.
After a decade making music as one half of The Naked And Famous, Xayalith is now stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist. Working with executive producer Tyler Spry, she's crafted 'Slow Crush', a collection of intimate, dreamy songs that explore the highs and lows of love, loss, and personal growth. The album draws on her diverse experiences, touching on themes of triumph, heartbreak, and the resilience of human connection.
Reflecting on her debut album, Xayalith shares, "As I explored my identity as an artist, I found myself yearning for a safe space to grow. The only way I knew how to create that environment was by committing to prioritize my well-being, and as I did, love and romance began to spill into various aspects of my life. This blossoming ultimately inspired the creation of these songs and, eventually, the album - reminiscent of the gradual buildup of a slow crush over time.”
'What The Hell Do We Do Now?' follows previously released singles 'Chaotic', 'Ordinary Love', 'Boys & Guitars', and 'Roses'. Each track offers a different facet of Xayalith's artistry.
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