You Need To Love Alex Hosking
Splitting her time between Australia, America, Europe and the UK is keeping Adelaide native Alex Hosking super busy but she wouldn’t have it any other way. The UK chart-topper has come home recently to not only see family but to launch her latest track ‘Need Your Love’ which she collaborated with legendary DJ and Producer Majestic. So before she heads back overseas we took timeout to ask Alex about the new song, the impact Covid had on writing new material and what it’s like being an Australian making music in the UK.
For those that haven’t heard your music before , how do you describe your sound?
It's Friday night, you’ve just come home from a long asssss week! You are tired, you hate your boss and your best friends have just messaged you in the group chat saying “get dressed we are going out for drinks” my songs or the songs you play to pump yourself up for what’s going to be a massive night!
Haha! My music is just about having a good time! It’s not deep, it’s not about getting the listener in their feelings, it's about getting over an ex or a bad week, and just losing yourself in a moment and having a great time.
Tell us about your new song, 'Need Your Love'? What does the song mean to you?
This was one of the first songs I wrote in the first lock down of 2020 over zoom, it was really daunting to have to change my writing process from being in person to now being online but I got together with two of my close friends Jonasu and Yoshi Breen, Jonasu being in Berlin and Yoshi being in Amsterdam and myself being in Adelaide and we wrote a song. Having already had the close friendship with them, it made the writing process a lot easier. I had been separated from my partner who was locked down in Philadelphia and that was the starting point for Need Your Love.
You collaborated with MAJESTIC on 'Need Your Love'? how did that collaboration come about?
Its actually a funny story, my first session back in the UK was with Majestic, we had never met before and he lives a bit out of London, so I travelled out there and was told to message him when I was close and he would pick me up from the station, so I did that and he messaged me back saying “ I got told you are sick, and you can’t do today and I’ve booked in another session” but come anyway, we laughed and ended up getting along so well, we went and ate food and then at the end of the session we were showing each other our favourite songs we had recently written and I said “ I want this song to be my next single” he was like “ send it to me now” and I did! But crazy we almost didn’t have a session!
“the song wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Covid in a weird way, because I would have never considered to jump on a zoom session.”
Were there any particularly special or stand-out moments during the making of the song?
I think it was a special moment because it was my first zoom session. Covid really turned the world upside down and inside out, but the music industry was hit so hard because majority of our work is live performance, and getting into the studio with new people every day and writing, so it was really strange to be working with my friends from the other sides of the world and truth be told the song wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Covid in a weird way, because I would have never considered to jump on a zoom session.
Are there an album in the works or will you be sticking with single releases for now?
I have SOO MANY SONGS. I think the last time I counted I had a playlist of 1000 songs and some. I would love to release a body of work at some point soon but at this moment focusing on one song at a time makes the most sense. They are like my little babies and need their individual moments to shine!
You are based in the UK but have come home to Australia, is this a working trip, family catch- up or reset for Alex Hosking?
I have pretty much lived from a suitcase for the past 5 years travelling between America, Europe, UK and back home here in Australia. Although I LOVE travelling there is no place like home so I try and spend at least the summer time here and then hop back overseas. Amsterdam was where I first got signed as a writer so that city will always have a special place in my heart and then London is now where I am signed and where I make a lot of my music so its so nice to have these homes away from home but I repp Adelaide and Australia and I’m proud to be Aussie, so any chance I can get I come back, birthdays, work, gigs, etc I always find an excuses!
“ I do feel a pressure to do the genre justice and make sure I am respecting the House Music sound and everyone wants that respect from their peers so it’s nice to know people enjoy my music.”
What's it like to be an Aussie making music in the UK? Do you find it easier or more challenging?
It's funny! I never really thought too much about it until I started becoming successful! The writing part I find pretty easy and fun because I love all the people I work with. I also approach writing songs a little differently, especially the genre of House, so I think that is what gives me a point of difference and has helped my music break through, because I didn’t grow up in the UK listening to UK Records. I do feel a pressure to do the genre justice and make sure I am respecting the House Music sound and everyone wants that respect from their peers so it's nice to know people enjoy my music.
Do you have any plans to tour soon or hit the festival circuit? possibly with MAJESTIC?
I have done a few shows out in the UK and plan to do a few more but 10000% keen to come back to Australia and start doing some shows out here!
How did you get your start in music?
I genuinely thought every child sat around in their room, writing in their princess journal new songs and performing them to their parents! I had no idea that it was just me! So I have been doing it since I can remember. My family is musical so I was surrounded by it and it just sort of came naturally!
“I am very opinionated”
Do you play a part in the production side of your music?
Yes! I am very opinionated, I record my own vocals in sessions, and had to get better at that when sessions started happening over zoom. I know what I like and I do a really good job of articulating it. I normally come in with a song idea and chords and have a reference track in mind and know exactly the sounds I want etc. the production is just one of the elements in the songwriting process and I get involved with it all.
Who do you credit as your musical influences?
I grew up listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and I think the influence of Anthony Kiedis melodies have always stuck with me. He is influenced by rap music and his flows are really fast, and I think I adapted a bit of that In my melody writing, I love Beyonce from a performance and artist level, and always inspire to have that level of control over my art. Sonically I am inspired by Raye, Becky Hill, Zara Larrson, Dua Lipa, Anne Marie, Doja Cat, Bia, Nicky Maniji, Cardi B, Ashnikko and the list goes on! So many incredible women in music that make some of my favourite records.
You have said "I got to write with good friends" and "it was the best feeling" so will you do more collab work in the future? and who else is on your wish list to collab with?
I love working with friends because it makes the experience so much easier, that's why PS1 and I did two songs together because we genuinely enjoy each other's company. So much more fun! Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Testio, Meduza, Fred Again, Dj Craig Gorman, Shy FX, Jonasu too many people to list!
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
My boyfriend! He doubles as security, stagehand, driver, stylist, photographer, choreographer, and mostly A&R. He listens to all my songs and give's me the best feedback!!
What's next for Alex Hosking? What can we look * forward to in the future?
NEW MUSIC! I have so many songs and I just can’t wait for all of them to be out!!!
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