Ask Alice explores the darkness that lies within people in her new song ‘Demonia’

Ask Alice is a bass-heavy sonic force, taking the listener (you) on a journey into the human subconscious, provoking introspection and reflection on one’s own psyche. She further takes influence from her own spirituality, in which, she documents her experience using psilocybin as a tool for growth and healing. “The name [Ask Alice] was taken from Jefferson Airplane’s – ‘White Rabbit’,” Ask Alice explains about her namesake, “A cult classic inspired by Lewis Carroll’s – ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Just one of the many layers and attention to detail in the concept of the project.”

Following on from the release of her Heartwork EP in 2021, Ask Alice has returned with ‘Demonia‘, a song that sees the Glasgow native explore the darkness that lies within people – the Yang to the Yin. “Without darkness, there would be no light, everyone has a shadow side,” Alice continues. “The Latin that’s incorporated throughout chants “heart of stone to gold’ continuing the theme of rebirth and alchemy [throughout] the project.”

The track as a whole is hugely introspective – calling out the dark side of my personality and at times speaking as the watcher of my own thoughts.

“I listen to a lot of Eckhart Tolle and he often describes this in his teachings,” Alice explains on the song’s influience. “Sonically, I wanted to create a sense of mania that evolves into euphoria, keeping the theme of rebirth closely in mind.”

Ask Alice used this song as a platform to push herself as a writer and producer and there were times when she felt a sense of frustration. Changing arrangements and melodies several times until she was finally happy as she is a self-proclaimed “bit of a perfectionist and my own biggest critic,” however, she does find the entire creative process rather cathartic and she always learns something new.

That secluded experience sses Ask Alice always start her creative process alone, penning her thoughts and chord structures at her piano. Alice continues: “Once I have a rough structure together I build around it in production. This time I teamed up with my friend and producer SERA – we have worked together previously but this time we sat down and brainstormed exactly what I wanted from the track and handpicked sounds and textures that we felt fit the project. I am intimately involved with every part of the creative process, everything is done with intention and no stone is left unturned.”

I’m pretty resilient, determined and not afraid to be vulnerable. My music is very personal and I don’t shy away from uncomfortable subjects. I try to use my music to connect with the listener on a deeper level – especially during these difficult times.

Whilst this is an in-depth song lyrically and visually – you can see for yourself the detail that went into the visual representation of the song in the music video – Ask Alice had to condense the track which is why the arrangement changed a number of times. “When I began writing it there was almost double the lyrical content and I struggled to choose what made the cut and what didn’t,” Alice expands on her creative process, “However, I don’t think we could have brought more to this track sonically but I am in the studio currently and always looking for ways to better the sound and production. So I’m excited to see what comes next.”

Even though the message of the song is left open to the listener themselves (aka you), Ask Alice. hopes people realise that we all have our demons and addressing them is never comfortable. “I’d encourage the listener to get uncomfortable with themselves, be the watcher of their own thoughts, everyone is flawed and there is power in being vulnerable,” Ask Alice adds.

Now that Ask Alice has released her first song of 2022, she is currently in the studio working on new material and enjoying the creative process again. There’s been a bit of a demand for a live show of her work, which has taken her by surprise.

“When I started this project it was part of my healing journey so I hadn’t given much thought to a live show but it’s something I have been working on in the studio with SERA and we hope to play a show soon.”