Lizzy McAlphine

Lizzy McAlphine is currently keeping herself busy. After touring with Dodie and releasing her third full-length, Older (an intricate mix of emotions and sounds), Lizzy is currently in rehearsals for another tour.

Phoebe Bridgers, Gracie Abrams and Finneas O’Connell have given her praise, while millions have watched her song “Ceilings” on TikTok – all without being pegged into any single category or mold. But that hasn’t stopped her.

About the Artist

Lizzy McAlphine had an eventful 2022, fulfilling many items on her bucket list without waiting. This rising singer-songwriter enjoyed sold-out tours in North America and Europe before appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; recording a Tiny Desk session for NPR Music; as well as working alongside artists Phoebe Bridgers, Jacob Collier, MARO.

McAlphine is one of the most open and honest writers working today, her lyrics vividly capturing moments of heartbreak and happiness with an honesty that’s not afraid to reveal vulnerabilities.

Philadelpia native Rachel McAlphine found an audience on TikTok, yet she’s more than just another passing trend. Her debut album, Give Me a Minute, released in 2020 to rave reviews from Phoebe Bridgers and FINNEAS was followed up with five Seconds Flat which achieved over 230 Million Spotify streams and an international TikTok challenge featuring “ceilings”. McAlphine now uses her passion for screenwriting with Older to take us on an intimate journey of self-discovery.

Five Seconds Flat

Philadelphia singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlphine showcases a newfound sonic and artistic maturity on her second project, five seconds flat. Together with collaborators like Jacob Collier and Finneas, McAlpine explores more electronic instrumentation to provide her listeners with an immersive cinematic experience.

McAlpine’s lyrics are equally as strong, though her themes tend more toward fantasy and heartbreak. On “ceilings”, she admits that her daydream of a perfect partner may simply be wishful thinking; this track builds tension before culminating in a sudden flash of their partner’s skeleton makeup to illustrate that the relationship was never the right fit.

McAlpine continues her theme of conflicting truths throughout the rest of her album with acoustic ballads like “Firearm,” which features an unsettling bridge which uses an excellent build to imitate a car crash before abruptly stopping mid-stream.

Older

Young artists that have come into prominence via online platforms are reclaiming creative control for themselves without traditional label machinery. Lizzy McAlphine, for instance, has utilized this opportunity to craft an album that features both poetic lyrics and straightforward instrumentation.

Montgomery County native Samantha Scott has taken her time in crafting her third album, Older, set for release on April 5th. It will showcase how far she has come since exploring relationships through five seconds flat and “Ceilings.”

Though the slow-paced singing and delicate instrumentals may initially appear unremarkable, they evoke an effect many can relate to. From the Americana lilt of ‘I Guess’ to cinematic strings in ‘Drunk Running’ and the grand crescendo towards the end of ‘Broken Glass,’ this record explores how love warps over time in ways both heartbreaking and hopeful.

The Elevator

This short film follows the Wilson family as they transform an ordinary hotel elevator into their unique mobile room. They welcome everyone–from lovelorn bellhops to overscheduled salesmen–into their warm mobile room for some good times together.

McAlpine has amassed an audience on social media thanks to her powerful combination of folk, pop, and R&B in her debut, Give Me a Minute. This folk-pop album received comparisons to both FINNEAS and Phoebe Bridgers as it amassed over 100 million streams digitally.

She quickly followed this up with five seconds flat, an album and short film about heartbreak. This project marks a departure from her intimate style of first release with production that scales to match McAlpine’s vocal prowess and reflect each song’s mood – this makes songs like Orange Show Speedway particularly powerful; McAlpine conveys genuine anxiety without strain. This results in a heartbreaking listen that offers promise of this up-and-coming artist.