Alex Elbery Shares Exuberant New Single 'Ripcord' + Q&A

Perth-born, Melbourne-based songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Alex Elbery takes an exuberant leap via his brand new single Ripcord. Releasing today with an accompanying whimsical music video, Ripcord is a warm and dynamic ode to falling in love, coated with billowing pop hues, driving alt rock undertones and an endearing Aussie tinge alongside heartfelt lyricism.

Starting production before the COVID pandemic, the journey to finally releasing Ripcord was lined with hurdles for Elbery, both internal and external. But against the odds and also sonically inspired by a myriad of iconic artists at the time, including Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, and Cyndi Lauper, Elbery's buoyant capturing of impetuous love was also fortified by teaming up with prolific producer Jon Grace (Dear Seattle, Bakers Eddy, Kingswood, Dune Rats). "Ripcord was really a collaboration between Jon and I," explains Elbery. "I wrote it, brought it to Jon and then we spent a fairly long time working to get it to be the best version it could be. Everything except the drums was played my either myself or Jon. Jon, who has since retired from music, is an absolute genius and I loved working with him."

"Ripcord is a song about falling in love," Elbery continues. "I wrote it as I was/after I had fallen in love with my partner. I wanted to write a love song that was honest and leaned into the messier, less fairytale aspects of falling in love. I liked the analogy of falling in love being like falling out of the sky. Your destination is inevitable but the velocity with which you're travelling towards it determines whether you'll land safely or crash and burn - hence - 'pull on the ripcord.' I've always been someone who rushes into things with reckless abandon, so this song was almost like a mantra I was writing to myself. "

Mastered by Tony "Jack The Bear" Mantz (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Augie March, Silverchair), Ripcord is a lively and polished outing from Elbery, whose creative charms have previously been described as "Bruce Springsteen meets The Muppets" and "Outback Prince". And while Ripcord is the first release of 2024 for Elbery, it also marks the debut single from a planned upcoming EP Unbelievably Good News; and the accompanying music video perfectly ties into the EP's overarching themes, with the video production courtesy of Helen Turton, Jordan Laut and Jack Rintoul of Wendyhouse Films. "A big theme of Ripcord and the EP it belongs to is falling/flying," Elbery shares, "so I wanted to create something that played with these ideas. There's a scene in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey where they're falling to hell and they're just falling for ages in this black void - I showed this scene to the folks at Wendyhouse and they took it and ran with it. They also came up with the idea of 'ninja stage hands.' It's an idea that comes from Japanese theatre, it's about acknowledging artifice, and I really loved that concept."

Hailing from Perth, Alex Elbery has been immersed in creativity since he was five years old when he started playing the violin. Elbery went on to start his first band at the age of 13, putting on gigs at lunchtime while at school, and played in bands Mulder and Stereoflower before moving to Melbourne. A passionate supporter for social justice, particularly LGBTQIA+ issues and issues surrounding gender inequality, addiction, and mental health, Elbery also has a fondness for birds, particularly his two beloved pet cockatiels, and is a dedicated fan of wrestling ("I hate violence, but I sure do love some soap opera in spandex", Elbery reveals). Currently also involved with other Melbourne bands Damaged Goods Club and Overthinker, the latest chapter for Elbery's solo creative pursuits is sparked today by the release of Ripcord, heralding a new EP Unbelievably Good Things in the not-too-distant future, with a chance for fans to also catch the new tune live in action on Saturday 14 December at Melbourne's Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar.

"Fans can expect a huge amount of energy, a huge amount of love, some silly outfits and a lot of bad dance moves," shares Elbery of his upcoming live show. "I feel a mix of excitement and relief about the release of Ripcord. It's been a long and weird road. We started production back before COVID and there's been many roadblocks along the way; first lock downs, then my own personal struggles with addiction and mental health issues. I'm in a really good place now and just can't wait to share this music with the world as it's come to mean so much to me over the past few years that I've been working towards its release."

Q&A - ALEX ELBERY INTERVIEW

How would you describe your music?

It's rocky pop for weirdos. It has a strong focus on songwriting, I like to make stuff people can sing along or dance to. And #1 rule for me is it has to be authentic. 

Can you tell us about Ripcord, what was the inspiration?

I wrote Ripcord as part of a program where I wrote 100 songs in two months. It was all about breaking down the preciousness around songwriting and honing the creative process. Ripcord was about how I was falling madly in love but also aware I was living out some very self destructive patterns. Trying to square those two things.

What are you musical influences?

The Clash, Cyndi Lauper, HAIM, Bright Eyes and most of all…. Springsteen. 

Do you prefer performing live or recording?

I love them both! They're such different muscles to work. I love the extreme focus and granular view of recording but I also love the flow state of performance. 

What should we expect from your upcoming show at Last Chance Rock and Roll Bar in Melbourne on Dec 14?

A lot of excitement, a lot of energy. Some silly dancing and maybe a cover or a beloved 90s tune.

What motivates you most when writing music?

Connection. I love how a song can reach through space and time, wrap it's arms around you and tell you what you need to hear. I just want to create that experience for people.

Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

I'm on a bit of a Go-Go's kick at the moment. Other than that, heaps of Chappell Roan, Maggie Rogers, Spanish Love Songs and the Menzingers.

What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

I never really considered and alternate career path. Music has always been it for me.

If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

I'd love to write a tune with Maggie Rogers, the way she writes is so unique and I'd love a peak behind that curtain. Locally, I would love to make a tune with Baby Shower, they are just so much fun.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in the music industry?

I've found more or less everything outside of actually making music challenging haha. Artist these days are expected to do everything. Be content creators, video editors, managers, booking agents, promo wiz's. 

What's next, for you?

I'll be releasing my EP 'Unbelievably Good News' next year and then hopefully a national tour before beginning work on some new recordings.