Alice Phoebe Lou Strips Love Down to Its Core in "The Surface"
Photo: Caroline Bertolini
Indie darling Alice Phoebe Lou continues to bare her soul and most intimate stories in her latest single, "The Surface." The track, a deeply vulnerable, stripped-back acoustic creation, is a testament to her ability to connect with her audience through her deeply personal journey of revisiting unreleased songs from the past decade.
With only her voice and guitar, Lou leans into simplicity, creating a soothing atmosphere. She croons poignant lines like, "And here you are, all in / Nightmares can turn to happy endings / There is not a road I wouldn't take with you," luring listeners into the poetic ballad of vulnerability and connection. The track gently blooms with each note, telling a story of love in reverse, starting at the end, where hearts are open and ready for love, and ending with walls up for both parties.
"'The Surface' is a stream of conscious love song about the deep and contradictory feelings that rise up when exploring a connection with someone you feel strongly about," shares Lou. "It goes through the many phases of holding back and then giving in, starting at the end when someone is finally all in. It talks of the hardships that one has gone through in order to arrive at a place where there is promise of a future and a deep connection and trust. It's the melting away of our hard outer shells to reach the softer place beneath where we let go and allow ourselves to love and be loved. With just voice and guitar, the music is stripped down and bare like the song."
In April, Lou made her first-ever self-produced release with the tender "You and I." "Songs that didn't make it into other albums, some songs I never thought would see the light of day," she previously shared about the string of releases. "I am embarking on the brave and thrilling journey of recording these songs as they are, with love and playfulness, simple and all my own. Leaning into imperfection and taking inspiration from some of my biggest influences who have made timeless folk acoustic albums."
The rising artist is currently on her European tour, playing sold-out shows across the continent. This tour continues her successful performances in Los Angeles and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Listen to "The Surface" below:
