Interview: Alex the Astronaut & Stella Donnelly

February 27, 2018

Two of Australia’s most exciting songwriters, Alex the Astronaut and Stella Donnelly, are joining forces for a co-headline tour this April and will both be at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton in May. Our editor, Bobby, has a chat to them:

Hello Alex and Stella! We’re very excited that you are hitting the road together soon. Alex, what are you most looking forward to about going on tour with Stella? And Stella, what are you most looking forward to about going on tour with Alex?
Alex: I love Stella’s style of performing and her songs are beautiful. On top of that she seems like a badass strong person so I can’t wait to share the stage with her.
Stella: I am most looking forward to being able to treat the tour like it’s also bit of a holiday with a friend, we’re going to do some fun activities on the road. Alex promised she’ll teach me how to bake a cake.

What can we expect from your tour? Do you plan to join each other on stage at all, play on each other’s tunes, that kind of thing?
Alex: We haven’t really worked that out just yet but I think we’re both going to try mix-match songs! I’ve spoken about Stella giving me some guitar lessons and showing me how to play them. She is a virtuoso compared to me.
Stella: I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise and mystery!
Alex: Oops…

What is the one luxury item that each of you cannot do without on tour?
Alex: My travel blanket. I love napping. It is blue.
Stella: Does peppermint tea count as luxury?

What tunes are you both going to be putting on the stereo on tour? Tell us some bands/artists that you are currently into and some classic stuff that you consider to be perfect road music.
Alex: I just played some shows with Neil and Liam Finn so I’m obsessed with their music right now so some Crowded House/Split Enz/Liam Finn hopefully. I also like the Hamilton soundtrack quite a lot so that might come on.
Stella: I’m super into Kardajala Kirridara and This is the Kit at the moment!

You are both playing at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton this May. It’s one of our favourite festivals. Have either of you been to Brighton before? What do you know about the festival and the city?
Alex: I went to Brighton for a soccer tournament when I was ten. I didn’t understand that the beach there wasn’t quite like the ones in Australia. It was the middle of winter and I tried boogie boarding and it ended in tears. Apart from that though the city is beautiful and I’m really excited to go back. The festival should be great there are heaps of Aussies going I know the Skegss boys are going, Odette, and Stella and I so it should be like a big party.
Stella: My sister lived in Brighton for some time so I visited her over there and she showed me The Lanes and all the awesome shops and venues. I am SO excited to be back there again!

It’s a long ol’ flight to the UK. How will you both spend the time? Watch back-to-back movies? Try to sleep as much as possible? Listen to music? Read a bunch of books?
Alex: I watch back-to-back movies then take NyQuil and pass out. I try and catch up on music I was meaning to listen to. I can’t read because I get motion sickness and I don’t think anyone needs to deal with that on a 24-hour flight.
Stella: My mum is actually going to be coming on the plane with me because we’re going to visit my family in Wales just before The Great Escape! So we’ll probably just watch movies together and hang out which will be lovely!

What is the one thing you both miss the most about home when you are overseas?
Alex: I miss the beach, I usually go out surfing everyday so I try run or do something active so I don’t bounce off the walls. It also can be a bit lonely travelling overseas so it’ll be good having Stella and a few other people I know at the festival.
Stella: In no particular order the dog, the Indian Ocean, and my boyfriend Jordan. 😉

Will either of you be playing other shows/festivals in the UK/Europe while you are there?
Alex: I’m not sure yet but hopefully yes! I’ll know closer to the date.
Stella: Yes! I’m doing a bunch of shows and festivals around the place on my own and with Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.

What does the rest of 2018 have in store for both of you with regards to releasing new music?
Alex: I’ve just been writing as much as I can. I’ve been reading about Watergate, and the psychology of break ups and losing pets, AFL players and WWII, so I’m trying to write some story songs. I’ll definitely try some out in our shows. I can’t say when but new music will be out at some point soon.
Stella: Lots of travelling, writing and recording. All at the same time I think!

Lastly, what are you both going to do now that you’ve finished this interview?
Alex: I’m going to footy training. I forgot my footy socks so I’m wearing pineapple socks.
Stella: I am about to get on a plane to Sydney to play a couple of gigs, but first, shower!