Q&A: Alice Osian Frees Her Soul in Transcendent Single 'For The Night'
WELCOME TO THE SOUND BATH — aka Alice Osian’s magical single “For The Night.” It’s a song for processing grief in those moments when you feel submerged underwater and need a life raft. With a minimalistic yet effortlessly sensational production, the release is akin to a 1920s love song you can’t get enough of.
Driven by synths and built around nostalgic motifs of young love, the single captures the idea that grief is non-linear. Co-produced by Osian and Caster Black and mixed by Derek Coburn, the song materializes as a cleanse for the troubled soul. More than that, it’s an autobiographical chapter in the multi-instrumentalist’s discography that allows her to explore the theme of acceptance with grace.
Osian is not one to write about things that aren’t true to her, and “For The Night” is a testament to this vulnerable creative approach. While she traverses the subject of expansion in the single, she realigns herself with the core of her being and settles into an awakened presence. The result is an exquisitely delicate and beautifully subtle harmonious experience of becoming one with her own human nature.
As an independent artist originally from Santa Barbara and residing in LA, Osian knows how to express her artistic voice through the soundscapes of varying genres. Her music is a catharsis of memories that move with her as she travels through the seasons of life. Fans of Weyes Blood, Beach House, and Suki Waterhouse will fondly revel in Osian’s nostalgic, tenderhearted, and profound indie sound. Epitomizing solace, “For The Night” is a timeless keepsake perfect for rainy days indoors, beachside afternoon picnics, and late nights burning sage to free the soul.
Stream “For The Night” wherever you get your music and follow Osian social media to be the first to know when she releases new music. Read below to learn more about the singer-songwriter’s new single, what the song would look like as a short film, and what her work/life balance looks like.
LUNA: What inspired you to write “For The Night?”
OSIAN: “For The Night" was one of those magical songs that came out all at once and was written in about a half hour. I had gone through a really tough breakup with someone who I very much wanted back. At the time of writing it, I was in the acceptance phase of grief. Writing this song helped me process trying to be okay with the fact that I might not get that person back while also allowing myself to romanticize the good moments.
LUNA: Where does the storyline of this track take place?
OSIAN: The late afternoons and nights spent at my boyfriend’s house during that discovery phase of our relationship, where you stay up way too late getting to know each other, running around town getting into trouble.
LUNA: Say this song was made into a short film — what would that look like?
OSIAN: I wanted this song to sound a bit like drowning. If I were to make a short film or music video for this song, it would involve slow-mo underwater. Maybe some shots of a couple in a house and the house is just slowly filling with water as they try to go about their normal activities until they are submerged. It had been raining while I was making a demo of this song so I decided to include a field recording I had taken as the intro. It also continues throughout the whole song as a bed of sound.
LUNA: What season of life does this release fall in for you?
OSIAN: I’m currently in a beautiful season of expansion. The previous few years were very challenging for me; I felt like it had taken a while to get to a point where I was making progress in any aspect of my life. However, at this point in time, I feel very aligned with my path, optimistic, and abundant. It’s been inspiring to experience the growth of the community that has materialized around me over the last year. I’ve had the immense pleasure of connecting with so many dedicated and passionate artists within this industry, some of [whom] I never thought I’d have the opportunity to speak to in my life. While being an independent musician can be difficult, it has been an incredibly rewarding and motivating year for me.
LUNA: When you think about “For The Night,” what’s the first sentence that comes to mind?
OSIAN: Grief is not linear.
LUNA: Which artists make you feel better about yourself and your own self-esteem?
OSIAN: I have a shameless soft spot for top 40 pop! You can 100% catch me driving to the beach in the summer singing along to “Vitamins” by Qveen Herby or some Doja Cat.
LUNA: What’s something you struggle with when it comes to making music and how do you overcome the roadblocks it brings your way?
OSIAN: Writer’s block and a healthy dose of self-doubt. For me, writing is definitely a feast or famine — I try to not force it. The fear of “I’ll never write something ever again,” “I’m out of ideas,” or “Is this song even good?” usually sets in when I’m going through a slow creative time. I try to give myself grace when this happens, get out in nature, and free write to just get things flowing without expectation. When inspiration does strike I make an effort to set aside whatever I’m doing to capture the idea, otherwise it’ll usually slip away. I also have to remind myself that not everything I write will be released and it’s okay to just write for the sake of creative flow. I would die to hear some unreleased “worst songs” that some popular artists have written.
LUNA: From your experiences, what qualities do you value most in a collaborative creative space?
OSIAN: I love some hype and positivity. It’s always reassuring to know that the people you’re working with are as into the project as you are. My cousin Marc Walloch (Beck, Company of Thieves, AWOLNATION) produced my earlier work and he will let out the best “OOO!” sound when he’s excited about something. It’s great (laughs). I also love seeing what other people can bring to a project and having a respectful environment where everyone feels free and safe to share ideas, expand upon them, or even turn down said ideas.
LUNA: How do you sit with your emotions so you’re able to translate them into lyrics?
OSIAN: Definitely with a guitar in hand (laughs). As uncomfortable as it can be sometimes, I try to allow myself to feel what I need to feel without restriction and channel it into free writing. I’ll usually have my phone voice memos recording and start to freestyle over something I’m playing on my guitar. Sometimes I’ll just journal about what I’m going through and write a poem at the end. A couple of those poems have been turned into songs, or at least been the outline of one.
LUNA: In an alternate universe where you can only listen to the vinyl records you’ve collected, what vinyls are in your record collection?
OSIAN: Oh lord, this is a hard question, but some of my favorites at the moment are Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane, Pang by Caroline Polachek, The Archer by Alexandra Savior, Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Witchcult Today by Electric Wizard, Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens, and the soundtrack to Grease (laughs).
LUNA: What helps you to manage your workload?
OSIAN: I’m admittedly a bit of a workaholic and keep up with around five different freelance gigs throughout the year, so keeping myself organized is key for my mental health. I never thought I’d say this, but I love my lists, calendars, and planner with a passion. A friend of mine was talking to me about how most of her friends are type A creatives and I’ve fully embraced that term (laughs). I value my ability to set goals and get stuff done.
LUNA: How do you identify when you don’t have the capacity to keep pushing forward so you can step back and rest?
OSIAN: While I try to maintain a good work/life balance, burnout happens regardless. I can tell when I really need to take a break when I notice that I am unstable emotionally or my ability to focus crashes. I usually take time to tidy up my space and go wander around town or nature to reset. It’s a lot easier for me to recharge in the summer — I love to go lay on the beach by myself for the day and read.
LUNA: Are there any causes or social organizations you advocate for that you would like to share with others?
OSIAN: I really love Eagle Rock Community Fridge or any community fridge, for that matter. I think community pantries are an incredibly valuable mutual aid resource that should be more widely available. Water Drop LA is also a great program. I try to donate or physically drop off goods to these organizations at least quarterly throughout the year.
LUNA: Is there something you want to be asked more by journalists? If so, what is it and why is it on your mind?
OSIAN: Honestly, this has been a very thoughtful set of questions! Maybe… What would you like to see change within the music industry? I’ve recently seen a lot about bands — small and large — having trouble making ends meet from touring and streaming income, increased prices of international visas, etc. It’s forever disappointing — the arts deserve so much more than they’ve ever been awarded.
LUNA: Anything else you’d like to add that hasn’t already been asked?
OSIAN: My full EP comes out on March 24, followed by a music video for my previously released single, “Painkiller”!
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