Earlier this month, Perth singer-songwriter ALEIA released her debut EP 'Public Humiliation', a collection of four dream-pop songs reflecting the messiness of heartbreak and the hardening that comes from being so exposed.
ALEIA's ability to mine that emotional stress and condense it into tear-streaked beacons of hope is showcased by the EP's title track 'Public Humiliation'.
An earthy, unembellished strummed acoustic guitar offers a folk-rock simplicity that nourishes, while ALEIA's stirring, husky vocals ache with an honesty that feels visceral, the lyrics painting a vivid picture of indignity associated with the casual dating pool.
Recorded and produced with Dylan Ollivierre (The Money War, Joan & The Giants, Siobhan Cotchin), 'Public Humiliation' is a project ALEIA hopes resonates with others who have experienced similar toxic relationships.
"'Public Humiliation' is an EP I wrote after being jaded with love. I was newly single with my frontal lobe fully developed and realising I had only experienced toxic long-term relationships, painful situationships, and a nightmarish uncommitted life of casual dating.
"I want people to find comfort in this album the next time they find themselves anxiously attached to a situationship who isn't messaging them, after a breakup with a narcissistic ex, or when single life has turned sour."
To lighten the mood, here ALEIA leans into her childhood love of fantasy films with a list of her favourite movies of all time.
"When I'm not writing songs about how terrible it is to navigate the modern dating scene, I like to escape in fantasy movies," ALEIA says. "I exclusively watch fantasy films and I'm convinced it's the best genre. To convince you here are my top 5 underrated fancy movies."
Stardust (2007)
'Stardust' is my all-time favourite movie! The cast, the plot, the outfits! Absolutely everything is perfection. This is the one movie I force all my friends to watch. They always walk away loving it.
Inkheart (2008)
'Inkheart' is about a father and daughter who can bring characters into the world by reading them out loud. It's incredibly magically and as a dyslexic child, this movie made me start to fall in love with reading.
Tin Man (2007)
Though technically a mini series (three episodes), my seven-year-old brain used to watch it like a movie. It's my favourite adaptation of 'The Wizard of Oz', and the main reason Zooey Deschanel became one of my first celebrity crushes.
The Secret of Moonacre (2008)
A movie I watched when I was sick and I have searched to find it again for years. I loved the outfits and its crazy visuals. You know it's a good fantasy movie when you think you've dreamt about it before.
Snow Queen (2002)
The 2002 film 'Snow Queen' was the first fantasy movie I ever watched as a kid and now I always return to it. I have never met anyone who has watched this movie other than my childhood best friend. It's a fever dream that makes me feel warm and cosy.
