It's been 14 years since Clap Your Hands Say Yeah last played Australia, but frontman Alec Ounsworth is finally making the trip back.
The Philadelphia indie trailblazer, whose 2005 self-released, self-titled debut became an underground sensation, returns with 20 years of unshakable artistic independence.
"I'm excited to go someplace semi-reasonable for a little while," Alec laughs, throwing a sly glance at America's political climate. "I didn't even realise it had been that long. . . it doesn't feel like it."
Ounsworth's fiercely independent streak hasn't dulled; if anything, he's more wary of how the industry has shifted. "I've always thought technology was more of a hindrance to the creative process," he says. "There's so much noise out there. Social media? I don't do well with it."
He's sceptical of platforms like TikTok shaping the music that breaks through. "What tends to take off is. . . not very good. Or it's sappy and maudlin. "If I blew up on TikTok, I'd take it with a serious grain of salt."
For Alec, virality comes second to the work. "A lot of artists are dedicated to spreading the word, and less to the work itself."
Across six albums, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah has never stayed in one lane. From the eccentric debut to the expansive 'Only Run' (2014) and 'The Tourist' (2017), each record has been a creative risk.
"I can't get onstage and play songs I don't care about just because people like them," Alec says. "The careers I admire, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, they all jumped around creatively. You risk alienating your audience, but you have to be okay with that."
Alec's long-time producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala) remains a trusted foil. "I handpick collaborators. They might not be famous names, but I trust them completely."
With the debut album's 20th anniversary approaching, Alec still finds the songs electric. "That album was unhinged and unfettered. . . playing it puts me back in that headspace. Honestly, I don't think I've changed that much."
Unlike some artists who cringe at old work, Ounsworth embraces it. "I'm not disappointed when the next song begins. The lyrics still mean something to me. I can sing them with a straight face."
For Aussie fans, this tour promises both nostalgia and proof that Alec's restless creativity hasn't dimmed. Whether dusting off indie classics or road-testing new ideas, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will deliver what they've always done best – music on their own terms.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah 2025 Tour Dates
Wed 5 Nov - Oxford Art Factory (Sydney)Fri 7 Nov - The Night Cat (Melbourne)
Sat 8 Nov - The Triffid (Brisbane)
