Alex the Astronaut Makes Big Adjustments on New Single “Haircut”

Her sophomore album How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater is out July 22 via Nettwerk.
First Listen

Alex the Astronaut Makes Big Adjustments on New Single “Haircut”

Her sophomore album How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater is out July 22 via Nettwerk.

Words: Mike LeSuer

Photo: Jess Gleeson

June 15, 2022

There are certainly some heavy themes present on How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater, the sophomore album from Australian songwriter Alex the Astronaut, with the general concept of the project circling around less-than-pleasant realizations about oneself during the coming-of-age process. Even if there are some heavy themes embedded in her latest single “Haircut,” the caffeinated instrumental and excitable lyric delivery about the shift in perspective that comes with the near-literal wool being removed from in front of your eyes post-haircut are really what shine through.

The peppy, near-Dunedin-sound acoustic guitars on the single soundtrack Alex’s rapid lyrics about buying more books than you could possibly ever read, binging 17 seasons of Gray’s Anatomy, and less solitary acts like dancing at parties and spending a few days in the mountains with friends—all fueled by the love of those around her, which she can finally see through the clarity of a new point of view. The Claudia Bailey–directed visual that arrives alongside the track manages to channel its ecstasy fairly well.

“I loved Call Me By Your Name when I first saw it because it was presented as a love story first, and not just a ‘gay story,’” Alex explains. “In the same way, I wanted to show a story about gender as a story about growing up, and I think the biggest part of growing up is our friends. Claud, the director, made such a beautiful, bright narrative about two friends who are figuring themselves out side-by-side and it fit the song perfectly… It felt like we were filming a movie. We had so much fun at the shoot, and I think the video gets across the joy, terror, brightness, darkness, and excitement of growing into the person that you want to be.”

Watch the video below.