As one of the most exciting rising stars on the High Water Festival roster, Alice Phoebe Lou opened Sunday on a high note. With her psychedelic pop sound and smooth vocals, her music has peak summer camp vibes.
There’s an intimacy to her performance style that makes even a sprawling festival crowd feel like a small, shared moment, as if each song is being sung just for you. Fresh off a string of acclaimed releases, Lou brings both warmth and edge to the stage.
After her performance at High Water, Alice Phoebe Lou sat down with Melodic Magazine and opened up about performing at High Water, pre-show rituals and more.
Melodic Magazine: I wanted to thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I got to see your set and it was incredible. It really felt like the whole festival just stood still the moment you started playing.
Alice Phoebe Lou: That’s so sweet. Thank you.
So I know you said when you were on stage you were nervous because you were performing without the band. How did you feel afterwards?
I felt really, like, excited just because it was so nice to see so many people singing along with the words and just having a good time out there. And I felt like playing so early in the day solo made it all make sense. It was definitely nervewracking, and I don’t play festivals without a band usually, so I was kind of terrified, but I’m really happy with how it went.
That’s awesome. There’s like a really laidback, nature-connected vibe to this festival. You know, we’re right on the water and all the beautiful trees around us. Does that kind of environment influence how you perform and the kind of energy you bring to your sets?
Definitely. I think the environment affects a lot. I think today, my only struggle was the layout of the audience, because of the VIP area, it was like all the fans were kind of on the one side. And so in the beginning that was a bit shocking, a little hard to deal with and I just kind of turned my myself towards them and then it was better. But just being around all these trees and the water, it’s kind of calming. And it’s also really nice. I’m in the middle of a tour right now, so to play outside definitely has a different energy to it.
And like I said, outdoor festivals can be kind of unpredictable. Do you enjoy that spontaneity or does it keep you on your toes? How do you feel about it?
Yeah. Honestly, I think that it’s kind of nice to not know what’s gonna happen next. In a funny kinda way, there is a bit of a nervous energy around like, okay, could the weather cancel the show or like, what’s gonna happen? And while I was on stage I was like, is my dress about to blow up around? But yeah, it definitely adds to the energy of it. There’s an unpredictable nature to it and it does create a bit of excitement and adrenaline. That always helps with the performance in a funny kind of way for sure.
Have you had a chance to explore the festival grounds or see any of the other sets?
Yeah, me and my brother, I’m traveling with my brother right now, so we had a nice walk around. We ate some food, we listened to some music. I’m looking forward to a few other bands that are playing later today.
Is there anyone you’re particularly excited to see?
Yeah, Jesse Wells, but I might be missing him. I don’t know, I think he’s playing around now, if I’m not mistaken, kind of soon. I’m hoping to catch a few songs. I think he’s a really good songwriter.
We’ll make sure you get outta here to see him then. Do you have any pre-show rituals that you do to help prepare for your sets?
Yeah, I like to move my body a little bit, exercise my voice a little bit and like, just a bit of movement and just being my own hypeman is kind of the way to go. But I’m not very professional, like I think some artists, you know, have proper pre-show warmup rituals. I’m kind of a little more spontaneous and depending on the night, like something that I do love to do is just pull one tarot card just as a way to get a little bit of energy from some sort of symbolism.
I also practice tarot, so I have a deep appreciation for that. Festival crowds, as you know, can be a mix of longtime listeners and people who’ve never heard your music before. How do you approach a set knowing that?
Yeah, it’s always like, especially when you’re on tour and you’re playing in rooms full of people who love your music and are very intentional about being there, it’s kind of disarming, you know, to be in that kind of environment where there’s some people that are super fans, some people who are like, “who’s that?” But it’s kind of fun. It feels a bit like busking, which is something I did a lot when in my 20s, because you’re kind of needing to grab somebody’s attention and I think that there’s something interesting that comes out in your performance when you approach it like that.
Is there anything you wanted people to take away from your set today?
I think just some sort of catharsis. I hope and intend for my music to make someone feel something and to make someone feel connected to themselves and their feelings. I think that that’s always what I want people to walk away from with, just feeling love, feeling things deeply.
Is there a particular song you like to play to win over new audiences at festivals like these?
Yeah. Honestly, with the band, I have a lot more. And funnily enough, today I was feeling kind of nervous and my, the song that I bring out when I feel nervous is an Angel Olson song that I played today that I don’t often play. But today I was like, I need some courage, so I’m gonna play this.
Is there anything else you’d like to add to this?
Not that I can think of. Check out my other band, Strong Boy.
Keep up with Alice Phoebe Lou: TikTok // Instagram // YouTube
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
