In Conversation With: Alfie Neale

Originally hailing from Dorset and now residing in Brighton, England, Alfie Neale is an exceptionally gifted singer-songwriter, producer and musician whose original sound has evolved over time with his own diverse music taste. Unafraid to blend sonic styles, Alfie’s tasteful production technique uniquely infuses his endearing pop tracks with exquisite elements of soul, disco, jazz and hip-hop. With over 28,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone, predominantly originating from the UK, Japan and Australia, the soulful singer from the south-west possesses a spectacular vocal which simply must be heard live.

With a hilariously engaging social media presence, both on Instagram and TikTok, Alfie’s fans and followers know his infectious personality to be as authentic as his candid lyricism. In an exclusive interview, talking about everything from songwriting and love to imposter syndrome and mental health, Alfie Neale opens up about his life as an independent artist in the twenty-first century.

First of all, how are you doing? How is life currently going for you?

It’s good. It’s incredibly hectic. I’m incredibly overwhelmed with making songs and releasing songs and earning a living but… I also wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m buzzing about it and I enjoy pretty much everything I do, as busy as it is, so I can’t complain at all.

That’s amazing! I’m really happy for you. It’s better to be busy, I think.

100%, I don’t just wanna be twiddling my thumbs. The only thing I would like is a free week where I can just write my own music for like a week straight, but I’m also loving just getting out there, just playing and posting stupid stuff on social media.

That seems to be the territory that comes with being an artist these days, haha. It sounds like you need a songwriter’s retreat.

I know! I need one of those like unplugged, WiFi-less cabins.

A year-long hiatus, away from a phone, would be lovely! What kind of music did you grow up listening to and how would you say this has influenced the music you make?
It may not sound like it right now but, the way I would describe it is, there were three CDs in my Dad’s car: Jack Johnson In Between Dreams, Fatboy Slim You’ve Come a Long Way Baby and Gorillaz Demon Days. Those three albums - especially Jack Johnson - I really think, in a couple years’ time, my music will sound like a combination of those three, you know? A lot of great production and a lot of great songwriting, and I’ll get there one day myself!

Great choices. We are the music we grew up listening to, after all. How long have you been singing for and have you always envisioned yourself becoming a full-time musician since you were younger?

I’ve been singing for about ten years and, honestly, I was gonna either do a combination of German and English at uni or I was gonna do music, as those were my three A-Levels. I just did better in music so I decided to do music. So, not really, but it was just through growing up in a small town and being the guy that did music, I was like “well, I guess I’m the guy that does music now, let’s go and do it!”

Wow, it was sort of by chance then?

Yeah, literally just fell into it. It’s not like I was nine years old like “I wanna be a popstar.”

That’s great, I like how organically it happened for you. I’ve joked before about you becoming a comedian if music didn’t work out because you’re very naturally funny! If you weren’t a singer, what do you think you’d be doing instead career-wise?

Ah thanks! You know what? It’s actually the most boring answer which is hilarious, haha! So basically, over Covid, I worked in a warehouse with Jarki Monno. Outside of making music, I am just an incredibly logical person and I actually really enjoyed working in the logistics industry, so I think I would work in that field. Much like the music, it’s not like I had any other driving force for a career. I was just there, doing it, and it was alright so I’m kinda like “yeah, alright, I’ll do that then!”

Playing to your strengths, I love it!

I definitely wouldn't do anything creative if I were to quit music, definitely not. Music’s my creative thing, I think.

You have frequently collaborated with other talented artists and producers before, but your most recent singles have been brilliantly self-produced. Would you say you prefer songwriting and producing alone, in a group dynamic, or does it depend on the type of music you’re creating?

Thank you. It completely depends on the type of music I’m creating. I had a realisation last year. Firstly, it was just logistical, you know? A lot of the producers I work with are great but very busy, so it was just stagnating the process of having these fresh ideas and wanting to create, and then I’d have to wait three weeks to get in a room with someone and realise it. By trying to take things into my own hands, I realised there are a lot of songwriters who can go into a room with someone they’ve never met before and switch it on and be openly vulnerable and say exactly how they feel, and I’m just not one of those people. I write and produce everything in here, in the room in my flat, and, when I was writing on my own, I found myself being able to write more vulnerably and more openly than I would be prepared to in front of someone else, who maybe I didn’t know that well. So yeah, my favourite thing to do, for my music, is to either create on my own or create with my best friends, who I’m really close with, and they won’t judge me if I say something outrageous or be like “woah!” hahaha. A lot of the music I’ve been making is very introspective and quite abrasive, you know? It’s not just like Robbie Williams’ ‘Candy’ vibes… I don’t even know what the lyrical content to that song is but it’s a lot deeper than that, on my own at the moment. Not to throw shade on Robbie Williams, by the way, he’s great, just one I plucked out of the air. He’s got some bangers and it’s such a catchy song.

I understand you completely and haha, of course, not at all. I used to love that song, I would genuinely listen to it on repeat! That (not Robbie Williams haha) actually brings me to my next question. Does living amongst the Brighton music scene inspire your songwriting, or are you the type of person to find inspiration everywhere and in everything?

I am the most easily inspired person, and the most easily swayed. I will listen to some outrageous 190 BPM rave song, on a run or something, and be like “I’m gonna become a producer now and start making this!” I'll just decide that for a bit on a whim. Honestly, I love the Brighton music scene and I’ve only just started really involving myself in it through, obviously, Sam [Tompkins] and a lot of people have moved down here, from London and stuff, which has been amazing. But I really am inspired by everything. There’s so much American music which I’m into and inspired by, so much older music that I’m inspired by, so much Australian music, just so much ahh! I listen to SO much music that I should actually probably listen to less music or pick and choose. Of course the Brighton scene inspires me but everything inspires me, honestly.

That’s amazing. It sounds like you listen to a real mix of music which you can integrate into your own sound, but how do you find this music? Is this on social media, like does it just randomly pop up, or do you discover it another way?

Well, I’ll find someone who I like listening to or I’ll be tipped onto music by someone or I’ll hear a song on social media, and I’ll usually try and find whatever the standout album or project is from that artist, if they’ve got one, and I’ll listen to that. I usually listen to an album when I go to the gym, which is most days, hopefully a new album and, if I like it, I’ll go on their ‘Fans Also Like’ on Spotify. I am a very new-gen music listener. If I don’t like the first ten seconds, I’ll just stop it.

That’s the TikTok-ification of music, haha.

Yeah yeah haha, I have to like it instantly but it’s a lot of that to be honest: just following these trails of artists’ seeds across the UK or Australia and America.

Yeah, one thing I’ve realised from social media is how many people know each other in the music industry. Sometimes, I’ll find a new artist and find out that they’re followed by, or friends with, some of my other favourite artists.

I know, it’s such a small world, it’s crazy.

It definitely is. If you could collaborate with any artist or band in history, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Ooh, probably Jack Johnson just ‘cause he not only has made some of my favourite music ever, but he seems like the most chill guy on Earth. I feel like we could just go to Hawaii and just surf and make a tune and that would be class. If not, Amy Winehouse, as an incredibly close second, just off the top of my head.

Great answer, it’s quite a tough question to be asked on the spot. A recurring theme throughout your music is the art of romance; what is a major lesson you have learned from love?

Ooh, blimey. I would say be patient in the decisions you make and the things you say because, like the saying ‘elephants, they never forget’, thinking before you speak is such a key thing. You might say something that you think is a passing comment and it might honestly stick with someone for a really long time, way longer than you intended it to. Also, NEVER argue over text, number one! DON’T write a song about it instead, really quietly, just venting. Those two, they’re both just to do with thinking before you speak.

You could apply those lessons to general life, especially what you said about thinking before you make a passing comment, that’s so important to remember. As an artist, have you ever struggled with imposter syndrome before?

My life is just like 50/50 “how does anyone care what I’m doing?” and “why does no one care what I’m doing?” I’m either one or the other, so 50% of the time yes and 50% of the time my ego gets the better of me and I have the OPPOSITE of imposter syndrome, haha, if I’m being completely honest. I think everyone probably has that though. I have so much performance anxiety that, by the time I actually feel good on a stage or feel good about something, I’m relishing it, you know? I don’t feel bad about that.

It’s good to have balance! It’s fair to say that it has become increasingly harder for artists, especially independent musicians like yourself, to release music due to the pressures of social media and content creation. What would you say the most positive part of being an independent singer-songwriter is though?

Not having to wait for anyone and not having anyone else influence your decisions, who isn’t a musician. I really do think that, as savage as it is to say, most of the people who work in the music industry, aside from the journalists who come from a writing background, are failed musicians. A lot of label employees - everyone honestly - they all are, and a lot of people would gladly say that. I think just purely having an involvement in the creative side of things, as opposed to the corporate side of things, can be a real advantage, you know? The corporate side of things can suck the life out of a lot of artists and, when you’re independent, you don’t have to deal with that which is great. You just have to deal with the impending doom of rent and things like that instead, but I really do think that just being involved with the people who are still in the thick of it, who are still scrambling away all the time, can be a real advantage a lot of the time. I don’t know if that makes sense but it makes a lot of sense in my head. I think a musician who is still hungry and living on the edge, which a lot of people are, has a completely different mindset to someone who is getting a wage.

Your perspective made me think of the whole ‘starving artist’ stereotype and it’s interesting to hear your experience of the industry in general.

Exactly! That’s not to say there aren’t so many amazing people who work in the music industry but it’s just fun to be in the thick of it.

Absolutely. If you could travel back in time to attend a concert, who would you see perform live?

Let me see what year it was. Michael Jackson, Wembley, 1988. Me and Jark used to watch it every Friday night when we lived together. Whenever the evening just slowed down, we were like “shall we get MJ on?” It’s like two and a quarter hours of all the songs being played like twice as fast as the record with these crazy dance routines. Princess Diana’s there and it’s like “get me back to ‘88!” It’s perfect.

Sounds iconic!

Watch it if you haven’t yet. It’s outrageously good. There’s like four outfit changes and all the songs, I honestly cannot express how much faster the songs are played. It’s so sick how he fits in every banger.

That’s like the original ‘Eras Tour’, haha.

Yeah 100%, it’s unreal.

You get handed the AUX at a party. What song(s) are you playing?

What’s the vibe? Is it like old bangers that everyone’s gonna know?

Sure.

Alright, I might go Jay Sean ‘Down’ and Iyaz ‘Replay’.

So good. I forget those songs exist sometimes and then I hear them and feel so nostalgic.

Those are the ones you want!

How many instruments can you play and is there one you would like to learn?

I can play four instruments quite well. The guitar, piano, bass and saxophone. I would LOVE to learn to play the flute because it’s very similar to the saxophone, it’s a woodwind instrument and it’s just like a sideways saxophone really.

Wow, amazing. Horizontal sax!

Yeah exactly, haha. It’s such a beautiful instrument.

Do you ever struggle with procrastination or writer’s block and, if so, how do you keep yourself motivated?

Uh, YES. Very much. I keep myself motivated by trying to incorporate things which don’t take away from the momentum of creating music, which is the thing that I want and like to do most. For instance, with content, I’ve tried a few times and just decided to start making ‘Day in the Life’ videos, so I’m still making content but it doesn’t take away from the actual things I need to do. If I’m like “I need to pick five covers to do and film them all”, I will literally spend five hours g-ing myself up to leave the house, hahaha. I always find excuses to not do things so, I would say, try and make your various facets within your responsibilities fit together, and then it’s easier to carry them all forward at once.

I love the ‘Day in the Life’ videos and think they’re genius. You’re not only combining content creation and what you need to be doing anyway but, as a fan, it’s really fun to see what an artist gets up to behind the scenes.

For sure. I think as well, if you’re playing this character or elevated version of your personality, as part of your artistry, which some people do and it’s great, my thing isn’t that. So it’s like I could either get my personality across by putting it in my musical promos or I could literally just film myself and people will get to see what I’m like anyway.

Your personality always comes across in your videos. You’re just being silly and that’s what people want!

On the gram, haha. Do you mind being in my vlog by the way?

No, not at all, that’s fine.

Say hi.

Hiiii!

That’ll be going on TikTok.

Haha, amazing. I imagine making music must take up a lot of your time but what do you do to have fun and switch off from creating?

I always say if I worked a “normal” job, it’s what I would do for fun anyway, so I don’t ever really switch off. I just do something different. If I wanna just have a bit of fun and make a garage song that's never gonna come out, or write a stupid song with my friends, then I’ll do that. It doesn’t all have to be work, or with the intention of it being released and being a smash hit or whatever. Honestly, music is the most fun that I have in life.

That’s really beautiful.

It is. I honestly don’t see any need to switch off because, like I said, it’s what I would do for fun anyway.

Love that. I can see you and Sam making a lot of silly songs.

We have so many. SO many! They are outrageous. You saw that clip on one of the ‘Morning Time’ posts of me and Sam just absolutely messing around. My whole life revolves around music and I’m fine with it, ya know?

Definitely. If you could give one piece of advice to artists who are beginning their journey, what would it be?

How to produce. Yeah because, not only will it save you the money which you so desperately need to save as an independent artist, but it’ll stop any roadblocks with shimmying things along in your career. I’m trying to think of something less logical and more thoughtful…

You don’t have to be thoughtful. You can be logical if you want to, haha.

I know. I do think as well that just releasing things, whether it’s content or songs or anything, on a consistent basis, is really important — and it’s something that I’ve never done until recently — because it makes you less precious about things. Even if you speak to an industry person and they say “this is good but what’s next?”, when there actually is something next, it’s way easier to say that and tell people what’s going on, rather than you have this one song and it didn’t go as well as you’d hoped so then you have to spend a month just wallowing in self-pity before you can drag yourself up and do something again. I think ‘learn to produce’ and ‘keep the ball rolling’ are my two pieces of advice.

Onto the next, as they say. I’d like to take a moment to commend you on your resilience and your courage for opening up a conversation around mental health on your social media, following your own experiences with anxiety. What influenced you to open up about it now, with your fans, and also lyrically in your new song ‘Morning Time’?

Thank you, yeah. I think just the potential of a small nudge from the right person and, if I could be that person for anyone to start their kind of journey with addressing any mental health issues that they have, that would be great. I’ve had friends and family members struggle with mental health, I’ve heard a million people talk about mental health, I’ve had friends ask me about it and I’ve given so much advice, but I never told anyone ‘cause I just never heard it from the right person. Or I never heard someone give the right context. As well, it goes back to this being on my own in this room as opposed to being with someone else. When I’m writing with someone, it’s like “how can I relate to you?” and if I come in and I go “I have mental health issues, what do you think about that?” it’s just a hard conversation to open with. I wrote ‘Morning Time’ the day after I passed out on stage.

Wow, that’s really soon after.

REALLY soon after. It was just a very cathartic experience and I thought “ya know what? I’m gonna put it out there.” I think it just deserves the justice of telling people the truth rather than being abstract about it. It’s like “no, this is what happened” and the context is good for some people, I think. The whole project I’m just saying exactly how I feel about this and I wanted to do that justice.

I’m proud of you.

Thank you, I appreciate it. I’m proud of me too, haha.

Good, you should be! I think the hardest part is realising that, actually, a lot of people can relate and a lot of people are going to be thankful you spoke out because it opens up the conversation on a wider scale but, when you’re in it and you experience it yourself, it’s so isolating. It’s really difficult to remember how many people go through this, whether it’s anxiety or depression or any mental health condition, and it can be even more difficult to remember you’re not alone even though it can feel that way.

Yeah. I think it’s purely for the people who relate to it. It’s been really interesting, the kind of reaction to the song. Some people are like “wow, this is really great and really profound, I’m so proud of you and I relate to this” and some people are like “release ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ 2.0.” But you have to realise it’s not for those people, like that’s me as well but it just wasn’t me then, haha.

It’s like they’re saying “that’s nice that you spoke about your feelings but… let’s dance?”

Exactly, or “but what about the pub?” hahaha.

Social media is such a whirlwind. It’s kind of jarring how, on one hand, you’ve got people being really lovely and really supportive and then you’ve got “release ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ 2.0” haha.

Haha, yeah exactly. Like I said, it’s not for those people. It’s for the people who needed ‘Morning Time’ or one person. Just for me even, ya know?

I’m really glad it’s been a cathartic process for you. What has been the proudest moment of your career thus far and what is your biggest aspiration for the future? Do you have a dream venue that you’d love to perform at?

My proudest moment was my first tour that I did. I did a support tour, supporting a band called Cassia. It was a 100-cap venue and my Dad came up to me after my set and he was like “you can really do this, Alf. If I thought you should just do this for a hobby, I would say ‘aw good job, mate’ but you really can.” It’s funny, it’s like one of those things, like I was saying earlier, that he just said. He probably didn’t think twice about it, and it’s just old man wisdom, but it has just stuck with me forever. I think that was my most proud thing because my Dad was the guy who got me into playing music.

My dream venue is not a venue; it is a festival slot. It’s the sunset slot on the main stage of Boardmasters Festival ‘cause I grew up going to Boardmasters, being from the south west and, just that slot every time, I’ve seen some absolute banger sets and I just wanna do it.

I love Boardmasters! That’s such a good aspiration to have and it seems like, because of your personal connection to the festival, it would be such a full circle moment.

For sure.

Your Dad’s encouragement of you is so sweet because, when I asked you earlier which music you grew up listening to, you named your Dad’s three CDs. Again, a very full circle moment in your life.

Yeah 100%.

If you could describe your next era of music in three words…?

Honest, acoustic and me.

I love that!

Just because it’s self-produced. I’m definitely just getting to grips with self-production and there’s not necessarily a real producer’s head to it, it’s just like “write a song, make it sound good.” It’s not like “write a project and make some thread flow through the middle of all of it.” It’ll get better, it’s only year one of being a producer.

I’m so excited. So you’re saying that this project wasn’t necessarily intentional, you’ve written these songs separately and assembled them together?

Exactly. If you listen to ‘Me and My Girl’ and then ‘Morning Time’ it’s like, alright, it’s my voice but they’re not that similar other than that. It’s just like having some fun, making some music.

You’ve got range!

Yeah exactly, it can be detrimental but the point of this project wasn’t to be a commercial success, it was just to get to grips with production. Ask me about the next project, haha.

Now or later? Haha.

Later, later! We’ll do this again in a few months’ time.

I’m down. In a recent Instagram post, you hinted to the fact that you’ve returned to playing shows. Where and/or when can your fans expect to see you live next?

They can expect to see me at Everywhere House Festival in West Sussex on 31st August, and they can expect to see me in probably Brighton and London and various other UK cities depending on who shouts the loudest!

You should make a poll asking “where do you wanna see me?” and I’ll say “BRISTOOOL!”

As soon as I have something that people resonate with, yeah. I’m getting back into the swing of things ‘cause I haven’t released anything in a long time and I think it’s just winning back the years of my listenership and, trust me, I’m releasing music consistently now, don’t worry! There’s something coming along. As soon as that happens, I’ll play some shows but I’m really enjoying just making music and putting it out at the moment.

Keeping the momentum going.

Yeah, and hopefully you might see me at a support show or two in the Autumn.

Oh, is that a hint?

Who knows? I don’t know. Hahaha.

I love that you said that date off the top of your head though. Seems like you’re looking forward to playing new shows.

Yeah, half and half. I’m petrified to play them but I also can’t not play them. It’s my favourite thing to do after I’ve done it, it’s my least favourite thing to do before I’ve done it, but the afterwards is way worth it.

Be sure to check out Alfie Neale’s breathtakingly reflective latest single ‘Morning Time’ which is available to buy and stream on all music platforms now. You can also experience the summery visualiser, complete with lyrics, for his uplifting track ‘Me and My Girl’ on YouTube here.

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