If you’ve not read our review of ‘Dream Fever’ by Cleo Alexandra, you can do it here – then come back here and read our interview with the Australian artist herself.
Hi Cleo, thank you so much for talking to us today!
The video for ‘Dream Fever’ is very striking, lots of flashing images and somewhat contronting. What was the thinking behind the concept and what message do you want viewers to come away with?
I wanted the video to have an old-school MTV vibe. I also wanted it to feel a little grungy and wild, reminiscent of a hot summer’s night where you let your inhibitions go to capture the feeling of the track. I hope others come away happy and empowered after hearing the track and after seeing the video I hope they just want to let loose, dance, and have fun.Â
You directed the video, what did you think of the experience, and is this something you might consider doing more of in the future, not just with your own music, but further afield?
The experience of directing, filming, and editing the video was very exciting! Seeing your vision come to fruition is definitely a thrill. I respect people who direct music videos for a living because it is a lot of hard work and very time-consuming but for now, I want to focus primarily on creating music as that’s always been my main passion.
You started writing poetry and songs and playing musical instruments when you were still only 5 years old. What advice do you have for others who are just starting out making music, and also for those parents who might see their children write songs? How were you encouraged?
My advice would be not to compromise on what type of music you want to make even if it’s not what’s popular right now – otherwise, it won’t be fulfilling. If it’s what your child wants to do, trust me your kid knows it’s not an easy career path and they don’t need to be reminded constantly. Take their choice to follow music seriously, they will need your support the most.
Who are your musical inspirations, and what are the top 3 tracks on your playlist?
I have heaps of musical inspirations as far back as artists from the 1930s like Robert Jhonson all the way through to current artists like the band Maneskin – who are incredible! But right now my top three tracks that I have on repeat are: Covered In Chrome by Violent Soho. Calypso by Spiderbait and Cake by Rihanna.
If you could go back to any time or place, where you were restricted to making music in the style of that era, where and when would you go, and why?
I’d go to the 80s for sure! Everything seemed a lot more fun, wild, and free in music back then and rock was leading the way. I also feel artists were more likely to become popular or signed based on their talent. Now it seems superficial markers like your Instagram following take position over that and so much is left to algorithms, which can truly be a bummer sometimes.
What’s next on the horizon for Cleo Alexandra? What can fans expect?
The Dream Fever lyric video is dropping in the next week and the remix is dropping on the 23rd of September! So excited to share it with everyone!
Finally, what question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview, but nobody ever does?
This one, ha ha! Um probably, how many hours go into creating a song and the process involved, especially when working long distances with producers. I’d love to be asked about that.Â
Check out Cleo Alexandra and her music online on her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Watch the video for ‘Dream Fever’ below. Make sure to also check out our review of ‘Dream Fever’ here.
