An unforgettably original lyricist, the music of Australian singer/songwriter Alex the Astronaut cycles through a series of radiantly detailed slices of life. Alex documents moments of both the seemingly mundane - from a haircut, a therapy session, a trip to the beach and to the supermarket - to the utterly life-changing - experiences as a caregiver along with the PTSD that followed and their diagnosis with autism.
Alex imbues their songs with equal parts self-awareness and sensitivity, imagination and idiosyncratic humour and in its intimate exploration of post-traumatic growth, Alex cements themself as a truly essential songwriter capable of transforming the way we view ourselves and the world around us.
Alex's 2022 sophomore album, 'How to Grow A Sunflower Underwater', explored Alex's revelation about how trauma can help connect people. Along with magnifying their sense of empathy, Alex was inspired to embrace a new level of emotional transparency on the album, understanding that they needed to continue being vulnerable if they wanted to make something that contributed to the world. These efforts have paid off, with Alex undertaking a 13-date Australia tour in celebration of the release. HTGASU peaked at #47 on the ARIA charts, was nominated for 2 ARIA awards, and placed in NME's 25 Best Australian Albums of 2022.
