Artist Interview: Alicia Clifford
Alicia Clifford is stepping into the spotlight with the release of her debut multi-track project, Training Wheels. This EP showcases songs written at the very beginning of her journey as an artist, revisited and reimagined for a powerful and intimate collection of indie-folk tracks. We caught up with Alicia to discuss the significance of the title, the unique all-female collaboration behind the project, and the vulnerability of sharing her deepest thoughts.
Tori: Your new EP is titled "Training Wheels," a name that seems to reflect a journey of growth and finding your footing. Can you elaborate on the significance of this title and how it encapsulates the EP's themes?
Alicia: When I was originally thinking of making the EP, I knew that the songs were written when I was in the infancy of my journey as an artist. And I just thought, training wheels were perfect for what I was trying to say. I actually had that name picked out before I even started recording. I think it just symbolises recognising that you are still learning and looking to those around you. The need for steadiness and support while trying to harvest new skills, navigate change and develop as a person and an artist; knowing that one day you won’t rely on those ‘Training wheels’.
Tori: "Training Wheels" is your debut multi-track project. How does this EP differ from your previous single releases, and what does it feel like to finally share a more comprehensive body of work?
Alicia: Releasing this EP does truly feel like a long time coming. Before I was so focused on having a single out and that felt so monumental at the time. This feels like a proper project, with direction and purpose. I felt a massive sense of accomplishment curating a sonic world from old demos and producing a polished body of work that I could be truly proud of. Revisiting these tracks and recreating them to become what they are felt so much more significant knowing that they were being produced as a collective. Singles are great and super important but it's so rewarding knowing that the ones of this record are mounting towards something more.
Tori: The songs on "Training Wheels" are from the early stages of your career. What was it like to revisit these older tracks, and how did you rediscover your connection to them?
Alicia: It's such an interesting and cathartic experience to come back to works that you feel disconnected from. In a way they were written by a version of me that doesn't exist anymore. So having to now listen and remake them as this version of myself is unnerving in a way. When I was first gaining the confidence to realise that I could actually write songs and use it as a tool for expression/as a way to further myself and expand my creativity, not just as a singer but as an artist, I was limited by my knowledge of the guitar at the time and also my influences as I was still trying to figure out my genre and where I fit. Since then, I have been able to expand my musical knowledge and find peace with where I fit. This led me to being able to reimagine these songs in a way that feels authentic and relevant to me now and carve out my space within indie folk using the sound I have created.
Tori: Was it a challenge to be so emotionally and sonically vulnerable in these songs?
Alicia: Oh absolutely. I think that everyone who writes music can relate to that on some level. It's about finding it within yourself to become comfortable with being uncomfortable and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in order to get the best results.
For me personally, it's not always the songwriting itself that feels the most emotionally challenging, it's when you add layers to the track and complete the final version because it goes from being something that just for you, to being out there for people to listen to some of your deepest thoughts and take a glimpse into your mind. That's when the real challenge begins. Actually having to share it with people feels daunting but also therapeutic. Songwriting can be such a great outlet, and it's a place where I can be most honest. I wanted the sound of the songs to reflect the rawness of the writing and I think that we managed to achieve that.
Tori: You've described your signature sound as having "layered harmonies and melodic guitar hooks." How do these elements play a role in the production of "Training Wheels" and help shape the EP's sound?
Alicia: I absolutely love vocal stacking and had so much fun creating all the harmonies. It was my favorite part of recording because they just add so much depth to each song. When I listen to music, I really want to be transported and let the song carry me in a way. My producer and I spent a long time really building it up to create that impact. Same with the guitar hooks. I’m not someone who can play crazy things on the guitar, but we made it work with little additions and pretty melodies, and then layered effects over the top. In Tightrope we actually looped the guitar and reversed it to create the droning sound that's at the beginning and end. These are all small things that really added to the production and gave it that rich sound.
Tori: A key feature of this project is that it was entirely written, performed, recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by all women. Can you talk about the importance of this collaboration and what that experience was like for you?
Alicia: I could talk about this for days, but working with women is genuinely the best thing ever. There is something so special about creating in an environment where you feel heard and seen, which I know first hand isn't always the case, especially because the music industry is so male dominated. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to go and record at ‘Bluebell studios’ with Female producer, instrumentalist and fellow artist, Felicity Henry. I found her a while back on social media and knew that it was really important to me that this project was women focused/female led as it's quite rare to hear of a project where every stage was worked on by a woman, so I'm really proud of that. She was honestly fab! Because these songs were so raw, I felt that being in a space where I felt really comfortable to be vulnerable was really important to get the most out of these songs. I think it made total sense because some of the songs are so ‘girlhood’ in their themes.
Tori: Let's talk about the singles. "Sandman" was released on October 3rd, and "Tightrope" on October 24th. What can you tell us about these two tracks and why you chose them as the first tastes of the EP?
Alicia: Choosing the singles for this project was difficult because I think all the songs deserve their moment in their own way. Sandman seemed like an obvious first choice because I just loved the sound and thought it was actually super relatable! All about that feeling of getting mixed signals from someone. But it has some of my favourite elements, such as the backing vocals in the second verse! I love that verse so much! Originally Tightrope wasn't going to be a single, I wanted it to be surprise for the EP because the intro is so cool, with reversed guitar loops etc, its super haunting and feels like the perfect opener for the EP, but I actually think its just super catchy and also appeals to a slightly different audience due to the 90’s britpop undercurrent! I wrote that one at a time when I was heavily inspired by Oasis, especially the acoustic stuff.
Tori: The focus track for the EP is "Takes One to Know One." What makes this song stand out as the centerpiece of the project, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Alicia: This one I wrote when I was in lockdown for my 18th birthday and was feeling a bit down. When you reach a milestone that's so monumental and can't share it with anyone, that feels very isolating and it gives a lot of time for introspection! When I finally was able to start playing it live it always got the most response emotionally and the opening line always seems to resonate with people. ‘I don't wanna cry on my birthday, but it always seems to end up that way’... I always get women and girls coming up to me telling me that they cry on their birthday too. I feel like that's such a universal experience! It's just an emotionally intense day. Recording wise, I actually recorded the vocal and guitar all in one take to make it really raw and real and we used a painting, a comb and my guitar case to add some more percussion layers. Which I think is a really funny little detail, that only I know is there. Anyway, I think that the overall sound of the song just felt right to be the focus track because it encapsulates the whole EP! I got a couple of second opinions and straight away everyone was like, yeah that's the focus track. I know this might be a bit niche, but I always imagine it as if it was in the 2000s and the TV ads come up for new albums come up with the a song from the album ‘new EP from Alicia Clifford, featuring the hit ‘takes one to know one’ and it just fits so well behind that in my mind haha. I hope someone gets that!
Tori: Your sound has evolved over time. Who or what are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they helped shape the artist you are today?
Alicia: I started out not knowing what my genre should be. All my life I was surrounded by tons of music and a lot of different types of musical influences from all eras. When I started college I was listening to and performing a lot of RnB because that was what everyone else was doing, but as I started writing myself, I discovered more genres and artists and my style just kind of grew from there. Listening to a lot of indie music, the acoustic, and folk. I kind of fell into my genre based on what was coming out naturally when I was writing. I went from listening to a lot of Oasis, The Verve etc and then Sam Fender, Inhaler, Wunderhorse, but then discovering Phoebe Bridgers, Laura Marling, Adrianne Lenker, Lizzy McAlpine, Wolf Alice and many more! I think I blend them all in some ways, taking inspiration from the chord progressions, or rawness in the vocals, vocal stacking and harmonies, and then the vulnerability in the songwriting. They all show up somewhere in my writing style if you know what to look for. I guess looking back the folky influences were always there with my irish roots, I just needed to come back to it.
Tori: What was the most challenging part of bringing "Training Wheels" to life, and conversely, what was the most rewarding aspect of the process?
Alicia: To be honest, the most challenging part of the process was getting myself back into the headspace where I could feel connected to the songs again. I think when you write something so long ago and no longer really identify with that version of yourself , it's quite hard to then get back into the swing of having to work on that piece of music again. Especially because at the time, I was going through quite a lot emotionally and have since done a lot of work to move myself in a positive direction. And my writing is just a bit different, so coming into it with fresh eyes, dusting them off and really thinking about how I wanted them to sound, and more importantly how I wanted them to feel, was also confronting. It brings on a lot of emotion, but that's also a super power. The most rewarding part of the process was working with Felicity to really collaborate and turn them into tracks that I would actually listen to and create a body of work that feels right for where I’m at now. Trying different sounds and ways of achieving the sounds was really cool. Being able to say that I made a full body of work is one of the most special things and a huge achievement for me as an independent artist!
Tori: As a new artist navigating the music industry, what kind of "support" are you looking for, and what advice would you give to other artists who are in the early stages of their career?
Alicia: The music industry has changed so much over the last couple of decades, and being an independent artist today can feel both empowering and overwhelming. You have to wear all the hats: artist, marketer, manager etc and that can be isolating at times. But it’s also exciting, because for the first time, artists can put themselves out there without needing a label. Honestly, I wouldn’t be here talking to you if it weren’t for social media. I even had a few viral moments and support from artists I admire, which were real pinch me moments. At the start of this year, I made it a goal to build a stronger community around me, and that’s been the best kind of “support” I could’ve asked for. Connecting with other creatives, learning from them, and not feeling like I have to do it all alone has honestly changed my life and I will be forever grateful. My advice to new artists would be to put yourself out there. As scary as it is…go to gigs, open mics, reach out to people, and nurture real human connections. Social media is great for visibility, but relationships and community are what sustain you. Be open to learning, collaborate often, stay kind, and protect your energy. You won’t get everything right the first time, and that’s okay. Growth and creativity come from experimenting, failing, and trying again.
Tori: The full EP released on November 14th. What do you hope listeners feel or experience when they listen to the entire project from start to finish?
Alicia: I hope the EP feels warm, nostalgic, and cozy, like a little escape. I love music that transports you somewhere or makes you feel like you’re floating with it, and I wanted to capture that throughout this project. It opens with Tightrope, which really pulls you in and sets the tone, then moves through Sandman and Takes One to Know One, which balance relatability and raw emotion, before ending with Josh’s Song, a stripped-back, heartfelt closer. It’s meant to take listeners on a journey. I’ve always felt that music is the closest thing we have to time travel. It can instantly bring you back to a specific moment in your life. This EP feels especially fitting for this time of year, and I hope it becomes that kind of soundtrack for others too.
Tori: Looking back on the journey of creating "Training Wheels," what is the most significant thing you've learned about yourself as an artist and a person?
Alicia: Creating “Training Wheels” taught me to really trust myself. My instincts, my ear, and my creative voice. I’ve gained confidence in my songwriting and learned that it’s okay to start over, to grow, and to evolve both personally and professionally. The process also opened my eyes to the importance of connection within the industry. Overall, it’s been a huge learning curve that’s helped me quiet that imposter syndrome and move forward with a stronger sense of who I am as an artist and as a person. It’s also proved to me that I can handle a lot too! And there will be times where I make mistakes, but I think in this industry it’s all trial and error really, so I'm okay with not being a finished project now.
Tori: What's next for Alicia Clifford? Are there any plans to tour or perform the songs from the EP live?
Alicia: What's next for me? Big Question. I think I've spent so much time building this project up and finally having it out in the world is going to feel incredibly surreal so first of all I just want to soak all of that in. I am playing a gig on the 17th of November at ‘The Waiting Room’ in Stoke Newington alongside some amazing artists as my support acts. Mikki Bull, who is a wonderful songwriter. We have been supporting each other for a long time and I was lucky enough to go and record some backing vocals for her project which she also made with Felicity! Then I have Felicity Henry who produced the whole EP and is a fantastic artist alongside that, and finally YAOUANDÉBOXINGCLUB, who did the mastering for the whole project and is extremely talented! It felt right to have them there to support the show and also showcase their talents!
I think the plan is to really enjoy having a body of work out and really use it as a way to propel myself forward into the next stage of my artistry and career. I may try some new things with my sound, experiment a little, work with more people, say yes to things and recognise the progress and milestones. I’d love to have another EP out by this time next year and be doing big things with my career. I’m really looking forward to seeing what 2026 brings for me as an artist and keep elevating!
Comments
Post a Comment