There’s something electric about a song that captures a moment so fleeting, so specific, and yet so universally felt—that spark of a crush, the playfulness of desire, the vulnerability in expression. Rising Filipino-Australian artist ALEXIS channels all of that and more in her new track “Blue Jeans,” a flirty, feel-good anthem born from a split-second subway moment and brought to life through her signature “upbeat sad girl” sound. Blending her cultural roots, formal musical training, and a deep sense of emotional honesty, she’s crafting pop that feels both fresh and deeply personal. In this interview, we talk about the origins of “Blue Jeans,” the art of vulnerability in songwriting, and how family, identity, and a love for rom-coms all find their way into her music.
- Let’s start with “Blue Jeans”—can you take us back to the moment you knew this story needed to become a song?
I was actually on my way to a session when I was on the train and saw this guy in these jeans that looked really good and I had like an instant fleeting crush. This was around the time when Short n Sweet came out and so I came into the session and I just wanted to write a really fun and playful song.
- What does your songwriting process usually look like? Are you more melody-first or lyric-driven?
I definitely am a melody-first kind of writer. Usually my friend/producer Tyler will work on the production and whilst he’s doing that I’ll workshop a melody to it, messing around with different sounds and syllables and then I’ll work the lyrics around it. Sometimes I’ll have a line or two that I know that I want to use and once I’ve got the melody solidified, I’ll find a way to workshop it with the melody.
- You describe your sound as “upbeat sad girl”—how did you land on that aesthetic, and what does it mean to you?
I guess it kind of came about when I was trying to describe to someone what type of music I make! I always said that my music was like that one scene from Easy A where Emma Stone is singing in her room and in the shower to ‘a pocketful of sunshine’ but lyrically I’d explored a lot of different experiences and emotions that wasn’t necessarily the same vibe as it! I love making this type of music – it definitely feels me, I’m having fun writing it but I still get to be honest and vulnerable with it too.
- How has your Filipino-Australian identity influenced your music, storytelling, or creative perspective?
I think being surrounded by Filipino cultural values and perspectives have definitely shaped the way that I approach certain things in my life. For example, family is a really big value to Filipino culture and that is deeply ingrained in my identity and I touch on the importance and love I have for mine throughout songs that I’ve written about them.
Also I think the older I get and the more I’m seeing a bigger representation of Filipino people in western media such as Olivia Rodrigo, GrentPerez, Bianca Bustamante, etc embracing their Filipino identity the more I am as well. Growing up it was always a bit of an insecurity of mine just because I grew up in an area where I am the minority and it was very easy to notice those differences in myself. I think these experiences are uniquely my own but also deeply relatable and allows me to express certain stories and experiences through a specific storytelling lens.
- What music did you grow up listening to in your house, and how do you think that shaped who you are as an artist?
Growing up my family listened to a wide variety of music, from Whitney Houston, to Backstreet Boys, Chaka Khan and Mariah Carey, even soundtracks of different musicals and obviously modern pop like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran – music was just always present. I loved it because it was something that we all shared with each other and it made this already safe space a place that was even warmer and lively. Like to this day, my dad and I have a song that we sing in the car together or during karaoke – it’s run to you by Whitney Houston. I think growing up in this environment where creativity is celebrated and talent is fostered made me feel safe and brave enough to pursue it myself. The support and belief I have from my family is immeasurable and I know that has shaped me as a person but also as an artist .
- You’re currently studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music—how has that formal training influenced your pop songwriting?
I think having that solid foundation of musical theory has let me push my creative boundaries – especially melodically. Writing pop music it’s really easy to fall into the same chord progression or same melodic movement but I think having this training gives me the freedom to push and try different things without feeling silly but also gives me the opportunity to understand why certain chords put together work so well or evoke a certain emotion. I think having this understanding also helps me be intentional with my writing choices
- What role does vulnerability play in your songwriting? Are there lines in “Blue Jeans” that felt scary to write?
I think vulnerability and authenticity is really important in songwriting because people can tell immediately when you aren’t. Sometimes I’m left feeling raw after writing something so personal but those songs end up being my favourite. One of them is actually the next song that I have coming out. It’s called ‘Hate it Here’ and it’s about growing up and feeling so different from everyone but hating that I felt that way because I knew how lucky I was. I remember in the writing session I was having a hard time articulating how I felt but when we started writing it just came flowing out of me and my friends helped me write the song that I wasn’t able to do by myself.
“Blue Jeans” is such a fun and playful song that honestly the scariest thing about writing this song was leaning into that idea and persona. I’m naturally a pretty shy and reserved person so being this and expressing these feelings of a crush was definitely out of my comfort zone but I’m so glad we wrote it!
- What do your family and friends think of the track—especially since it started from such a personal moment?
They absolutely love it! I was worried that it might be a bit awkward having them listen to it and read the lyrics but they think it’s a really great song that sometimes I’ll catch them singing it!
- What’s one thing you hope listeners feel when they hear “Blue Jeans” for the first time?
I hope that they have fun honestly! It’s such a catchy track that I hope it makes them wanna dance and reminds them of a time they felt the same because it’s such a special feeling.
- If “Blue Jeans” was a scene in a movie, what would it look like?
Ooooo this is a really good question! I love a good rom com book and movie so I think this song would appear in a rivals to lovers situation where the couple realise that maybe this tension between them actually is something more! From there they start to see each other in a different light and it’s a build of secret pining but neither of them want to be the first one to say.
