Alice Costelloe - INTERVIEW

Cara: Move On With The Years creates this beautiful sense of being suspended between places emotionally and physically. Sonically and lyrically, it feels like you're inhabiting a kind of liminal space. Was that atmosphere an intentional choice, or did it emerge naturally as the songs developed?

Alice Costelloe: I spent a lot of time by myself while writing the album. I'd come home from work, change out of my work clothes, light a candle and create this completely different environment for myself. It became this little cocoon that I returned to every day for months. I think that space allowed me to stop reaching for things that weren't natural to me and just focus on what felt authentic. At the same time, I was living through many of the experiences that ended up on the record, so I was genuinely in a transitional period. I probably wasn't the best partner, sister or friend during that time because I was so immersed in this world, but I think that focus helped make the album feel cohesive.

Cara: Memory, identity and personal history seem to run through the album. Were those themes something you consciously set out to explore, or did they reveal themselves during the writing process?

Alice Costelloe: It was a bit of both, but necessity played a big part. I had booked studio time with Mike Lindsay months in advance and by the summer I realised I barely had any songs. I'd been trying to come up with clever concepts for an album, but nothing was working. Eventually I realised I was avoiding writing about the things that were actually happening in my life. Once I stopped resisting that and let those songs come naturally, everything clicked. "Anywhere Else" was the first song I wrote, and after that the whole record started to take shape.

Cara: One of the most striking things about the album is its instrumentation. There are woodwinds, synths and unexpected textures that make it feel very different from the standard guitar-band template. Were there particular sounds you knew had to be part of the record?

Alice Costelloe: Growing up in indie bands, it often felt like there were rules about what was acceptable. Anything outside of guitars, bass and drums could seem too strange. Working with Mike really changed that. On an earlier EP, I'd jokingly suggested using recorder parts and he was completely supportive. That gave me confidence to experiment.

I wanted to build the album around sounds I could create myself rather than relying on technically perfect performances. I'm not a great guitarist, so instead of forcing that, I leaned into flute, recorder and different textures. It wasn't about perfection—it was about finding the right feeling. Mike encouraged that approach completely.

Cara: The record balances playful musical experimentation with deeply vulnerable songwriting. Do you feel more liberated after releasing something so personal, or more exposed?

Alice Costelloe: It's definitely the most honest record I've ever made. I've played in different projects and released music before, but this is the first thing that feels completely and authentically me, both musically and lyrically.

Making it was strangely easy because I stopped worrying about what anyone else was doing and simply followed my instincts. But now I think the challenge is figuring out what comes next. I don't want to dig through my soul in exactly the same way again. I know I want to stay honest, but maybe not quite so exposed.

Cara: Have audience reactions changed your relationship with the album at all?

Alice Costelloe: Absolutely. I was genuinely surprised by how many people got in touch saying the record reflected their own experiences. I thought the songs were incredibly specific to my life, so hearing people describe them as their story too was unexpected.

The messages were often very moving. People shared difficult experiences and talked about how much the songs resonated with them. It made me realise that being specific doesn't necessarily make something inaccessible. In fact, it can have the opposite effect.

Cara: Were there any non-musical influences that helped shape the album?

Alice Costelloe: Honestly, my taste in books and television is terrible. I mostly consume comfort media. But while writing the album, I realised I couldn't just sit in my studio all day and expect creativity to appear.

I started forcing myself to engage with the world more. I'd visit galleries, go to life-drawing classes, take nature walks and experience whatever cultural events London had to offer. It sounds simple, but I realised that if you don't fill yourself up with interesting experiences, you eventually have nothing left to draw from creatively.

Cara: You mentioned creative routines. Was there anything that helped you stay connected to that process?

Alice Costelloe: There's a book called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron that I've used whenever I've been writing a record or an EP. You have to get past some of the American self-help language, but the core idea is really useful. It encourages you to nurture yourself creatively rather than constantly demanding output from yourself. That was incredibly important while making this record.

Cara: If you had to choose a past, present and future artist—someone who shaped you, someone inspiring you right now, and someone you think deserves much wider recognition—who would they be?

Alice Costelloe: The past artist would definitely be Nina Simone. I was obsessed with her as a child. My grandmother bought me everything Nina Simone-related she could find. There was something about the emotional honesty in her music that completely captivated me.

For the present, I'd choose Cate Le Bon. I admire how confident she is in her own artistic vision. She's entirely in control of her sound and isn't trying to be anyone else.

For the future, there's a Welsh band called Pys Melyn. Their music is beautiful and they create these incredible emotional landscapes. I've been listening to them constantly and I really hope more people discover them.

Cara: Finally, after making a record as personal as Move On With The Years, what are you taking forward into the next chapter?

Alice Costelloe: I think the biggest lesson is trusting my instincts. Making this album taught me that the most rewarding work comes from following what feels natural rather than chasing what you think you should be making. I don't know exactly what the next record will sound like, but I know I want to keep hold of that honesty and creative freedom.