Heavily inspired by a worrying health diagnosis off the back of a gruelling month long tour across Europe and Scandinavia, thematically, the EP poses questions about mortality, and "how to make yourself a better life in a world that often feels apocalyptic". The new single "My Whole Life" was written during her recovery, dutifully capturing that melancholic introspection, providing a poignant and witty reflection on the fragility of existence.
"What I had initially dismissed as standard post tour burnout continued for months, eventually escalating into the diagnosis of a more serious health condition. It was the first time I’d really had to consider my health and mortality, and this was the first song I wrote when I started on the medication that I’ll now be on for life," Costelloe explains. "I looked back on all the times I’d not felt right for years and wondered how different things could have been if I’d acted sooner. It was a real wake up call to appreciate the life I have and take care of myself and the people I love."
On working with Mike Lindsay, Alice Costelloe notes how he broadened her horizons in terms of songwriting and production: "This record opened up my eyes to a whole different way of doing things, not just sonically but also in terms of how to actually enjoy making a record, to have fun with it. It felt like no idea was too silly to explore (even a one minute long recorder solo!). That freedom, encouragement and lack of pressure, combined with Mike’s insane talent made me feel I could truly be and express myself because I knew it was all going to turn out ok. And as a result, even though it doesn’t sound much like what I’ve done before, it feels the most ‘me’ of any record I’ve made.
"In a way, it’s about endings, moving on from old relationships, and contemplating the end of life and the end of the world, but it’s also about desire, desire to dance or drink a glass of wine with someone, but also desire to figure out how to make yourself a better life in a world that often feels apocalyptic."