Hailing from Melbourne, Radio Free Alice have yet to release a full album, but they are already selling out headline shows across the UK. “We’ve still got 30 more to go,” says frontman Noah Learmouth with a laugh that hangs somewhere between excitement and disbelief. The four-piece are midway through a UK tour and, by their own admission, are still finding their feet amid the strange rhythms of life on the road.
“We’re still figuring out how to conserve your energy and stuff,” Learmouth says. “I honestly haven’t figured it out yet.” Drummer Lochie Dowd, however, has found a strategy: “Quick nap before the gig, then loads of drinks after.” For now, van time remains their favourite part of touring. “It’s the only time you’re really disconnected,” says Learmouth. “No one to text, because everyone’s asleep back home with the time difference. You just read and listen to music. You get to breathe, which is nice.”
The intensity of touring seems to carry over into their personal lives as well: the band share a house. Is there ever conflict? “It’s never-ending,” deadpans guitarist Jules Paradiso, though it’s hard to tell whether he’s joking. Noah admits they “argue as much as any other brothers do.”
They clearly are as close as siblings, and that closeness is reflected in their live set, bringing tangible benefits. “I think when you’re living together, you can never really escape the band,” Noah explains. “At some point, you might not want to be in that situation, but when you’re developing as a band, it’s a crucial period. A lot of what separates bands then is purely how committed you are, how much you care, and not being able to escape it. You rehearse, you come back to the house, and you’re still in Radio Free Alice land. It just makes you care so much about it because it’s your whole world. It puts you above other bands in terms of emotional investment.”
It’s a fittingly reflective answer from a band whose sound blends jangly post-punk guitar lines with a yearning sort of melancholy. The band formed in Sydney during the tail end of lockdown in 2020, inspired by artists like Talking Heads, The Strokes and local favourites HighSchool. They’ve since become a staple in Melbourne’s flourishing DIY scene – but that chapter is coming to an end.
“When we flew over here, we ended our lease,” bassist Michael Phillips explains, “because we’re planning to move to London. It’s always been the plan, really. Since day one.” Why London? “Melbourne’s great for developing talent,” they say, “but there’s a low ceiling. We were always sort of considering moving to London, it was always vaguely talked about. At least moving out of Australia and to a bigger town.”
Do they think the low ceiling in Melbourne and Australia is fixable, or is it something inherent to the continent’s geography? “There’s an element of it that’s inherent. I mean, it’s never going to be the cultural capital of the world if you’re that far away. Maybe with the digitalisation of culture that could change, but the time difference alone is a huge setback. So, to an extent, it is inherent. And we don’t have history like you guys have history – that kind of grounds everything”
London’s not without its issues, though. “It’s expensive here. There’s a bit more stress this time around. Luckily, last year we got a grant from the Australian government to fund our tour. This time, though, we’re struggling a little more to keep our heads above water financially.”
Maybe a few record sales will ease the pressure, with a debut album lined up for next year. “It’s coming along well. We’ve got a lot of songs we’re really, really excited to record. It’s mostly written – the bones are there.” Dowd notes that “there’s a lot of extra stuff that can be fleshed out, whether to add a tambourine or tweak the writing. All these decisions make a big difference to the final song. You can’t just go in with half-baked ideas and expect to come out with a masterpiece, unless you’re taking acid and having this crazy experience. Get some acid – maybe that’s what we’ll do.”
When asked where they see Radio Free Alice in a year, frontman Noah Learmouth speaks without hesitation. “Hopefully we’ll have done a great debut album,” he says. “One that we’re very proud of.” Is there one main indicator of success for them? “Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury, headline. That’d be nice. I think that’s the minimum we’ll achieve. Anything less than that, I’m furious.” He’s joking, but you get the sense it’s only partly so, and that their real ambitions aren’t far from that lofty target at all.
It’s also a target that feels entirely within reach. The band show no sign of slowing down – since our chat they’ve released a critically acclaimed new EP and impressed crowds at Reading and Leeds and beyond. For Radio Free Alice, it’s never been about sitting back – it’s all about hitting the next stage, connecting with the next crowd, and keeping the momentum rolling. Judging by how far they’ve come already, there’s no reason to think they won’t get there.
Words: Donovan Livesey Photo: Finn Robilliard