Alex Jayne’s recent single Clouds is a perfect slice of restrained euphoria in the vein of Lana Del Rey, but her lyrical shrewdness and emotive delivery  – not to mention the beautifully-subversive video – sets it apart for special praise and some well-deserved industry buzz.

With preceding singles Backseat and 90s Dream displaying a more electro-pop production, Jayne’s influences are not so immediately evident in her sound, so she spoke to us about some of her favourite music and more…

Three albums I love

Kate Bush – Hounds of Love

Kate Bush is my heroine. My mum would play her to my sister and I as kids, I’d dance wildly to it in the living room. Looking back, I can see why she connected with my imagination as a child. I read her biography during lockdown (with a highlighter!). I love that Kate produced this album. To me, she’s a true genius. One of the all time greats.

Leonard Cohen – Songs of Love and Hate

It was hard choosing between this and Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. Both are huge inspiration to me as songwriters. It’s Leonard Cohen’s lyrics that are untouchable – he has a way of articulating the human condition that’s so unique. Famous Blue Raincoat is an amazing perspective on a love triangle.

Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence

I adore this album. My favourite Lana. The opening song Cruel World always takes my breath away. Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys produced most of it and it really stands out. It draws you into a world of guitars and darkness; it’s gritty, seductive and feels super nostalgic. There’s a track towards the end Old Money which, to me, is one of her most beautiful songs.

A film I love:

Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola)

I can’t take my eyes off this film. There’s something really intimate but lonely about it at the same time. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson (absolute girl crush) against the backdrop of Tokyo. It captures the intoxication of fleeting encounters, how you form intense connections with people that might be short lived, but leave a romantic imprint and a tonne of “what if”s. I love The Jesus & Mary Chain’s Just Like Honey on the soundtrack too. Although it kills me that we’ll never know what he whispers in her ear at the end… !

A book I love:

Kazuo Ishiguro – Never Let Me Go” 

The only book where I cried when I finished (whilst on a train!). It’s a beautiful and harrowing story about the loss of innocence and asks some really big questions. It made me reflect on childhood and how precious it is.

One song that’s important:

Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill 

Yep, Kate again. I listen to this song all the time. It gives me a quiet strength. She’s so determined in the way she delivers her vocals, it’s reinforced by those amazing drums that pound the whole way through. It’s a song about men and women swapping places so that we can understand each other – something only Kate’s amazing brain could come up with!