ALEX THE ASTRONAUT

How To Grow A Sunflower Underwater (PIAS)

Australian pop-folk artist Alexandra Lynn, professionally known as Alex The Astronaut, brings forth important discussions of mental health with her latest release, How To Grow A Sunflower Underwater. Sporting a sound not unlike Cavetown, Alex has constructed an album that blends everyday experiences with deeply personal trauma.

Alex’s raw, unfiltered vocals contribute to the pure nature of these tracks: she has a unique voice, relatively unheard in pop music. Several of the tracks on this album including Ride My Bike discuss childhood experiences, good and bad. A contrast to the tracks about childhood, Octopus (released as a single in March 2022) is an honest discussion of Alex’s recent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and uses bubble sound effects throughout the track, while Haircut cements Alex as a pop artist and would certainly be suitable for radio play.

How To Grow A Sunflower Underwater seems to be a progression of Alex’s mental health journey, as seen by upfront mentions of her therapist throughout the album. She is not afraid to have these discussions in her music, which you suspect will be appreciated by her audience.

words RHIANNON FARR