There’s a certain alchemy that happens when vulnerability meets pop sheen, and Filipino-Australian newcomer ALEXIS is proving herself a master of the craft. Following the luminous shimmer of her debut “Blue Jeans,” her second single, “HATE IT HERE,” reveals a deeper, darker corner of her artistry—one that is equally tender and exhilarating. Where many young artists chase immediacy, ALEXIS allows contradiction to bloom, crafting a song that aches with honesty even as it sparkles with colour.
The track is, in many ways, a manifesto for her self-described “upbeat sad girl” aesthetic. Glistening synths and buoyant percussion invite the listener into a dancefloor daydream, yet the lyrics undercut the glitter with something rawer. “This song dives headfirst into my struggles with navigating my identity, self-acceptance and the guilt that comes with questioning it all,” ALEXIS explains—and you can hear every syllable of that unease in her voice. It’s a performance that recalls the diaristic directness of Olivia Rodrigo or Conan Gray, but ALEXIS brings her own shade of intimacy: one grounded in heritage, introspection, and the honesty of lived experience.
Recorded at a songwriting camp in Bali with Murphi Field, Sally Chatfield, Oliver Kindred, and Tyler Murray, “HATE IT HERE” captures the sound of discovery. The partnership with Murray in particular seems pivotal; together, they’ve unearthed what ALEXIS calls her “true sound,” a finely balanced blend of emotional candour and pop immediacy. The production never overwhelms—glossy enough to dazzle, restrained enough to leave space for the song’s truths to breathe.
If the song’s confessional tone is its backbone, the visuals flesh out its soul. Directed by Justin Cueno and assisted by Junaid Mohtaj, the video unfolds within a mirrored installation—a labyrinth of reflection that speaks to the multiple selves we inhabit. On the single’s cover art, ALEXIS dons a traditional Filipinana blouse, a nod to her cultural identity and the tensions of belonging that run through the song. These choices aren’t mere aesthetic flourishes; they deepen the narrative, positioning ALEXIS not just as a singer-songwriter but as an artist deeply aware of her cultural and creative landscape.
