Just Alice
Welcome to the world of Alice Laffan - a singer-songwriter from County Laois, Ireland. Alice's love for music and singing began in primary school, thanks to her teacher, the late Lorraine Maher. Lorraine was a remarkable singer-songwriter who ignited Alice's passion for music and encouraged her to pursue a career in the industry. Alice's roots in the Irish midlands have shaped her musical journey, and she continues to express her talents through her music.
Alice is deeply rooted in the lively Traditional Irish Music Scene. Her music draws inspiration from the rich storytelling of folk legends like Luke Kelly and Dougie MacLean. As she explored various musical genres, she discovered a connection with the emotive songwriting of artists like Joni Mitchell and Noah Kahan. Their ability to translate raw emotion into timeless songs inspired Alice to embark on her own musical journey.
Alice's songwriting is a beautiful tapestry crafted from the threads of her personal experiences and astute observations of the world around her. She draws inspiration from the everyday moments of life, as well as the depth and complexity of human connections and experiences. Alice skillfully weaves narratives through her music that deeply resonate with listeners, inviting them to share in the genuine emotions and stories she artfully portrays.
Having graced stages across Ireland, from intimate pub gigs to the illustrious Electric Picnic, Alice's live performances are characterized by raw emotion and authenticity. Her music has also transcended borders, reaching international audiences at events such as the Maryland Irish Festival and An Poitin Stil in America. These experiences allowed her to share her music and stories with listeners from different corners of the world.
Alice has cultivated a dedicated following and is currently working on recording her debut EP after signing with Youngblood Music. 'Wait' is the debut single from the EP, released on May 10th.
Caledonia - Dougie McLean
This was the first song I sang live in a pub with my uncles band, so it holds a special place in my heart. You can’t beat a bit of traditional storytelling, and this is up there with one of the best. I take inspiration from trad songs like this in my own songwriting! Plus, it’s my go-to song for a traditional pub session!
The Bug Collector - Haley Heynderickx
This is an amazing recent addition to my playlist. The bug collector is such a unique song, & it’s so beautifully written and arranged. I try to take inspiration from Haley’s guitar arrangements in my own writing where I can, and inspo from her unique lyricism too.
Life’s For The Living - Passenger
A beautiful song written by one of my favourite songwriters. Passenger’s writing has really inspired my own writing style over the years. The detail in the storytelling in this song is something that always gets me, so this had to be one of my top picks. It was also the first song I learned to finger pick on guitar!
When You’re Gone - Avril Lavigne
This one’s a tearjerker, the first song that ever made me cry & the first CD I ever bought. My favourite teacher sang this to us in school and I’ll always remember her by it.
Shiny Happy People - REM
This is a song that I used to listen to in the car with my Dad as a kid. This song is one of my earliest memories of truly loving music, driving around with the volume up and the windows down, it’s such a feel-good nostalgic song for me! A great song from one of the bands that ignited my love for music!
She Used To Be Mine - Sara Bareilles
A shoutout to my musical theatre days, this song is brilliantly written and it taught me the impact that a simple, yet emotive performance can have, and the importance of storytelling, not just through lyrics, but in live performance too. This song will always be one of my favourites to perform.
Riptide - Vance Joy
This song is a bop & probably the song that kickstarted my musical journey. It was the first song I ever learned on my little blue ukulele - I spent the whole summer learning it and drove my whole family mad playing it on repeat!
Rare Disease - Anna Bates
Rare Disease is a beautiful song written by an amazing artist. I take a lot of inspiration from Anna’s simple, emotive storytelling, similar to that of legend Dolly Parton. This song reminds me that songwriting is like poetry & that lyrics don’t have to be complicated to be impactful.
If We Were A Movie - Hannah Montana
This song is a banger, and one of my favourite songs from childhood. Hannah Montana was one of my first musical inspirations, and I can still remember singing this into my hairbrush with my sister when we were kids. I mean, who doesn’t love Hannah? (and Miley!)
Summertime - My Chemical Romance
I had to pick a song from the band that shaped my teens! It was hard to pick just one. This has always been one of my favourites, ‘Summertime’ perfectly captures the vibe of driving with your friends on a summers evening, it’s really nostalgic for me!
