Survival, invisible illness, and the power of music
Singer/songwriter Alu on her album Mrs. Hypochondriac
When a musician is able to delicately weave in a strikingly personal narrative while inviting the listener on a colorful adventure, it’s worth taking note. Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Alu (pronounced A-loo) achieves that feat with her latest album, Mrs. Hypochondriac, offering moody sounds that are experimental, jazzy, trip-hop-y, and goth-like, with lyrics that tackle heavy subjects such as her divorce and recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Despite that inherent weight, Alu’s music is not a downer; but rather remarkably energetic and playful at times. Eager to learn about her craft and influences, we caught up with the talented artist.
SG: How would you describe your music to a new listener?
Alu: Cinematic, dark, whimsical and otherworldly. Like a Tim Burton film mixed with David Lynch and Fellini.
SG: The themes in Mrs. Hypochondriac are incredibly personal and address your M.S. diagnosis. Yet, there is a vibrant and satirical quality to the music and lyrics — almost like a caricature of itself. How did you achieve this balance?
Alu: I grew up in a creative household where wit and humor were highly encouraged. There were some dark times and family tragedies, but humor always helped us heal. The album Mrs. Hypochondriac was inspired by a tremendous amount of personal pain and trauma. My brief marriage, divorce, and MS diagnosis were certainly not part of my expected life plan. Although painful, I eventually could appreciate the absurdity of my situation and I knew I had great inspiration for storytelling through my songs. I easily could have made a doom and gloom album, but I wanted to capture the wide range of emotions I was experiencing. There is pain on this album — though there is also humor and strength. It is dark and uplifting.
Ultimately, Mrs. Hypochondriac is about survival. Humor and life shine through on some of the upbeat, jazzy songs and it was a lot of fun to create dark-cabaret inspired tunes. Instruments like clarinet, saxophone and accordion (by Gabe Morley) help support the playful, humorous themes. Violin and strings (by Hiro Goto) add to the haunting, whimsical vibe.
SG: Assuming the title of “Mrs. Hypochondriac” refers to you, what is the backstory?
Alu: Prior to my MS diagnosis, I had a lot of strange symptoms that would come and go. Some people would dismiss my complaints by suggesting I was a hypochondriac. When I was finally diagnosed after a stressful 6-month process, it was actually a bit of a relief. I was able to understand myself better and make necessary adjustments.
The title track “Mrs. Hypochondriac” is my anthem for invisible illness. It isn’t always possible to tell what a person is suffering through by looking at them. I have been told on countless occasions that I “don’t look sick.” But what does “sick” look like? At the end of the day, I have learned it is best to be kind, compassionate and supportive of those dealing with a health issue or major life change — even if it isn’t so obvious on the surface.
SG: Your previous albums all have quite polarizing titles; Madhouse Masquerade, Lobotomy Sessions and Infomercial Gasmask. Can you talk about the themes that flow through your work?
Alu: I am inspired by so many things: insanity, death, Mars, the Apocalypse, creativity, fear, isolation, childhood, innocence, love, relationships, and more. There is also a lot of social commentary in my work and I use metaphor to illustrate my themes. Some might say that my music is dark, but it is also quite light and sometimes humorous. I have fun writing unusual lyrics and I’m not afraid to push boundaries.
SG: Who are your musical inspirations?
Alu: I listen to a lot of silence and spend a lot of time processing my thoughts, ideas and music in my head. Some of my favorite artists are Tom Waits, Radiohead, Joni Mitchell and Chopin. I’m also inspired by writers like Charles Bukowski and surrealist filmmakers like Federico Fellini.
Here’s the music video for Mrs. Hypochondriac:
If you’re intrigued and want to hear more, Mrs. Hypochondriac is available via iTunes (along with Alu’s previous albums).
Did Alu’s music have a particular effect on you? We’d love to hear about it! Reach out to us on Twitter, or leave a comment below.
Image courtesy of Trevor Seamon/Score Press
