ALEXIS has returned with her most vulnerable release yet, unveiling new single HATE IT HERE. The track follows the breakout success of her shimmering debut Blue Jeans and sees the Filipino-Australian pop artist lay her emotions bare in a striking exploration of identity, self-acceptance, and the bittersweet contradictions of growing up.
Blending pop, synth-pop, indie-pop, and pop-rock influences, HATE IT HERE captures what ALEXIS describes as her “upbeat sad girl” sound, music that makes you want to dance even as it tugs at the heart. Fans of Conan Gray, Griff, Rachel Chinouriri, Maisie Peters, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter will find themselves instantly drawn to its confessional lyricism and lush textures.
“This song dives headfirst into my struggles with navigating my identity, self-acceptance and the guilt that comes with questioning it all,” ALEXIS shares. “Writing it was scary, because for the first time I was voicing out loud everything I didn’t like about myself. But it’s become one of my favourite songs, raw, honest, and something you don’t know whether to dance or cry to.”
The track was co-written at a Bali songwriting camp in 2023 with Murphi Field, Sally Chatfield, Oliver Kindred and Tyler Murray, marking ALEXIS’ first collaboration with Murray. She credits this creative partnership with unlocking her “true sound.” The single is paired with striking visuals directed by creative partner Justin Cueno with support from Junaid Mohtaj. Shot inside a custom-built mirror installation, the imagery reflects themes of identity and introspection. The artwork features ALEXIS in a traditional Filipinana Baro blouse, a symbolic nod to her cultural heritage and the push and pull between belonging and self-discovery.
Momentum has been steadily building since the release of Blue Jeans, which introduced ALEXIS as a fresh voice in the pop landscape. Early achievements include more than 28,000 streams on Spotify, features on Apple Music editorial playlists such as Pop Chill, New in Pop, and Relationship Goals, as well as airplay on triple j’s PRISM and Unearthed Radio. Tastemakers awarded her four-star reviews, and her music has already gained traction across multiple Spotify playlists and interviews with key platforms.
Behind the scenes, she has been collaborating with some of the industry’s most in-demand producers, among them Grammy-nominated Dan Gleyzer (BTS, Noah Cyrus), Aidan Hogg (G Flip, The Beaches), Liam Quinn (Peach PRC, Ruel), and Tyler Murray.
Born Alexandra-Isabelle Barrientos and raised in Western Sydney, ALEXIS grew up surrounded by music, from family karaoke nights to classical piano recitals, before studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Now 22, she channels those experiences into songs that balance playfulness with vulnerability, a combination that speaks directly to the complexities of modern youth.
