Anya Alchemy mesmerises with latest nu-soul/indie single, 'Don't Say You Never Felt It'
Photo credit - Niko Pirounakis
Melbourne’s rising singer/songwriter, Anya Alchemy returns with a mesmerising blend of nu-soul and indie-pop on latest single, ‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ - weaving enthralling vulnerability with lush sonics throughout.
Powered by Anya’s silky, dynamic vocals, ‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ channels soulful warmth alongside indie alt-pop gloss, offering equal parts cathartic immersion and polished earworm.
‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ is buttery soul dripping over an indie-pop/hip-hop crunch — Anya’s vocals absolutely soak this song, but never oversaturate it, instead enhancing every pore. The steadfast groove, soft acoustic strum and keys flowing over each other do all the heavy lifting, leaving that playful bass line and Anya’s delivery free to do as they please, all the while calling out a potential lover’s bluff. There’s a definite nod to the early 00s nu-soul movement here, with a super-clean production that never loses its authenticity. ‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ feels effortlessly slick, but there’s enough warmth, groove and personality bubbling underneath to keep it firmly rooted in the real.
Co-written with Alice Ivy, aka Annika Schmarsel (Mallrat, Thelma Plum, Ecca Vandal), ‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ expands beyond Anya’s usual writing processes, with an auspicious beat from Alice Ivy also proving to be the key to unlocking the sublime end result. “I usually write with my brother so creating with Annika was a really fun experience,” shares Anya. “We had great chemistry and flow in the studio, and the songs just seemed to pour out. I don’t often write from scratch during co-writing sessions either but the lyrics for ‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ seemed to come so naturally when I heard Annika’s beat.”
With mixing courtesy of Matt Bartlem (Boo Seeka, Lastlings, Jarryd James) and mastering by Dale Becker (Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter), ‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ expands on Anya’s ever-flourishing sonic universe, dazzling with confidence and deeply relatable subject matter, as she elaborates, “I wrote this song about someone holding back their feelings for you and lying to themselves. I could tell that they felt the same way as me but wouldn’t admit it.”
“My team is absolutely insane,” Anya continues. “I don’t think I could find a better group of people to believe in and back me. From my brother Jay, my manager Em and then Dale Becker and Matt Bartlem, I just feel so lucky that they all want to be part of this journey with me. As an independent artist, it can be super hard to get ahead or to feel like you can “compete” on the same level as the pros, but with this team behind me I honestly feel like anything is possible.
Alchemy by name and alchemist by nature, Anya Alchemy’s bewitching artistry is a transmutation of raw authenticity and genre-blending nods to indie alt-pop, hip hop and beyond. Hailing from picturesque regional Victoria, Anya’s diverse influences merge with her own signature flair to create a sound that is refreshing and unforgettable, with a huge global appeal. With her chameleonic creative nature seamlessly taking her from heartfelt ballad to powerful anthem without breaking a sweat, Anya’s rich and soulful vocals are also the ultimate cornerstone to her sound, powered by her knack for immersive storytelling and soul-shaking live delivery.
From her 2019 debut single ‘Home’ featuring Pez through to her 2024 anthem ‘ICK’, Anya has continued to seek beyond the boundaries of her own creativity, exploring new sonic terrain at every step, while also pushing herself as an artist. She’s shared stages with Conrad Sewell, Pierce Brothers, Boo Seeka, The Audreys, Nathan Cavaleri and more, as well as performing at Melbourne’s Hello Sunshine Festival with The Veronicas, Grinspoon, Bliss N Eso and more.
Continuing to carve out her sonic sorcery in 2026 and beyond, ‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ heralds the beginning of an onslaught of killer releases to see the year out, belt up and standby for the unforgettable magic of Anya Alchemy.
“I’ve got stacks of singles waiting to be released this year and next, and am very happy to finally have my babies out in the world,” says Anya. “It sounds cheesy, but I just love making music, writing and singing. And even if it never made/makes a dime, this is still what I want to be doing until I die.”
‘Don’t Say You Never Felt It’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
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