Alex in a pretty good space

SYDNEY folktronica singer-songwriter Alex the Astronaut’s career ascent continues next week when she splashes down in Hobart, joined by another of Australia’s most exciting rising stars. Alex the Astronaut — aka Alex Lynn — was attending university in New York on a soccer scholarship, spending her days studying science and writing songs in her dorm, when she released her debut EP To Whom

it May Concern early last year. After graduating she moved back to Sydney, where she set about making her second EP See You Soon — which would soon take her from “artist to watch’’ to the name on everyone’s lips.

See You Soon’s lead single Not Worth Hiding — a frank letter from Alex to her 16-year-old self, about owning her sexuality — became an unofficial anthem of the same-sex marriage plebiscite’s “Yes’’ campaign, and was played at rallies around the country.

Not Worth Hiding attracted praise from around the globe — including from Elton John, who called the song “fabulous” — and was later voted in at No.23 in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2017.

In September last year Alex the Astronaut became the most talkedabout artist at the annual BIGSOUND conference in Brisbane, with her showcase gig attracting the conference’s biggest audience.

It was there that she was introduced to another rising Australian songwriter, Fremantle’s Stella Donnelly, who won BIGSOUND’s inaugural Levi’s Music Prize. The two write very different music, but they hit it off immediately and became fast friends.

Now Alex the Astronaut and Stella Donnelly have joined forces for a co-headline national tour, performing 12 shows across the country — including one at the Republic Bar in North Hobart from 9pm on Tuesday. Tickets are $28.43, go to www.moshtix.com.au for bookings.