Alison Wonderland

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Alison Wonderland
Alison Wonderland at the ARIA Music Awards in 2013
Alison Wonderland at the ARIA Music Awards in 2013
Background information
Birth nameAlexandra Margo Sholler[1]
Born (1986-09-27) 27 September 1986 (age 34)[1]
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • Record producer
  • singer-songwriter
Instruments
Years active2008–present
Labels
Websitewww.alisonwonderland.com

Alexandra Margo Sholler (born 27 September 1986), who performs as Alison Wonderland, is an Australian electronic dance music producer, DJ, and singer. Her debut album, Run, was released on 20 March 2015, which peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold by ARIA. Her second album, Awake, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums.[3] She was listed at No. 96 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs in October 2018. She is also the highest billed female DJ in Coachella history.[4] Outside of being well-known for her music, she is outspoken about her support for mental health and frequently shares her experiences with her fans.[5]

Personality[]

Early years[]

Alison Wonderland was born as Alexandra Sholler in 1986.[6][7][8] She is of Croatian descent.[9][10] She grew up in Sydney where she trained as a classical musician, specialising in cello.[11][12][13] She performed as a cellist with the Sydney Youth Opera and was later a bass guitarist in a few local indie rock bands.[12][13]

Wonderland later recalled how she developed an interest in electronic dance music, "I went out to a club called Candy's Apartment... Someone played 'Silent Shout' by the Knife... I remember just completely zoning out... and walking over to the DJ and asking, 'What is this track?! Please tell someone what this track is, because this is amazing'."[14] Her performance name is a pun to the Lewis Carroll novel Alice in Wonderland.[11][15]

Mental health[]

In 2018, Alison Wonderland revealed that she had been battling depression and suicidal thoughts, caused by an abusive relationship. She had completely lost her appetite for food and social interaction with others,[16] and attempted suicide at one point.[17] Writing the lyrics for her 2017 album Awake was therapeutic.[18] In 2019, she decided to cancel multiple shows in Europe to focus on her mental health after consulting her managers and personal doctors, with overwhelming support from both numerous fellow DJs, EDM artists and fans alike.[19]

Career[]

2012–2013: Remixing and performing[]

During 2012 she worked as a remixer on Sam Sparro's "I Wish I Never Met You", which appeared as a bonus track on that artist's Japanese version of his second album, Return to Paradise (June 2012).[20] Sneha Dave of Music Feeds observed, "[she] proves once again why she's becoming somewhat of a remix authority. Recently played by none other than Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1, [her] rendition perfectly complements Sparro's creamy vocals. Infused with a deep house sensibility, yet imprinted with original flair, this arrangement depicts exactly what a good remix should be – a tribute to the original."[20]

Also in 2012 Wonderland toured with the Parklife Music Festival, visiting Australian city parks in September to October.[21] Her set list included her remixes, Sparro's "I Wish I Never Met You" and Ladyhawke's "Blue Eyes (Alison Wonderland Remix)".[21] Highlights were presented by Falcona on Vimeo, where she was also interviewed by the Bondi Whispers.[21] Purple Sneakers' Lauren Payne noticed, Wonderland's version of "Blue Eyes" is "a very digital remix of Ladyhawke's catchy new single. Swapping the guitar and drums for a more electronic vibe, [Wonderland] has make some techno tweaks to the single and the end product is, in true [Wonderland] style, just plain splendiferous!"[22]

2013–2014: "Get Ready" to Calm Down[]

Alison Wonderland released her debut single, "Get Ready" (featuring Fishing), in July 2013.[11][23][24] The track was co-written by Sholler with Russell Fitzgibbon, Brendan Picchio and Douglas Wright.[25] Fitzgibbon and Wright perform as a house music duo, Fishing.[26] She was signed to EMI Music Australia in 2014,[11] which is part of Universal Music Australia.[27] As a DJ, she embarked on a national tour playing in warehouses.[28]

On 27 June 2014 her five-track debut extended play, Calm Down, was released.[23] It provided two singles, "I Want U" (May) and "Cold". "I Want U", which was co-written by Sholler with Andrew Swanson (a.k.a. Djemba Djemba),[29] peaked at No. 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart,[23] and was certified gold by ARIA in 2016.[30] It topped the Hype Machine charts as her biggest hit to that time.[31]

2015–2016: Run to "Messiah"[]

In February 2015, Wonderland released "U Don't Know" which featured Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips on guest vocals.[32] The music video gained popularity due to Christopher Mintz-Plasse's lead role alongside Wonderland.[33][34] "U Don't Know" peaked at No. 63 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[23] In March, Wonderland released her debut studio album Run. For the album Wonderland used fellow Australian artists, Slumberjack and SAFIA as well as various producers, Djemba Djemba, Awe, and Lido.[32] It peaked at No. 6 in Australia and No. 12 in New Zealand.[23][35] K Spence from YourEDM.com praised the album due to its diversity and her involvement in the album, as she was credited as a writer, vocalist and producer.[36] The title track was issued as a single on 11 June, along with its music video. The music video peaked at No. 6 in Australia which made it her biggest hit to date. "Run" had over two-million streams on Spotify as of 20 January 2016.[37]

On 4 August 2015 a video for the album track "Take It to Reality" featuring SAFIA was released[38] On 4 September 2015 Run was released in the United Kingdom. The third and final single, "Games", was issued on 9 September, and was praised by Spence for its lack of trap elements, in which most of Wonderland's music incorporates.[36] The music video was released on the same day and was a one-take scene of Wonderland performing many sports including Grid Iron, Martial Arts and Chess.[39] A deluxe edition of Run was released on 30 October, which included remixes of the singles, "U Don't Know", "I Want U", "Games", "Run" and "Get Ready".[40]

Alison Wonderland was nominated for in two categories at the ARIA Music Awards of 2015, Best Dance Release for the single, "Run"; and Best Video for "U Don't Know" featuring Wayne Coyne.[41] The latter was in a category that was publicly voted. She was one of eight nominees to gain exactly two nominations.[42]

Her song "Run" was listed on Triple J Hottest 100, 2015 at No. 59.[43] On 6 February 2016 she previewed a track, "Messiah", at a show, which incorporated more pop elements compared to her earlier material.[44] It was released as a single late in 2016 with Australian hip-hop producer, M-Phazes.[45]

2017–2019: "Happy Place" to Awake[]

On 22 September 2017 Alison Wonderland was named New Artist of the Year at the Electronic Music Awards.[46] On 21 October 2017 she was ranked No. 89 on British magazine, DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list.[47] On 9 November 2017 she released a track, "Happy Place", ahead of her second album, Awake.[48][49] Kat Bein of Billboard felt, "[it] purposely plays on the wild ups and downs of mental illness. It opens with airy strings and grounding chimes as Wonderland sings about her struggles to remain in sunny spaces. Tensions grows as the build leads to a jungle gym of clashing noise, landing in one of Wonderland's wildest creations to date."[49] Towards the end of 2017, Alison Wonderland embarked on the "Wonderland Scarehouse Project" local tour, a warehouse show tour through Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland with support from Lido, Lunice, Party Favor, and A$AP Ferg among others. However, due to problems arising from bad weather, the tour resulted in a catastrophic financial loss for Alison Wonderland and her team in the amount of roughly $776,000, forcing Wonderland's touring company into liquidation and Wonderland herself, who suffered the most from the situation, into debt.[50]

2020–present: Upcoming third studio album[]

She is profiled in the 2020 documentary film Underplayed.[51]

On 23 September 2020, Wonderland released "Bad Things",[52] which is the first single from her upcoming third studio album, to be released in 2021.[53][54]

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak positions
AUS
[23]
NZ
[35]
US
[55]
US Dance
[56]
Run
  • Released: 20 March 2015
  • Record label: EMI Music Australia
6 12 1
Awake
  • Released: 6 April 2018
  • Record label: EMI Music Australia
7 14 88 1
Third studio album
  • Released: 2021
  • Record label:
to be released

Extended plays[]

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Calm Down
  • Released: 27 June 2014
  • Record label: EMI Music Australia

Singles[]

As lead artist[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak positions Certification Album
AUS
[23]
NZ
Heat.

[57]
NZ
Hot

[58]
US
Dance

[59]
"Get Ready"
(featuring Fishing)[11]
2013 Non-album single
"I Want U" 2014 38 Calm Down
"Cold"
"U Don't Know"
(featuring Wayne Coyne)
2015 63 29 Run
"Run"
"Games"
"Messiah"[61]
(with M-Phazes)
2016 Non-album single
"Happy Place"[49] 2017 Awake
"Church"[62] 2018 54 5 35
"No"[64] 7 44
"High"[65]
(featuring Trippie Redd)
18
"Easy"[66] 9
"Lost My Mind"
(with Dillon Francis)[67]
2019 23 Non-album singles
"Peace"[68] 18 33
"Time"
(with Quix)[69]
"W.W.C.D.B."
(with phem)[70]
2020
"Bad Things"[71] 34
"Anything"
(with Valentino Khan)[72]
35
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

As featuring artist[]

Title Year Album
"Bummed"[73]
(Chet Porter featuring Alison Wonderland)
2020 Non-album single

Remixes[]

2012

2014

2015

2017

Awards and nominations[]

Awards and nominations received by Alison Wonderland
Year Ceremony Recipient Category Result
2015 J Awards of 2015[82] Run Australian Album of the Year Nominated
ARIA Music Awards "U Don't Know" Best Video Nominated
"Run" Best Dance Release Nominated
2016 National Live Music Awards[83] Herself Live Electronic Act (or DJ) of the Year Nominated
2017 Electronic Music Awards Herself New Artist of the Year Won
2017 George FM Georgie Awards Herself Artist of the Year Won
2018 ARIA Music Awards Herself Best Female Artist Nominated
Awake Best Dance Release Nominated
2018 Billboard Dance Herself Breakout Artist Won

See also[]

References[]

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  8. ^ Au, Christopher Kevin (27 September 2016). "Happy Birthday Alison Wonderland: Our Favourite Moments on the Road, Caught on Camera". Life Without Andy. Mitch Tomlinson, Mitch Ross. Retrieved 12 November 2017. Note: celebrates her 30th birthday.
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  37. ^ [1][dead link]
  38. ^ Alison Wonderland – 'Take It to Reality ft. SAFIA'. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016 – via YouTube.
  39. ^ Alison Wonderland – 'Games'. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016 – via YouTube.
  40. ^ [2][dead link]
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  42. ^ "ARIA Awards". Retrieved 14 March 2016.
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  51. ^ Alisha Mughal, "TIFF Review: 'Underplayed' Highlights EDM's Diversity Problem — and Shows Why It's So Important to Fix It". Exclaim!, September 16, 2020.
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  57. ^ Peaks on the NZ Heatseeker Singles chart:
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  83. ^ "Nominees 2016". NLMA. 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.

External links[]

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