Tropical Soul Journey: Bobby Alu's Blissful Melodies and Feel-Good Vibes
Bobby Alu brings blissful melodies and feel-good energy on his fourth studio album Keep it Tropical out May 3rd.
Keep it Tropical is a journey through Bobby's joyous tropical soul sound, with focus track Usually An Avalanche, stripping it back with a folk inspired flare. The track's lyrical content is about reckoning with a cascade of overwhelming feelings: Slow fade / quiet place / stacking up the letter forming something to say / I know when I'm on the edge / it's usually an avalanche in my head.
"The cascading thoughts in your mind when you have overwhelming feelings, sometimes it becomes so full on like an avalanche. It truly can be wonderful, however it can also change to painful. It’s fascinating that such a flip can dictate our wellbeing. They are just feelings. But they are also everything," said Alu on Usually An Avalanche.
Keep it Tropical is Bobby Alu's fourth studio album including singles Ready For Your Love and Sunsets (With You). Discussing the creation of Usually An Avalanche and the broader album, Bobby said:
"How do you find joy? I Keep It Tropical. This is my mantra. What this mantra means for me is to spend time with friends. To take naps. Be generous. Go on adventures. Have gratitude. Enjoy the little things. Strive to be better. Don’t be so serious. Love. Laugh a lot. Eat the odd doughnut. Swim in the ocean. Enjoy the sunshine and warmth. It is an ongoing quest.
The past few years I’ve been performing with my band Paulie Bromley (bass) and Declan Kelly (drums). Great friends, amazing musicians and inspiring humans. The feeling on stage and in the crowd at our shows has a special warmth and positivity. I really wanted to capture that in this album. We all have studios and rotated between the three. Yama-Nui on the Sunshine Coast with Paulie, The Nest in Sydney with Dec, and my studio Fig Tree Stables in Byron Bay.”
The fourth single Keep it Tropical received editorial support from Music Feeds, GC Live, The Point Music News, and Yahoo! + editorial placement on Spotify's Indie Arrivals, and Apple Music's Jazz Soul Cafe and New in Alternative. Prior single 'Ready for Your Love' received editorial support from Tone Deaf, Amnplify, The Point Music News, GC Live, Sounds of Oz, and Australian Music Scene + Spotify editorial placement on New Music Friday AU/NZ, Island Time, and Reggae Nation.
Bobby Alu is currently on his Breakfast Shirts regional cafe tour where he'll be slinging songs and eating his way through regional Australia with all star cafe reviewing internet personality Breakfast Shirts throughout March and April.
Join Bobby with the full band for the album release weekend celebration. He will be joined by very special guests: ARIA-award winning world/roots/jazz mates The Vampires (SYD). They will be playing a show at Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on 4 May and a free entry show at the Brunswick Hotel on 5 May.
This will be a rare opportunity to see Bobby in 2024 before he hits the road in the northern hemisphere for most of the year, including an extensive support run in North America with Xavier Rudd.
His previous studio album Flow was nominated as AIR's Best Blues & Roots album 2020, debuted at #1 in the AIR Independent Labels Chart, and was named Double J Feature album. Bobby's warmth and positivity has generated legions of loyal fans, with 500,000 Spotify monthly listeners, and regular support on ABC and Double J.