From Rolling Stone · Angie Martoccio · · 2m
Lizzy McAlpine finds her light on 'Angel'
The singer-songwriter on Broadway dreams, musical heroes, and why her new album feels like coming home.
In brief
The singer-songwriter on Broadway dreams, musical heroes, and why her new album feels like coming home. McAlpine credits her Broadway role in Floyd Collins with restoring her confidence and inspiring her most mature album yet, which blends influences from Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake. Originally reported by Rolling…
Broadway dream fueled new album
While starring in the musical Floyd Collins, McAlpine wrote her fourth album Angel, out September 18. She says the experience gave her confidence and helped her feel like a new person.
“I got my light back. That's how I felt when I came home.”
Angel combines her best work
McAlpine calls Angel her favorite album yet, saying it layers together elements from her first three records while feeling more mature. She sees it as building on 2024's Older, which was her artistic reset.
“It combines my first three records together, and is more mature and grown up.”
She performed the album unseen
McAlpine played two phone-free shows in London and Brooklyn, performing Angel in full to crowds unfamiliar with the new songs. She says the vulnerability of playing unreleased music gave her an adrenaline rush.
“Playing new songs that no one has ever heard, it really gives me an adrenaline rush.”
But phones return for tours
McAlpine won't ban phones at her regular shows, believing fans deserve to capture and relive the concert experience. The phone-free shows were special exceptions, not a touring policy.
“Being able to capture the memory of being there and having videos to look back on, I think that's a big and special part of going to see a show.”
Joni Mitchell inspired the album
Angel was influenced by Joni Mitchell's Hejira. McAlpine met Mitchell during a Hollywood Bowl rehearsal in October 2024 and was overwhelmed by the encounter, barely remembering what she said.
“I think I honestly blacked out. I was full body chills, almost in tears the whole time.”
First song drew from Crosby, Stills & Nash
The opening track, The Light in the Painting, was inspired by Crosby, Stills & Nash's Lady of the Island, which Graham Nash wrote for Joni Mitchell. McAlpine wrote it backstage while signing posters.
“The first time I heard it I was like, 'This is the most magical song.'”
Nick Drake gets co-writing credit
A Car Wash and a New Pair of Pants interpolates Nick Drake's One of These Things First. McAlpine didn't know the Drake song when she wrote hers, but reached out to his estate to credit him after discovering the similarity.
“They feel like sister songs to me. I'd never heard that song when I wrote 'Car Wash.'”
The one thing
McAlpine credits her Broadway role in Floyd Collins with restoring her confidence and inspiring her most mature album yet, which blends influences from Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake.
