The Southland binge drinking culture was the inspiration for musician Alex Dykes' first single, which is being released on Friday this week.

The Central Southland teenager launched his music career after winning the Southland RockQuest solo vocalist final in 2017 and is now studying politics at Otago University, while continuing to write and perform music.

He said while most young people are responsible in their alcohol consumption, there was still a binge-drinking culture which was worrying.

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“This issue was the inspiration for my first single, and ‘The Alcoholics’ Waltz’ was born.

“It’s a song about a relationship that goes wrong, and it’s alcohol and excessive drinking that has caused the problems.

“It’s not preachy or anything. It’s a pretty little song written in waltz timing about being in love with someone more in love with the bottle than they are with you.

“Its chorus really packs a punch, and even if it just makes one person re-think the way they approach alcohol, then it’s been effective.”

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A music video, recorded at the NZ Broadcasting School in Christchurch earlier this year, will be released this Friday alongside the single.

“It’s a great video which really tells the story of my song, and I’m grateful for the support the students gave me in recording this.”

Dykes has been performing and writing music since primary school, but it wasn’t until he won the solo vocalist section at Southland RockQuest in 2017 that he gained the confidence to pursue his music seriously.

“Since I’ve been in Dunedin I’ve met a lot of great musos and enjoyed the music scene that’s happening up here. It’s spurred me on to experiment more and develop my own style of music – which I’d describe as a mix of indie singer-songwriter and ambient dance music.”

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Dykes has played opening gigs with local acts at U-BAR, and Starters Bar in Dunedin, alongside regular appearances at The Bog’s Open Mic Night. He has also performed at Invercargill’s Tuatara Bar and the Winton Open day and A&P Show.

“Unfortunately most of the gigs planned for this year have been cancelled because of COVID-19, but I’m looking forward to sharing my first single on stage at The Dog with Two Tails in Dunedin next month when I open for Invercargill’s Sam Cullen.”

Dykes will release his single on Spotify on Friday (September 26) and it can be pre-saved and pre-ordered by clicking the following link:  

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/alexdykes/the-alcoholics-waltz-2

He has just finished writing his debut album ‘The Dunedin Study’ that includes ‘The Alcoholics Waltz and’ several other songs, based around his two years of student life at Otago University, which he hopes to release independently in the summer.

“It’s an exciting time, and it just shows that with a bit of persistence, positivity and honesty can get you a long way.”