Next Wave #536: Foxes

More than a mere blip on the pop radar…

Born Louisa Rose Allen in Southampton, the 23-year-old singer who goes by the moniker of Foxes has already won America’s hearts and dancefloors with a song by mega producer Zedd, ‘Clarity’.

It was one of her own songs though, ‘Youth’, originally a 7” on Neon Gold Records, that Zedd heard first. He made it to the front of the line of a modern-day fairytale list of collaborators, one including Fall Out BoyRudimental, and Jessie Ware

Foxes’ songs are not just pop music, but more like a Greek paean. Her ascending lyrical journey gets the anthemic treatment to where one is in a frenzied state of exaltation. The reigning pop star Katy Perry agrees she is someone to keep on your radar. 

When Clash catches up with her, she’s locked into a studio session with Ghostwriter and super-producers Future Cut finishing her upcoming album, due out early next year. She’s about to head out on a UK tour, and has released the video for ‘Youth’. “I can’t wait to get this music out and make more,” she fizzes. “But of course, let’s have a quick chat. Please!”

With so much happening, even her dreams are of music studios: “Oh my God, it is the most frustrating thing. A melody will come into my head or a lyric right when I am about to fall asleep. And you have to choose: do I get up for this song, or do I stay asleep? So there you are, half asleep, running to your phone, and put a really awful memo in your phone singing out of tune.”

Her high energy also gives way to her personal life, and what little extra time she has: “Have you heard of Laughter Yoga? It’s good for relaxation and letting out tension. And really just laughing in general has helped me chill out, I do it quite regularly.”

She erupts in contagious laughter about it. “Music is such a big part of my life. I always make time to just listen too. At the moment there are loads of great music. Haim are really great. The 1975 are brilliant. Oh, and Icona Pop… those girls!”

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Foxes, ‘Youth’

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Where: London via Southampton

What: Dreamy pop

Get 3 Songs: ‘Youth’ (above), ‘Clarity’, ‘White Coats’

Fact: She arrived in London the day she turned 18 to study music… and immediately dropped out.

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Words: Jenna Aranda

Photo: Neil Bedford (website

Find Foxes online here

The new issue of Clash magazine, featuring a buffet of new bands to check out, is out now – go and find more

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