Melbourne songwriter/producer Ben Alpine has just released his debut single, All In Your Stride. It’s a new spin on the familiar sounds of alt-pop artists like The Japanese House and Hippo Campus, with a driving bassline to go along with it.

For a song that’s only just over two minutes long, All In Your Stride is a slow burn. It feels like a song in two parts, with a moody beginning that doesn’t really hint at the funk-laden back half, which came as a welcome surprise.

Tying the two halves of the track together are the vocal effects, which really caught my ear - a mix between the human and the robotic. Using a voice-altering effect isn’t something new in pop music, but Ben uses it well, in a way that doesn’t feel tired. The vocals on the track convey just the right amount of emotion and gravitas, while also making sure not to labour the listener too much. After all, it’s a fun track.

Speaking about All In Yur Stride, Ben says, “I had just gone through this really strange and hazy year of placing all my hopes in people and situations to make me happy, which ultimately didn’t amount to anything. I slowly came to the understanding that I had growing to do and that things will be okay, and with time and effort you can escape these ruts in your life.

“I was writing what I wanted to hear at the time over this instrumental that I felt so connected to, which became this personal mini-anthem for optimism and self-improvement.” The song goes from downbeat to upbeat across its two-minute span, and you’ll feel positive about your day by the end of it.

Starting a project under the name Ben Alpine is something he’s wanted to do for a while, even while being in his former high school band Echo Mono, as well as various SoundCloud projects. Ben says, "My old band broke up in 2018, and I definitely wasn’t about to get up and go do something else with my life.

“Even when the band was together, I wanted to start a ‘side project’ that was a little more genuine to my taste. And I’m excited that that side project is now my main project. It’s the most honest music I’ve ever made for sure."

I’m excited to hear what comes next from Ben Alpine. All In Your Stride clearly shows his potential. There’s a lot of ideas going on in this track, pretty much all of which feel well-realised and relevant - so now the onus is on Ben to see where he decides to take his music next.