Alexandra Margo Sholler (born 27 September 1986), known professionally as Alison Wonderland, is an Australian
electronic dance music producer, DJ, and singer. Her debut album, ''
Run
Run(s) or RUN may refer to:
Places
* Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia
* Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant
People
* Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
'', was released on 20 March 2015, which peaked at No. 6 on the
ARIA Albums Chart
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
and was certified gold by
ARIA
In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...
. Her second album, ''
Awake
Wakefulness is a daily recurring brain state and state of consciousness in which an individual is conscious and engages in coherent cognitive and behavioral responses to the external world.
Being awake is the opposite of being asleep, in which ...
'', debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums. She was listed at No. 96 on ''
DJ Mag
''DJ Magazine'' (also known as ''DJ Mag'') is a British monthly magazine dedicated to electronic dance music and DJs. Founded in 1991, the magazine is adapted for distribution in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, Lat ...
''s Top 100 DJs in October 2018. She is also the highest billed female DJ in
Coachella Coachella may refer to:
* Coachella, California
* Coachella Canal, in California
* Coachella (festival), an annual music and arts festival in California
* "Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind", a 2017 song by Lana del Rey
See also
* Coachell ...
history. Outside of being well-known for her music, she is outspoken about her support for mental health and frequently shares her experiences with her fans.
Personal life
Early years
Alison Wonderland was born as Alexandra Sholler in 1986.
[ Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'][ Note: celebrates her 31st birthday.][ Note: celebrates her 30th birthday.] She is of
Croatian descent. She grew up in
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
where she trained as a classical musician, specialising in cello.
She performed as a cellist with the Sydney Youth Opera and was later a bass guitarist in a few local indie rock bands.
Wonderland later recalled how she developed an interest in electronic dance music, "I went out to a club called Candy's Apartment... Someone played '
Silent Shout
''Silent Shout'' is the third studio album by Swedish electronic music duo the Knife, released on 17 February 2006 by Rabid Records. The album is darker than its predecessor, '' Deep Cuts'' (2003). It spawned four singles: "Silent Shout", "Marb ...
' by the Knife... I remember just completely zoning out... and walking over to the DJ and asking, 'What is this track?! Please tell someone what this track is, because this is amazing'."
Her performance name is a pun to the
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (; 27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet and mathematician. His most notable works are ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (1865) and its sequel ...
novel ''
Alice in Wonderland
''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...
''.
Mental health
In 2018, Alison Wonderland revealed that she had been battling depression and suicidal thoughts, caused by an abusive relationship. She had completely lost her appetite for food and social interaction with others, and attempted suicide at one point. Writing the lyrics for her 2017 album Awake was therapeutic. In 2019, she decided to cancel multiple shows in Europe to focus on her
mental health
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...
after consulting her managers and
personal doctors, with overwhelming support from both numerous fellow DJs, EDM artists and fans alike.
Career
2012–2013: Remixing and performing
During 2012 she worked as a remixer on
Sam Sparro
Sam, SAM or variants may refer to:
Places
* Sam, Benin
* Sam, Boulkiemdé, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Bourzanga, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Kongoussi, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Iran
* Sam, Teton County, Idaho, United States, a populated place
People and fictional c ...
's "I Wish I Never Met You", which appeared as a bonus track on that artist's Japanese version of his second album, ''
Return to Paradise'' (June 2012).
Sneha Dave of ''
Music Feeds
''Music Feeds'' is a free bi-weekly digital music and lifestyle magazine (street press) established in 2008 and based in Sydney, Australia. It is distributed electronically every second Tuesday, with additional material posted on the website r ...
'' observed, "
heproves once again why she's becoming somewhat of a remix authority. Recently played by none other than
Pete Tong
Peter Michael Tong, (born 30 July 1960) is an English disc jockey who works for BBC Radio 1. He is the host of programmes such as ''Essential Mix'' and ''Essential Selection'' on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio stre ...
on BBC Radio 1,
errendition perfectly complements Sparro's creamy vocals. Infused with a deep house sensibility, yet imprinted with original flair, this arrangement depicts exactly what a good remix should be – a tribute to the original."
Also in 2012 Wonderland toured with the
Parklife Music Festival
Parklife Music Festival was an Australian music festival held between 2000-2013 in city parks around Australia in September/October.
History
Until 2012, Parklife was one of Australia's longest running and most popular music festivals.
Starti ...
, visiting Australian city parks in September to October.
Her set list included her remixes, Sparro's "I Wish I Never Met You" and
Ladyhawke's "Blue Eyes (Alison Wonderland Remix)".
Highlights were presented by Falcona on
Vimeo
Vimeo, Inc. () is an American video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider headquartered in New York City. Vimeo focuses on the delivery of high-definition video across a range of devices. Vimeo's business model is through software as ...
, where she was also interviewed by the Bondi Whispers.
''Purple Sneakers'' Lauren Payne noticed, Wonderland's version of "Blue Eyes" is "a very digital remix of Ladyhawke's catchy new single. Swapping the guitar and drums for a more electronic vibe,
onderlandhas make some techno tweaks to the single and the end product is, in true
onderlandstyle, just plain splendiferous!"
2013–2014: "Get Ready" to ''Calm Down''
Alison Wonderland released her debut single, "Get Ready" (featuring Fishing), in July 2013.
The track was co-written by Sholler with Russell Fitzgibbon, Brendan Picchio and Douglas Wright.
[ Note: user may have to enter the title/performer for other tracks to access further information.] Fitzgibbon and Wright perform as a house music duo, Fishing.
She was signed to
EMI Music Australia
EMI Recorded Music Australia Pty Ltd (called EMI Music Australia until May 2013) is an Australian imprint of Universal Music Australia, formerly a subsidiary label of EMI Recordings Ltd and, between 1979 and 1996, that of Thorn EMI. It is Austral ...
in 2014,
which is part of
Universal Music Australia
Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd. (UMA) is the largest Australian music corporation. It is a division of the Universal Music Group. Universal Music Australia's corporate headquarters are located in Sydney, Australia.
Labels
Universal Musi ...
.
As a DJ, she embarked on a national tour playing in warehouses.
On 27 June 2014 her five-track debut extended play, ''
Calm Down'', was released.
It provided two singles, "
I Want U" (May) and "Cold". "I Want U", which was co-written by Sholler with Andrew Swanson (a.k.a.
Djemba Djemba
Andrew Swanson (born August 4, 1987), better known by his stage name, Djemba Djemba, is an American multi-platinum record producer of Pop, EDM and bass music, from Fairfield, IA. Notable works include "Elastic Heart" and " Gangsta". He has prod ...
),
[ Note: user may have to enter the title/performer for other tracks to access further information.] peaked at No. 38 on the
ARIA Singles Chart
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
,
and was certified gold by ARIA in 2016.
It topped the Hype Machine charts as her biggest hit to that time.
2015–2016: ''Run'' to "Messiah"
In February 2015, Wonderland released "U Don't Know" which featured
Wayne Coyne
Wayne Michael Coyne (born January 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is the lead singer, guitarist, keyboardist, theremin player and songwriter for the band the Flaming Lips.
Early life
Coyne was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United Stat ...
from
the Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The band currently consists of Wayne Coyne (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steven Drozd (guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, vocals), Derek Brown (keyb ...
on guest vocals.
[ Note: additional information is available at tabs, e.g. Credits.] The music video gained popularity due to
Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse (; born June 20, 1989) is an American actor and comedian. He has performed roles such as Fogell (McLovin) in '' Superbad'' (2007), Augie Farcques in '' Role Models'' (2008), and Chris D'Amico in '' Kick-Ass'' (20 ...
's lead role alongside Wonderland.
"U Don't Know" peaked at No. 63 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
In March, Wonderland released her debut studio album ''
Run
Run(s) or RUN may refer to:
Places
* Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia
* Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant
People
* Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
''. For the album Wonderland used fellow Australian artists,
Slumberjack
Slumberjack (stylised in all caps) is an Australian electronic music duo consisting of Morgan Then and Fletcher Ehlers. Their 2017 single, "Fracture", peaked at 89 on the ARIA Charts.
Members
Morgan Then
Morgan Then was raised in Borneo, b ...
and
SAFIA Safia may refer to:
__NOTOC__ People
* Safia (given name)
Places
* Safia, Burkina Faso
* Safia, Yemen
* Safia Rural LLG, Papua New Guinea
Biology
* ''Safia'' (moth), a genus of moth Music
* Safia (band)
Safia is an Australian electronica, in ...
as well as various producers, Djemba Djemba, Awe, and Lido.
It peaked at No. 6 in Australia and No. 12 in New Zealand.
K Spence from ''YourEDM.com'' praised the album due to its diversity and her involvement in the album, as she was credited as a writer, vocalist and producer.
The title track was issued as a single on 11 June, along with its music video. The music video peaked at No. 6 in Australia which made it her biggest hit to date. "Run" had over two-million streams on
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...
as of 20 January 2016.
On 4 August 2015 a video for the album track "Take It to Reality" featuring SAFIA was released On 4 September 2015 ''Run'' was released in the United Kingdom. The third and final single, "Games", was issued on 9 September, and was praised by Spence for its lack of
trap
A trap is a mechanical device used to capture or restrain an animal for purposes such as hunting, pest control, or ecological research.
Trap or TRAP may also refer to:
Art and entertainment Films and television
* ''Trap'' (2015 film), Fil ...
elements, in which most of Wonderland's music incorporates.
The music video was released on the same day and was a one-take scene of Wonderland performing many sports including Grid Iron, Martial Arts and Chess.
A deluxe edition of ''Run'' was released on 30 October, which included remixes of the singles, "U Don't Know", "
I Want U", "Games", "Run" and "Get Ready".
Alison Wonderland was nominated for in two categories at the
ARIA Music Awards of 2015
The 29th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) are a series of award ceremonies which include the 2015 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA Hall of Fame Awards, ARIA Fine ...
,
Best Dance Release for the single, "Run"; and Best Video for "U Don't Know" featuring Wayne Coyne.
The latter was in a category that was publicly voted. She was one of eight nominees to gain exactly two nominations.
Her song "Run" was listed on
Triple J Hottest 100, 2015
The 2015 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced Australia Day, 26 January 2016. It is the 23rd countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as chosen by the listeners of Australian radio station Triple J.
Voting commenced on 9 December 2015, an ...
at No. 59.
On 6 February 2016 she previewed a track, "Messiah", at a show, which incorporated more pop elements compared to her earlier material.
It was released as a single late in 2016 with Australian hip-hop producer,
M-Phazes
Mark Landon (born 1 February 1983), better known by his stage name M-Phazes, is an Australian-born producer based in LA. He has produced records for Logic, Demi Lovato, Madonna, Eminem, Kehlani, Zara Larsson, Remi Wolf, Kiiara, Noah Cyrus, a ...
.
2017–2019: "Happy Place" to ''Awake''
On 22 September 2017 Alison Wonderland was named New Artist of the Year at the Electronic Music Awards.
On 21 October 2017 she was ranked No. 89 on British magazine, ''
DJ Mag
''DJ Magazine'' (also known as ''DJ Mag'') is a British monthly magazine dedicated to electronic dance music and DJs. Founded in 1991, the magazine is adapted for distribution in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, Lat ...
''s Top 100 DJs list.
On 9 November 2017 she released a track, "Happy Place", ahead of her second album, ''
Awake
Wakefulness is a daily recurring brain state and state of consciousness in which an individual is conscious and engages in coherent cognitive and behavioral responses to the external world.
Being awake is the opposite of being asleep, in which ...
''.
Kat Bein of ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' felt, "
tpurposely plays on the wild ups and downs of mental illness. It opens with airy strings and grounding chimes as Wonderland sings about her struggles to remain in sunny spaces. Tensions grows as the build leads to a jungle gym of clashing noise, landing in one of Wonderland's wildest creations to date."
Towards the end of 2017, Alison Wonderland embarked on the "Wonderland Scarehouse Project" local tour, a warehouse show tour through Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland with support from Lido, Lunice, Party Favor, and A$AP Ferg among others.
On April 6, 2018 Alison Wonderland released her second studio album titled
Awake
Wakefulness is a daily recurring brain state and state of consciousness in which an individual is conscious and engages in coherent cognitive and behavioral responses to the external world.
Being awake is the opposite of being asleep, in which ...
, which debut at #1 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic charts in the USA. That same week she played at Coachella on the Sahara stage, billed as the highest female DJ to date.
In 2019 Alison Wonderland toured extensively in the USA, Europe and Australasia, This included headline slots in at huge festivals like EDC Las Vegas and selling out venues like Red Rocks in Colorado 2 times. She was given an honorable mention in the 2019 Forbes list of richest DJs, the first time for a female.
2020–present: ''Loner''
She is profiled in the 2020 documentary film ''
Underplayed''.
[Alisha Mughal]
"TIFF Review: 'Underplayed' Highlights EDM's Diversity Problem — and Shows Why It's So Important to Fix It"
''Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'', September 16, 2020.
On 23 September 2020, Wonderland released "Bad Things", the first single from her third studio album,
''
Loner
A loner is a person who does not seek out, or may actively avoid, interaction with other people. There are many potential reasons for their solitude. Intentional reasons include introversion, mysticism, spirituality, religion, or personal consid ...
'', which was released on 6 May 2022.
Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Remixes
2012
*
Ladyhawke: "Blue Eyes"
*
360 360 may refer to:
* 360 (number)
* 360 AD, a year
* 360 BC, a year
* 360 degrees, a circle
Businesses and organizations
* 360 Architecture, an American architectural design firm
* Ngong Ping 360, a tourism project in Lantau Island, Hong Kong
* Q ...
: "
Boys Like You"
*
Little Dragon
Little Dragon are a Swedish electronic music band from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in 1996. The band consists of Yukimi Nagano (vocals, percussion), Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrik Wallin (bass) and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards).
Little Dragon's ...
: "Shuffle a Dream"
2014
*
Crooked Colours
Crooked Colours are an Australian alternative dance group from Perth, Western Australia, who formed in 2013. The band consists of Phil Slabber, Leon Debaughn and Liam Merrett-Park.
Their album "Langata" peaked at number 1 on the Australian Dan ...
: "Come Down"
2015
*
Duke Dumont
Adam George Dyment (born August 1981), better known by his stage name Duke Dumont, is an English DJ and record producer. He is best known for his hit singles "Need U (100%)" "I Got U", " Ocean Drive" and " Won't Look Back" which both reached n ...
: "
Ocean Drive"
*
Hermitude
Hermitude is an Australian electronic- hip hop duo, originating from the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
Biography Early years and ''Explanetary''
Multi-instrumentalists, Luke Dubber (a.k.a. Luke Dubs) and Angus Stuart (a.k.a. El Gusto), h ...
: "The Buzz"
*
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...
: "
What Do You Mean?
"What Do You Mean?" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album ''Purpose'' (2015). The song was released on August 28, 2015, as the album's lead single by Def Jam. The song was produced by MdL and co-produced ...
"
2017
*
Lido
Lido may refer to:
Geography Africa
* Lido, a district in the city of Fez, Morocco
Asia
* Lido, an area in Chaoyang District, Beijing
* Lido, a cinema theater in Siam Square shopping area in Bangkok
* Lido City, a resort in West Java owned by MN ...
: "Crazy"
*
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa ( , ; born ) is an English and Albanian singer and songwriter. Possessing a mezzo-soprano vocal range, she is known for her signature disco- pop sound. Lipa has received numerous accolades, including six Brit Awards, three Gramm ...
: "
New Rules
"New Rules" is a song by English-Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her eponymous debut studio album (2017). The song was written by Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren and Ian Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick also handled the production and offered it to Lipa ...
"
Awards and nominations
See also
*
List of female electronic musicians
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wonderland, Alison
Australian women pop singers
Living people
21st-century Australian singers
Musicians from Sydney
DJs from Sydney
Trap musicians (EDM)
EMI Records artists
Australian electronic musicians
Trip hop musicians
Australian DJs
Women DJs
Australian record producers
Australian cellists
1986 births
Future bass musicians
Electronic dance music DJs
Electropop musicians
21st-century Australian women singers
Australian women record producers
Chillwave musicians
Australian women in electronic music
Australian people of Croatian descent