Interview by Anthony Ackroyd
Alyce Platt achieved fame through
her acting roles on high-rating
television dramas and as a presenter
on the popular quiz show Sale of the
Century. Her talents as a singer and
songwriter are now being recognised
with the release of her new album,
Funny Little World.
Congratulations on your new album Alyce, it's
really wonderful!
Oh, thanks Anthony!
You're someone maybe a bit like me who does
several things – but sometimes people don't know
about some of the things...
That's absolutely correct, yeah. Sometimes you're
more well-known for prime-time television, or that
kind of thing.
So how have you kept your musical identity alive
over the years, because it's really strong, it's really
a wonderful gift...
Well I started out very young as a songwriter and a
singer. I got my first guitar when I was 8, so that was
very much who I was. I was that annoying kid at
school who used to get up at school assembly, they
used to roll me out for all sorts of concerts and
events... In year 10 I left the school that I was in and
auditioned for a school that had a tertiary orientation
program, which was like a soft version of doing year
12, and I majored in drama and music. When I was
studying there I did a demo at the education
department for music with some of my songs, and
somebody said you'd be really good as a session
singer. I had no idea what that was then, when I was
16. Then he introduced me to somebody at Clemenger
Harvie (I had no idea who they were). I got on the
train without telling my parents, went in and had a
meeting with the head of the advertising agency. I
didn't know I was doing that, it was just gumption and
curiosity.
While I was there I did the audition and they said, oh
maybe a few more years singing before you can do
that - but we're casting this really big ad. It was the
Brooke Shields ad for Calvin Klein jeans. I got that
gig, and that's sort of how it started. By the time I got
home on the train my parents were furious because
the producers had phoned them and said we'd really