Authenticity. Everyone wants it, fewer have it, and making it come across as something to treasure rather than a boring everyday trudge takes some serious skill. In this vista of manufactured legitimacy and faux-relatability, Holly Macve emerges like a tumbleweed rolling through a neon-lit cityscape. Her new album, 'Wonderland', out today (11th October) via her own label Loving Memory Records, is a record that connects with such ease that it's almost unnerving.

Macve, the Galway-born, Yorkshire-raised up-and-comer, has been infiltrating her current surroundings for years like a country noir sleeper agent. But 'Wonderland' feels less like a new chapter and more like she's ripped all the pages from the book and started scribbling in eyeliner on the walls. "It kind of feels like a chapter of my life, and releasing it is almost like closing the chapter," Macve confides, with all the nonchalance of someone casually mentioning they've just returned from a quick jaunt to the moon.

The album's title is no accident. For Macve, 'Wonderland' represents "hope, dreams, and aspirations". It's a word that conjures images of Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, of worlds beyond our own where anything - indeed everything - is possible. And in many ways, that's exactly what Macve has been doing - tumbling through life with wide-eyed wonder, saying yes to every adventure that comes her way.

"It's about looking forward and not back," she muses. "It's a romantic word, and I feel like this is how I live my life and want to continue to live it. I am a dreamer through and through."

But it wasn't all sunshine and palm trees. A car accident on Los Angeles' famous Mulholland Drive left Macve with a new perspective on life, one that permeates every note of 'Wonderland'. "I feel more grateful than I ever have been, which is something to appreciate, for sure," she says, in a way that isn't just a platitude but a proper hard-won truth.

The album's creation was a journey more twisted than a Curly Wurly in an advanced yoga class. Macve took the reins, co-producing part of the 12-track release alongside Dan Rothman of former Dork cover stars London Grammar. "It was such a natural partnership," she enthuses. "We met one day in his studio and hit it off straight away – it's very special when that happens, and it's been such a pleasure to work with him."

But it's not just Rothman who lent his talents to 'Wonderland'. In a twist that feels like it could only happen in, well, Wonderland, the album features a collaboration with none other than Lana Del Rey on the track 'Suburban House'.

"She is an angel and changed my life for the better," Macve says of Del Rey, like you casually would if one of the most iconic musicians on the planet suddenly became your new mate. "We became friends some years ago after she found my music somewhere on the deep web... and then COVID happened, so we didn't meet until 2022, when I was able to go back to the States. I went through a breakup, and she very kindly let me stay with her for a bit."

The collaboration came about in the most organic of ways - during her stay with Lana, Holly played her the song acoustically on piano. The decision to record it together was made on the spot, a moment of serendipity that feels like it was orchestrated by the universe itself.

"It came together very organically," Macve recalls, as if she's describing a casual decision to order pizza rather than collaborate with one of the biggest names in music. "But of course, it was also very surreal hearing her voice on it after being a fan of hers for so long. I have enormous respect for her as a person and an artist."

'Wonderland' isn't just about star-studded collaborations and LA dreams. It's also deeply personal, with tracks like 'Cold Water Canyon' serving as a form of musical catharsis. "It came from a dark experience but ended up being something I consider to be beautiful... It was cathartic," Macve reflects of the song. "I produced this one myself in my bedroom, too, so I think it has an intimate feel about it – I hope so, anyway."

The album's lead single, 'San Fran Honey', is a testament to Macve's ability to transform personal experiences into universal truths. "It's about a love that never came to full fruition. Someone I think of from my past, who I was so drawn to, but looking back, I'm so glad that nothing ever happened between us because the magic was never lost," she explains, narrating the world's most poetic rom-com. "I guess you maintain a fantasy version of them, but the reality is that you know damn well they would have been so bad for you."

Macve is one of those artists who is all in when it comes to her creative pursuits. Hands-on to the point of complete control, she's got a finger in every aspect of the album's release - from videos to artwork and beyond. "It's definitely all-hands-on-deck vibes from myself and my two lovely managers," she says of releasing the album through her own label. "It's a learning curve, but one that I wanted to take on. It's liberating knowing all the ins and outs of everything, as I have definitely been in situations where that hasn't been the case – which is such a common thing for young artists to experience."

This DIY approach hasn't been without its challenges. "When you're releasing from your own label, it's a different experience; you have to be creative," Macve admits. "I have been super involved in all aspects – putting the artwork together, editing videos, etc. It's a lot of fun, but yeah, I've been pretty busy."

As Holly Macve unleashes her 'Wonderland' upon us mere normies, one thing is abundantly clear - this is an artist who's not exactly thinking outside the box, more using the box as kindling for a bonfire of creative reinvention. "I guess I just hope that the record speaks to some people and helps them mark some moments in their lives," she says, displaying an understated ambition with an undertone of a true artist, not someone just sticking around for the streaming metrics and social engagement. That'll be that easy authenticity again. ■