Alisa Stepura releases the debut album Birds Are Dinosaurs Too, an 8 track fizzer that runs through big fuzzy riffs and melodic vocals, delivering energy-driven, indie-alt-rock anthems.
A bold and unflinching debut, Birds Are Dinosaurs Too is a testament to Stepura’s flair for sonic drama and DIY ambition. An empathic crossover between noughties alternative and that classic indie-rock, the record captures a heady mix of angst, energy, and attitude. With a foot firmly planted in the golden age of 2000s guitar music, Stepura manages to honour her influences while pushing the sound into a grittier, more textured space.
Across the album, Stepura explores a wide emotional spectrum, from blistering rock choruses, broken up intimate moments of reflection. As radiant guitar work dances around the soundscapes, the emotive, strikingly honest lead vocal delivery stays sharp and deliberate, always ready to dive headfirst into the next high-octane hook or jagged riff. Each track feels meticulously crafted yet organically raw, giving the album its authentic, high-voltage pulse.
The lead single ‘Aftertaste’ is a prime example of the sound across the album – pumping heavy, alt-rock-infused riffs across the airwaves, ‘Aftertaste’ offers a punchy, textured perspective into Alisa Stepura’s expressive artistry. Taking inspiration from the likes of Arctic Monkeys and The Subways, Stepura revisits the golden age of 00s guitar music and enthuses her own hook-laden anthemic properties. Whilst sporting its vibrant nostalgia, the single offers a certain pop sensibility to give it an instantly repeatable, crossover-ready edge.
The track also hints at her experimental leanings behind the scenes. Diving into the recording process, she explains, “I initially recorded the whole song on reel-to-reel tape. Pretty much everything but the vocals and the synth section at the end comes straight from those tape recordings and was later mixed to sound more modern. It was incredibly fun to use all kinds of ‘old-school’ equipment, and also to distance myself from the computer during the recording process.”
Listen below:
