Eileen Alister Proves Why Small Artists Are Dominating the Scene

Words by Paula Zawicka

I’ll be honest – Eileen Alister’s singles leading up to her debut album kept getting better and better, to the point where I started wondering: what could possibly be left for the full project? After tracks like Playing House, it felt like the peak had to be behind us. Surely it could only go downhill from there, right?

Wrong. So, so wrong.

Playing House was the track that made me stop and ask, “Where has Eileen Alister been hiding this whole time?” As the song unravels, it builds emotionally and sonically – each verse letting us deeper into the story, each chorus more urgent than the last. And those final vocals? Gorgeous.

That level of emotional pull is what defines Honeymoon in a Motel. The album dives into growing pains, mental health, messy relationships, and complicated self-worth. Yet it never loses focus. With one producer behind the boards and Eileen writing every track herself, this feels like a fully realised debut. Nothing here feels like filler. Every song earns its place.

The opener Bit the Bullet sets the tone perfectly. Eileen has described it as “for the people who survived douchebags”. It’s a revenge song, timed to drop on Valentine’s Day. That attitude bleeds through the entire album: personal, cutting, funny, and relatable in a way that’s hard to fake.

Keep It Cool is an instant standout. I’m a sucker for fun songs with lyrics you just have to scream, and this one delivers. It’s chaotic, it’s bitter, it’s hilarious. Eileen proves you can write “unserious” lyrics and still craft a genuinely brilliant song. Bonus points for the backing vocals and ad-libs that make the track feel alive and unhinged in the best way.

Then there’s Born to Be Blue – the fragile, open, and gut-wrenchingly honest song. As Eileen puts it: “Feeling too messed up, twisted, blue and broken to be loved by someone who seems so bright, sane, and capable.” It’s one of the most emotionally bare moments on the record.

Sonically, Touch Me Where They Can’t stands out with its dreamy, cinematic vibe. Lana Del Rey fans, this one’s for you.

And when it all comes to a close with the title track Honeymoon in a Motel, Eileen leaves us with an atmospheric piece about pure love that thrives without the shiny packaging. It’s a perfect closer that captures the heart of the whole album.

Honestly, there’s not a single song I’d cut. This is how you make a debut.

While most of her autumn shows are already sold out, there are still a few tickets left for Paris and Basel, so grab them while you can. With this record out now and a European tour lined up for spring 2026, the timing couldn’t be better.

Releasing the album a week early to avoid competing with a major pop star might have been a strategic move, but let’s be real, Eileen Alister just proved that visibility doesn’t equal quality. Sometimes, the best music isn’t coming from the biggest name.

Photos from Eileen Alister’s Instagram