Sunshine Coast: Surf-rock crooner Ziggy Alberts, best known for his song “Laps Around the
Sun”, has opened up about his dealings with alcohol on international podcast Sober Awkward.

Produced on the Sunshine Coast with British hosts Victoria Vanstone and Hamish Adams-
Cairns, the podcast has risen to new heights in the past year and is up for Best Wellness
Podcast at iHeart Radio’s Australian Podcast Awards next month. 

Picture: Sober Awkward broadcasted live in Maroochydore earlier this year

During a hiatus between his world tour and its Australia/New Zealand leg, Alberts had a one-
on-one interview with Adams-Cairns in which he was incredibly open about mental health
and his own relationship with alcohol.

“I drove past a bottle shop the other day and just thought ‘I can’t even imagine going in
there’,” he said.

“It’s not a part of my life-cultural and community anymore.”

The Sunny Coast local drank between ages 16-19.

He summed up his late teenage years in the interview: “You’ll never forget the first time that you projectile vomited over a balcony, and your friends chucked you over your shoulder as though you are some embattled soldier being carried across the Kokoda track by your mate – like you know it’s a battle,” he said.

“And you won’t forget those times.” 

Picture (Facebook): A “path less-travelled kid” who was home-schooled until he was 13 at a
time when it “wasn’t cool” has now given up alcohol “indefinitely” after becoming aware of
the impact it had on his productivity and mindset, realising he couldn’t deal with big emotions
while influenced.

He quit everything for music at 19 knowing then that illicit substances could never be a part
of the professional musician’s dream.

“People don’t seem to have that kind of success if they do (drink alcohol),” the 29-year-old
said.

“I’m just not interested. It’s not a thing in my world.”

Picture: Alberts turned to the likes of Aussie folk and roots superstars, Xavier Rudd and John
Butler, who inspired him to take up running and focus on his health.

“I see patterns with how they live their lives. I’ve taken notes and applied them.”

Alberts said touring was so intense he could see why some people drank to fight the
exhaustion.

“Post-tour blues, man, are like, wow. They’re like a chemical nightmare,” he said. 

“I’m like so depressed for a couple of days on and off.”

He said life wasn’t all-breezy in sobriety, but it was more manageable, and drinking only made situations “way worse”.

He also didn’t want a beer belly.

“That’s not cute at 21.”

Loneliness and stress management were the main contributors to why he drank and Alberts
does whatever he can to preserve his gentle singing pipes.

“I don’t know how people (drink and smoke) and still have a voice.”

He found that every time he has given up alcohol, not only did his performing improve but…

“Life got better as whole.”

Picture (Facebook): Alberts stays in tip-top shape for his shows.

Before shows he now goes for a run, performs Wim Hof breathing exercises and vocal warm-
ups, and is “mega-hydration focused”.

He is also a fan of ice baths for its natural dopamine and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Wim Hof-breathing techniques are a must before he goes on stage and Alberts drinks mushroom tea to stay relaxed.

Alberts’ career has always been a family affair.

He founded his own record label and publishing house, Common Folk, in 2018 which he then signed himself onto, and employs his family members to run the show.

Picture: Victoria Vanstone, from the Sober Awkward podcast, hosts regular meet-ups on the
Sunshine Coast. She is pictured with YELO music editor Penny Brand on a recent rainforest walk.

Last year, Alberts released fifth studio-album, Dancing in the Dark, and his music now reaches more than 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. 

He’s acquired numerous accolades including an APRA for “Letting Go”, and a host of ARIA-platinum and gold certifications.

Throughout the conversation with Adam-Cairns, Alberts also discusses “the power of a positive no”, the importance of developing “an impartial relationship with alcohol”, and he asks people to question whether they are “drinking to unwind or unravel”. 

Vanstone is a mummy-blogger-turned-podcaster – and creator of Sober Awkward – which was
listed on the  Guardian’s “greatest shows you’ve ever listened to”, and has had nearly two million downloads in two-and-a-half years.

She recently scored an interview with UK dance giant “Fatboy Slim”.

Picture: Vanstone’s first book is a comedy-memoir, A Thousand Wasted Sundays, and is available on Booktopia for pre-order now, with a follow-up book already on the cards.

“Ziggy is a Sunny Coast legend and I’ve always loved his music,” Vanstone said.

“I reached out to him when I bumped into him at a local cafe I love that he is so wise about
his health and choices at (age) 29.

“He shares his story with depth and vulnerability and his chat with Hamish is an inspiring and
heart-warming interview.”

Listen to the Sober Awkward podcast with Ziggy Alberts podcast here: https://spotify.link/nZLM6nZuaEb.

Catch Ziggy Alberts as he tours Australia: https://ziggyalberts.com/pages/tour-dates.

Featured photo: Facebook.