Bio

With an impressive list of accolades to his name, Alex Hirlian has firmly established himself as one of Australia’s most in-demand drummers. Winner of the prestigious National Jazz Awards in 2018, Alex has since carved out a distinctive space in both the Australian and international music scenes—blending technical precision with genre-bending creativity.

 

A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied under Simon Barker and Andrew Dickeson, Alex has built a career rooted in versatility. While his foundations lie in jazz, his playing stretches far beyond, fusing groove, rock, electronica, and left-field improvisation into a sound that’s uniquely his own.

 

Since 2021, Alex has been a core member of Brekky Boy, an instrumental trio known for their cinematic soundscapes and energetic live sets. The group has toured across Europe and Canada, performed at top-tier festivals like Montreux Jazz Festival (2022), Montreal Jazz Festival (2023), and Jazzahead (2022), and built a strong online following with their viral “play this at your next gig” series.

 

Alex is also a founding member and co-writer of ARIA nominated band Tourismo, a five-piece modern jazz group he leads alongside fellow NJA winner Matthew Thomson. Their latest release Torque, out now on ABC Jazz, captures the group’s sharp musicianship and progressive compositional voice.

 

Alongside these projects, Alex plays in the Josh Meader Trio (JMT), who released their debut full-length album in early 2025 following a Jazzahead 2023 showcase.

 

With upcoming tours across Canada and Europe later this year, Alex continues to push the boundaries of contemporary drumming.