Alexander released his debut EP – titled A House, Not a Home – two days ago, and we thought that makes it a perfect timing for an interview! It’s also very atmospheric & full of longing which means that it’s an ideal soundtrack for those upcoming long autumn nights.
So check out Alexander’s EP here, and of course you can follow him on instagram.
How did you first get into making music?
I first started making music when I was in secondary school; I had always written poetry but never seriously considered putting the two together – until there was a composition unit in my music studies. At the time, I didn’t play any instruments so I taught myself a few basic chords on the guitar and I have been writing ever since. It wasn’t until 2019, I officially started releasing music publically after finally developing the confidence to do so. It has been a pretty constant battle with my own confidence and self-doubt but I am finally at a point where I feel more confident in my musical ability and output.
What are your favourite genres to listen to?
I am most drawn to folk, R&B, rock and pop music but I love to dabble outside of the genres to keep things fresh – it really depends on my mood.
Any kind of music you don’t really listen to?
Any song that evokes an emotional response is a song worth listening to but if I had to define the music I listen to the least, it would probably be heavy metal – although I am partial to some Slipknot and Metallica.
How do you get inspiration for your music?
It is all inspired by my own personal experience; whether it’s something I have experienced first-hand or as a third-party. This can sometimes be detrimental though as it can hinder my ability to write.
What is your creative process? If you write your own melodies & lyrics, which is your favourite to do?
Lyrics for me has always come first; I get sudden bursts of inspiration at random intervals and always jot them down in my notes – there’s even been times I have woke up in the night and had to write them down before I can go back to sleep. Sometimes, I won’t revisit lyrics for months, or even years until there’s a melody or a progression I think will fit and then they finally get paired together. I am very particular about my lyrics, however I find it much more difficult to write a captivating melody – so when this happens, I feel a lot more vindicated!
Which three artists would you say have influenced your music the most?
Gabrielle Aplin – She inspired and introduced me to many of my current influences. I have so much admiration for her and also her integrity to refine her craft, rather than recycle what people expected of her. I feel like I don’t get starstruck easy after going to one of her gigs in 2011 I was able to meet her afterwards and was barely coherent.
Bon Iver – I find myself mesmerised by the way they blend instruments and push boundaries on genre rather than keeping themselves contained in one box – “Holocene” is honestly one of the most beautiful songs ever created. I must confess, I did used to call them “Bon Eye-Ver” rather than “Bon Ev-Air” though – sorry!
Maggie Rogers – Similarly to the two above, she is bit of a musical chameleon; challenging herself to push boundaries within her genre and constantly experimenting with different sounds.
Give us a five word description of your latest release.
My debut EP, A House, Not a Home comes out 24th October 2024 and the five words I would use to describe it are denial, heartache, anger, bitterness and acceptance.
If (when!) your music was to be used in movies, what sort of movies would you like to see it in? Any directors in particular?
I would imagine it would be mostly suited to movies that focus on love and loss but drama rather than romcoms. But to have my music featured in any sort of movie would be pretty astonishing. I think I would prefer to be featured in an “indie” or “short-film” initially, as opposed to a Hollywood blockbuster given the intimate nature of the tracks on the EP.
It’s safe to say that there are more openly LGBT artists nowadays than ever before. What does seeing so much representation mean to you?
It’s so incredibly important that LGBT artists are platformed and given the exposure they very much deserve because their stories should be heard top. It’s easy to box LGBT artists into one style or genre when there is a whole breadth of diversity within the community. You never know when your song might resonate with someone who hasn’t felt represented before. I wish LGBT artists were more accessible when I was growing up so I could feel more understood.
Rec us some of your favourite LGBT artists.
MUNA – They have very quickly become one of my favourite bands and their song “Stayaway” is an excellent example of devastating storytelling over contrasting melodies and sounds. Their Tiny Desk performance had me crying and throwing up.
Joe Hythe – He has a huge hand in all the work he does: from production to recording, to music videos and his artwork! His song, “Roadkill” is so hauntingly beautiful. He’s also been touring up and down the UK at various fringe festivals with a play that he wrote called “Two Come Home”.
What’s one piece of advice you would like to give your younger self?
I would have told myself to stop giving myself a hard time and give less of a f**k of what people might think about my music. I let my fear of failure to succeed – commercially and critically – hold me back for too long.
If you could have dinner with one member of the LGBT community, dead or alive, who would it be?
Freddie Mercury – who else? However, I’m not sure how I’d feel about being shown up so exponentially on a song.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
A singer/songwriter from East Sussex, Alexander has been writing since adolescence about societal pressure, life and mental health. Aided by his rich timbre and emotive vocals, he narrates stories he has experienced first-hand through his songwriting. Since releasing his debut single “Blizzard” in 2019, Alexander has grown from strength to strength; with recognition and acclaim from notable music publications, and gigs at various venues across the UK and the seven seas, Mountain continues to demonstrate his talents through his introspective, relatable lyricism and unique musicality.
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