How’re you finding your rapid journey to the top of the music industry?
It’s been crazy, but I wouldn’t change it for a thing. Everyone who posts videos on YouTube hopes to get signed and I was just lucky enough for it to happen. I’d been doing small shows in local bars for years, but now I’m headlining sold out stadium tours. Everything has happened so fast and sometimes you just have to take a minute to sit back and reflect on everything that has happened. In this business you have to make the most of everyday and every opportunity you get, because no one knows how long it will last.
How would you describe your new album?
I feel that this album will be as true to me as my first album, there’s always the possibly that artists will sell themselves out in order to sell the most records. That won’t happen to me. I have some amazing collaborations on the album that I’m really excited for everyone to hear. My favourite is ‘Irresistible’ which features Michael Grubbs from the band Wakey! Wakey! it differs slightly from the other songs on the album, but I’m hopeful that people will like it. In general the album is very laid back and relaxed. All the songs have a personal meaning.
Whats your main inspiration?
As much as I hate to say it my main inspiration is relationships. I feel that any relationship whether good or bad are important. I don’t feel I’m one of those artists who just write about the negative aspects of a break up or relationship, I like to write about the happy side of a relationship as well as the bad side. Relationships aren’t all that inspire me thought. My song ‘Brooklyn’ was inspired by how I missed home and comfortable environments while I was on tour.
You said you missed home, so how’re you adjusting to life on the road?
It’s defiantly difficult, but overtime I’m adjusting to it. I’m lucky enough that I can bring my boyfriend on tour with me so I’m not alone. I’ve also become really close with all the people who work on the tour. We’re like one big family now. So even though I get homesick from time to time it’s really not that bad. My tour bus is also filled with things from my house, so it feels like a little home away from home.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I’m lucky that I got to work with a lot of my musical influences on my new album. Michael Grubbs is one of my biggest musical inspirations and I feel blessed that I got to opportunity to work with him on this album. My other main musical inspiration is Ron Pope and I was again lucky enough to work with him on the track ‘nothing’ on his new album. I really enjoy working with people who inspire me as I feel it makes the whole process of creating an album more fun as you can constantly bounce ideas of one another and gain more inspiration. I’m also widely influenced by Brooke Fraser and Delta Goodrem as I feel their music always has such a personal feel and that’s something I always hope to have in my music.
Do you have any collaborations on the cards?
Defiantly! I’m working with people right now on some collaboration I’m really excited about. I have two collaborations on my upcoming album; one with Michael Grubbs and another with a good friend of mine; Saul Ashby, they both differ from the rest of the songs on my album, so I’m looking forward to seeing people’s reactions once they’re released. My dream collaboration would defiantly be with either Ed Sheeran or Gary Lightbody as I’m extremely influenced by their music.
What can people expect from you in the future?
First and foremost people can expect my new album ‘American Dreamer.’ I’m also at the beginning stages of planning a tour for the start of next year. I do hope that in the future I can go back towards my musical roots and do smaller, more intimate shows.
Do you have any advice to give to our readers?
The most important thing is to not give up, I know that’s what everybody says but if you give up it’ll never happen. Sometimes you have to work hard to get what you want out of life. I was lucky; being spotted took a lot of the hard work out of the equation. But if you truly want to make it in the music industry you have to work for it and be willing to sacrifice things to get there.
Alexz’s album ‘American Dreamer’ is set for release 25th of March. Make sure to check out her website www.alexzjohnson.com and well as our website www.inluxx.com for more behind the scenes information
*there may be slight differenes in the final copy due to editing*
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