rockyourlyricsHow do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?
Alex: My creative process is rather personal and, at times is rather religious in nature. Usually, it begins with isolation. That doesn’t just mean physically but, mentally separating myself from the world around me. Routine of ritual, esoteric literature, diving into the mysteries of my own existence and self worth. After sometime, and I literally mean months of this, I begin a process of automatic writing.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing in songwriting?
Honesty.
Are you ever scared of revealing aspects of your personal life/experience to strangers through your music?
At times yes, but the paranoia fades. I understand the power of the word. I am selective and aware of what my limits are. I will not share my whole personal spectrum but only those emotions that will help people. I am more concerned with losing aspects of myself in the creative process, because when one goes down the well of their conscience, you leave pieces of yourself there.
What is the best lyric that you ever wrote (the most meaningful for you)?
“Wasted like a lullaby,
that remained unsung
Never tasted innocence
They left so young
Standing in the shadows,
families and friends
Left to need each other,
with wounds that time won’t mend”
I wrote this song in seventh grade. My town was in a time of mourning of the loss of two high school students and a middle schooler who committed suicide. This was the first time I have ever experienced a community in trauma, and I ever wrote something of value. The sober mourning and helplessness changed me. I found maturity in my writing from then on.
What inspired “Lovesick,” part of your latest album “Home”?
I am not one to put meaning to my words. I usually believe by declaring a meaning I belittle the interpretation of my listeners. But, for me, ‘Lovesick‘ is about the crossroads of a life pursuit. To do what is expected or, to go against the grain. Ultimately, choosing what is expected and killing the “beast” of outlandish dreams and domination.
And “Home”?
As I said earlier, I don’t usually expand on meaning so, I’m gonna keep my cards to my chest and just say, religion was suppressive in my childhood and I wanted to talk about those themes.
Do you remember the day you wrote “A Dance With Diana”?
Yes. It was a Divine Moment of Truth. I am one who feels comfortable in experimentation in the psychedelic realm. Like a journey through candy land, breaking through a kaleidoscope of fractals and meeting ones death to what I call the reality of the microcosm. I wanted to write a song about this kind of experience. This kind of experimentation is not for all but, for me, has expanded a kind of Lovecraftian awareness and a vocabulary that settles the spiritual absence that lies at the heart of my insecurities.
Is there a link/a common theme among the songs of the new album?
I do my best at connecting my songs lyrically. I sometimes recycle lyrical ideas and even entire stanzas in an attempt to creative my own lyrical palette and vocabulary. I am still rather youthful and naive in my lyric writing and still learning about the mastery of cryptic ideals, linking songs together, and esoteric strings that bind a complete work. By reading and studying the mystics and masterful writers like Tolkien, Steinbeck, and Moore, I am starting to be able to understand the complexities and nuances of complete life works.
What is the best suggestion your producer gave you?
Our guitar player, Nishad George, is our producer. I am lucky enough to have an artistic relationship with him of respect and creative liberties. He is not involved in my artist process or finalizing of my melodic ideas. Usually he just says “is it timeless?” Or “is it legend?”. “Can anyone else do what you are doing?”. This kind of passive aggressiveness pushes me to be unique and take risk.
What are your plans for 2019?
Tour whenever possible and read more books. It is only a matter of time before we have to begin the writing process again for the next record and I wanted to be smarter, more articulate, and vocally ready to out do and out perform myself on the next one.
To conclude the interview a short Q/A session, please answer the first thing that comes to your mind:
- Define in one word your album “Home”: Honest.
- The best show you ever played: Wacken.
- The one thing that you must have in your backstage: A towel.
- The soundtrack of your childhood: Tony Hawk soundtrack.
- Your favourite song lyrically speaking, but not written by you: The Windmills of Your Mind, Noel Harrison.
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