U&U Interview — UnsignedUnleashed.com
Alexz was interviewed by UnsignedUnleashed.com and discussed moving from a major label to being independent and the meaning of from her “Heart” EP.
Canadian singer/songwriter Alexz Johnson has been in the spotlight for years, beginning her career acting and singing as a child. These days, Alexz is more interested in being taken seriously as a musician – something that shouldn’t be hard for her, considering her huge vocals and relatable, yet intelligent and creative, lyrics. We recently had the chance to sit down with Alexz and discuss moving from a big label to being independent, as well as the inspiration behind her latest EP, Heart.
Tori (U&U): Tell me a little about yourself – your hometown and what it was like growing up there, the first album you remember knowing all the words to.
Alexz Johnson: I’m from the West Coast and I had a very normal, uneventful childhood. I was the sixth child in a family with ten kids, so I had a lot of brothers and played a lot of sports. I started singing and became obsessed with Les Miserables and started being very dramatic at the age of 12 (laughs) and doing impersonations of Barbara Streisand. I definitely knew all the words to Les Miserables, the whole theatre production – all the songs.
Tori (U&U): Was there a specific moment or experience you can pinpoint that made you want to become a musician?
Alexz Johnson: I always knew I wanted to sing, but then I realized when I was thirteen or fourteen that I didn’t just want to be a singer, I wanted to write my own music and play the guitar. I kind of started hiding away from how big my vocals were and focused on the songwriting. I wanted to be taken seriously as singer/songwriter.
Tori (U&U): What bands and artists influence your work? How so?
Alex Johnson: Not any one artist influences my work. It’s a lot of different cultural influences and books, all by different authors. It’s just not really any specific artist. I mean, I loveFrench New Wave movies and that has an influence, too. I feel like when it comes to music, it’s an expression, it’s so many different things; I can’t do one thing. There’s always different things or ideas influencing it. Places, too -if I go to New Orleans, I get a certain feeling and that might translate into a song.
Tori (U&U): What are the three best words you can think of that define your sound?
Alex Johnson: I hope it’s timeless and authentic and soulful.
Tori (U&U): Is there an ideal experience or feeling you want your fans to have when they’re listening to your music? If so, what and why?
Alex Johnson: I feel like if somebody can listen to what I wrote and have some comfort in knowing we’re all equal and we all experience pain and joy, and it can just be real, [then that’s what I want.] I think that’s what’s so cool about the live show process and why I love connecting that way. When I grew up, I went to a lot of concerts and it helped me become who I am. [Other artist’s] struggle gave me hope in my struggle. I hope my fans get that from my music and that they can relate to it. I want to be real.
Tori (U&U): Do you consider yourself a role model for young women and girls through your music? Why or why not? Would you like to be?
Alexz Johnson: I don’t know. What’s a role model, anyway? I don’t know. It’s so hard. If I had a little girl who came to me one day, who was so passionate about a certain artist, I feel like that would tell me a lot about them. If I am a role model, I hope that I’m a good one.
Tori (U&U): Tell me about your recently-released EP, Heart. What are some of the stories and emotions behind it?
Alexz Johnson: Survival. It’s such a vulnerable thing to fall in love and let yourself be loved. I feel like so much of me goes into songs. I couldn’t help but write an array of songs coming out of an experience like that. Heart is my heart and it’s an appropriate title. It’s very much a testimonial.
Tori (U&U): Your career in the spotlight started early and you’ve had some experience with big labels like SONY and EPIC. Now you’re independent. What did you learn when working with big labels? Why did you make the decision to become independent?
Alexz Johnson: Because I feel like it’s [being with a big label] kind of an archaic system, not being able to take risks that need to be taken with music. I feel like a lot of artists are being shoved down people’s throats, and the artists that I like and discover and believe in are the ones that I find myself through word of mouth or opening acts. The industry is changing, and I think people it’s an exciting time to be an independent artist. But you have to be creative and fearless and get yourself out there. There’s more security in knowing you have control, not [relinquishing it to] a big label.
Tori (U&U): If you could work with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Alexz Johnson: I’d love to play with Stevie Nicks one day. That would be amazing!
Check out Alexz’s latest music video here.
