INTERVIEW WITH ALEXX CALISE
Glitter recently sat down with singer, Alexx Calise, to talk about how old she was when she wrote her first song, the first concert she ever attended, how old she was when she first learned to play the guitar, and what shows her songs have been featured on (Dance Moms, Grimm, and One Tree Hill, to name a few). Read on to find out more about this amazing singer and songwriter that we think we’ll be hearing a lot of in the next few years!
GLITTER: How old were you when you wrote your first song?
ALEXX: I must have been about 11 or so, and I think I wrote it about a lizard I saw on the wall. There were a lot of those where I grew up in Florida, haha.
GLITTER: Where do you look to for inspiration when writing new songs?
ALEXX: I wish I could describe how I get inspired or where I look for inspiration, but it kind of just comes to me. For those few minutes or hours that I spend writing one, the universe (or whatever creative force it may be) opens itself up to me, and then a song comes out. When I have to custom tailor a song for a show, movie or other artist however, I sometimes have to go back and reference a particular emotion I’ve felt or experience I’ve had.
GLITTER: What was the first concert you ever attended?
ALEXX: It’s hard to say since I was lucky and my parents took me to so many when I was growing up, but I think it was the Beach Boys. What an amazing show.
GLITTER: How old were you when you first learned to play the guitar?
ALEXX: I started dabbling when I was 11, and really started to get serious when I was thirteen. I took some formal lessons for about two years, and the rest I learned from the blues.
GLITTER: What can you tell us about your song, “The Way I say Hello”?
ALEXX: “The Way I Say Hello” is a very special song to me, and it’s probably the most uplifting and bouncy song that I have in my catalog. I’m also excited to announce that TWISH, along with several other songs of mine will be featured all March long in Starbucks and Teavana stores!
I wrote the song about 7 or 8 years ago for a Pixar film, but unfortunately it didn’t make it in at the last second. I really just wanted to release it this year because it has such a positive message. There are so many things you can choose to dwell on and let get the better of you, but ultimately you have the ability to push past all that negativity and be happy. You can be a person that other people want to be around. It all comes from inside.
It probably threw most of my audience for a loop though when I released it because I tend to write about darker, more introspective subject matter, haha.
GLITTER: Are you working on a new EP or album that you can tell us about?
ALEXX: I have a whole bunch of things cooking that I unfortunately can’t say too much about just yet, but yes, you can definitely expect more music very soon. I will likely be releasing a collection of B-sides for my fans in the next month or so before my big release(s).
GLITTER: What songs of yours have been on TV? Which shows?
ALEXX: I’ve had a bunch of songs on different shows, such as “Morning Pill” (One Tree Hill), “Saying Goodbye” (Grimm), “See You Again”, “Get Used to It” and “Anything Goes” (The Voice), and more, but I’d have to say my song “Cry” has been the biggest hit out of all of them since appearing on multiple episodes of Dance Moms. I was even lucky enough to have DM star, Maddie Ziegler dance in the official video for “Cry” a few years back as well. My other songs, “Home Again,” “Out of Sight,” and “Survive” have all appeared on Dance Moms too.
GLITTER: How would you describe your sound?
ALEXX: It’s always been a bit hard for me to define because I’m a lover of so many different genres of music, and I hate limiting myself to a particular genre, but I guess my sound is rooted more in rock. I’ve always been a part of the counterculture (haha); it’s definitely on the more alternative side.
GLITTER: Who is your dream collaboration with?
ALEXX: There are so many people I’d love to collaborate with. Paul McCartney, Daniel Johns of Silverchair, Dave Grohl, Trent Reznor, Kid Rock, Bruno Mars, Linda Perry. The list goes on and on.
GLITTER: Who inspires you?
ALEXX: As weird as it sounds, I’m inspired by the people who’ve told me I can’t, and who haven’t necessarily been positive forces in my life. Some of the greatest inventions, songs and discoveries occurred when someone was told “no”, or that they simply couldn’t do it. It’s great fuel. I love proving to those who’ve doubted me or who haven’t supported me that, yes, I can. And I will.
GLITTER: If you could perform with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
ALEXX: Probably Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie was one of my favorite guitarists growing up, and I would have been honored to share the stage with him. He played with so much soul. There will never be anyone like him.
GLITTER: What do you have planned for the upcoming year?
ALEXX: Right now, I’m focused on writing towards my new record that will be coming out here soon. Touring is another thing we’re discussing, and hopefully that will also be transpiring this year too! One thing is for sure, the future’s looking bright!
GLITTER: How can fans follow you?
ALEXX: You can follow me on my official site, alexxcalise.net, on Twitter @alexxcalise, at Facebook.com/alexxcalisemusic, or on Youtube.com/alexxcalisemusic. Thanks and rock on!
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Editorial Director | Writer | Tweet me @heatherriccio
