Good afternoon chums and what a fine afternoon it is. The sun is shinning, it’s the end of yet another working week and here we are with an utterly glorious instalment of Beneath The Surface. This one’s an absolute killer as we chat to Warner Music Canada’s Alex Frew on the day of his debut EP release – Cobalt. A truly extra special treat, so let’s get to it…..
What would you say first sparked your interest in music/who inspired you to make music?
My earliest inspiration and introduction into music was definitely my mother. She was a classically trained pianist, so I grew up hearing her playing around the house constantly. I loved to sing from a very young age, but as soon as I first saw a red Fender Stratocaster, I was absolutely sold, and I knew that music was certainly the path that I wanted to pursue!
How would you describe the music you are currently creating?
The music on this project very much wears its pop tendencies on it’s sleeve, but I think that there is also an alternative, melancholic edge to the sound that makes it a little more three dimensional. I grew up absolutely loving bands such as Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene, so I’ve always gravitated to music that wasn’t straight-on pop.
What does your creative process look like?
I tend to come up with most ideas acoustically on my own, and then bring those ideas and topics into studio sessions with other writers and producers in order to hone them into something worthwhile. With that being said, sometimes you just walk into a songwriting session and something just falls out of the sky, and you have a song, though I would say, for the most part, the former is more likely.
Who would you most like to collaborate with? (let’s send it out to the universe and make it happen!)
I think the absolute pinnacle of collaboration for me would definitely be Justin Vernon of Bon Ever. I’ve regarded the guy as a genius for years, and absolutely everything he does is gold. I saw him play live a few years ago, and it had a profound affect on my life.
What is the one message you would like to send out to your fans?
During these times, just be kind to yourself. With all this time available to overthink and ruminate on different thoughts, it’s important to remember that current world circumstances are far from normal, and that it’s okay to struggle.
What’s your top tip to rejuvenate your creativity/get over a writer’s block?
Picking up a new instrument usually helps with writers block for me. It can really change your perspective in how to approach songwriting, and often has unexpected results that can further your sound overall. It can honestly be extremely exciting, and often very rewarding.
What’s next for you, what do we have to look forward to/ what are you currently working on?
I’m currently in writing mode working on my next project, but in the meantime you can check out my brand new EP ‘Cobalt’ that I just released, along with a bunch of visual content coming along with it.
Be sure to stay tuned for more.
Stream Cobalt here:
Watch the 9ft Tall music video here:
Keep up with Alex:
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