Let’s break the ice. Who are you? Where are you from? What style of music do you create?
I’m Alec and I’m from Melbourne, Australia. I find it difficult to pinpoint a specific style as I’m influenced by so many great styles of music but if I had to I’d say Blues/Soul inspired Rock.
How did you get started on your journey through music? Who or what inspired you?
Family for sure got me started. I come from a very musical family, my Grandfather had his own band and I guess it just filtered down from there. Music is another language, I compare it to a child who grows up in a house where multiple languages are spoken they just learn the languages by default.
Ben Harper has always been a huge inspiration. His approach to making music is not about genre but about what is best for the song and how to best communicate the emotion of that song.
You write, record, mix, and perform everything yourself. Is this by choice or necessity? Are there any advantages/disadvantages to this approach?
I had previously been in a band which was very democratic. Democracy is great in theory but I found there were often times when too many decision makers in the band sometimes ended up watering down the music. I then went the other end of the spectrum with this EP where I had total ownership over every decision. This total control is a big advantage which is not easily come by in the music industry. On the other hand there was a bunch more work I had to do myself and often the left and right sides of my brain function clashed.
You have been performing and touring for over 15 years. How has the music business changed in that time?
Well when I started we made albums that were still bought at a record store. Our tours would often involve an in-store performance at each town we played. Now as you all know it’s really about singles and getting your music online. I feel like the last decade of the music industry has been a huge adjustment and we haven’t been very quick to change with the times.
I’m really trying to be imaginative in order to be an independent artist and still sell music.
You have toured internationally. Have you made it to the U.S. yet?
I have played in LA and New York but there is so much more to the U.S. that I need to see and play. I’m looking at heading over sometime in 2015 so feel free to reach out and give me some hot tips for great venues and places to see.
What’s in store for Alec for the remainder of 2014? Has this year been everything you had planned for so far?
I’ve just spent two weeks recording vocals and guitars for thirteen tracks, which will be my debut solo album . I’m getting some help with the album and bringing in some great musicians and friends to play drums, bass, horns, keys etc…… It’s going to be a huge project so the rest of the year will be focused on finishing for a 2015 release.
Bret recently featured you on our Mid Tenn Listens live review show. Have you watched it? Was the feedback received useful or helpful? Do you like the concept of a live review show?
I sure did listen and really love the concept! Feedback was very helpful and much appreciated. It’s really nice to hear people really listening to music not just using it as background noise to set a mood.
Has the Internet helped you connect wins and extend your reach? Any challenges you have had to overcome adapting to the digital age of music?
It has been helpful connecting with a wider audience but I do find it hard to capitalise on those connections to create long standing relationships. Touring can really cement those relationships but it’s not always affordable to set out on a tour especially when Australia is so far away from the rest of the world.
Where can we connect and stream your music?
- Connect and find out more:
http://alecmusician.com
https://www.facebook.com/alecmusician117 - Stream:
https://soundcloud.com/pennyloaferpr1/sets/alec-inspired-by-animal-instincts-ep/s-OGWTl - Support and purchase:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/inspired-by-animal-instincts/id906544792
Any last thoughts? Shout outs?
Thanks to Mid Tenn and to everyone out there keep supporting original music!
Peace!
