An Interview With The Promising Pop Singer-Songwriter, LEXIE ROSE!

Photo Credit- Sarvey T Rector

Currently gearing up to release her debut EP, Lexie Rose is an Americana pop singer-songwriter who, since her debut club performance at age 13, has backed her bold confidence and ambition with a charismatic stage presence and commitment to crafting compelling tunes reflective of her life’s journey at any given time.

As the tracks she recorded at age 14 with Grammy winning producer Sheldon Gomberg (Ben Harper, Rickie Lee Jones, Ryan Adams) continue generating buzz on her Soundcloud page, Lexie’s latest songs – produced by Max Allyn– are deeper, darker, more mysterious pieces that reflect the 16-year-old’s passion for the catalogs of Radiohead, Fiona Apple and the late Elliott Smith.

While Lexie’s infectious melodies and insightful lyrics always create a clear story for her longtime fans and new listeners to grab hold of, the fresh, metaphor rich approach she takes lends itself to allowing those hearing her songs to interpret them in different ways. “Listeners can find what they want in them,” she says.  “Like a lot of young songwriters, I’ve been on an extended circuit these past few years co-writing with many others,” Lexie says. “The songs I want to sing are those I write about myself, reflecting my own life experiences and worldview. I always want my work to be personal yet universal, and relatable to anyone.”

Eager to get out and perform her own material, Lexie took the initiative book her first solo gig at 13. She soon became popular on the L.A. club circuit, regularly playing popular spots, including Hotel Café, Genghis Cohen, The Hi Hat and the legendary Troubadour. While maintaining her life as a high school student, Lexie complements her own headline gigs as keyboardist and acoustic guitarist in Night Talks, her brother’s alt rock band that just released its debut album, In Dreams.

“I love the time I spend songwriting,” Lexie says, “but there’s nothing more enjoyable for me than playing live and feeding off the audience’s energy in those moments when they truly connect with my songs. It’s also a mind blowing experience to be in the studio and be part of the process as a song that started in a raw, simple form comes to life as a full blown production. After writing and recording material for so long, I’m really excited about finally having the opportunity to officially release my music and share it with a wider audience than ever before.”

Connect With Lexie Rose Here:

https://soundcloud.com/lexierosesongs/wrong/s-Csvds

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3zCZcf2i2vEHHjRYIPZA90

http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1250762123?ls=1&app=itunes

http://www.lexierosemusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/lexieroses/

http://lexierosesongs.tumblr.com

Learn more about Lexie Rose in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! How has 2017 been treating you? Musically, did you approach this year any differently than you did last year?  

2017 has been a unique year for me! This year I bring fans my debut single Wrong and an upcoming EP this fall! To be honest, at the beginning of 2017, I had no idea what this year would look like. And I have to say, I am beyond happy with how it’s continuing to play out.

Where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it? What kind of music do you listen to when you are working? What music gets you instantly out of a bad mood?

This interview finds me in my room with both my dogs sitting on either side of me. I’m currently listening to Lana Del Rey’s album Born To Die. My mood definitely decides the kind of music I’ll wanna listen to, but there a few artists that always put me in a good mood such as: The Killers, Anderson .Paak, Queens of the Stone Age, and Vulfpeck. If I’m feeling particularly moody, I’ll look for Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Brandi Carlile, or Jason Isbell.

Growing up, have you always wanted to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

Music has played a huge role in my life growing up. I’ve always been surrounded by music and musicians, so I have always known that I wanted to play music. I remember my attempt at learning how to play guitar and my dad taught me Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles. I also remember taking my first official vocal lesson. I had just turned 8 and I was terrified of my teacher who walked out in combat boots and black nail polish. He taught me I’m Only Sleeping by The Beatles and that song still gets stuck in my head today.

If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing?

I can’t imagine what I’d be doing instead of music seeing as it’s been a part of my entire life. Besides songwriting and performing music, I see myself studying psychology but this would still include strong musical influences. Realistically, I could see myself venturing into music therapy seeing as music has had such a strong emotional impact on my life.

I always like to ask artists about where they came from and how that city or town has influenced them as an artist now. So how do you think your home of LA has affected who you are as a musician and the art that you create?

Being in LA, I’m in the heart of a major music scene which I am so grateful to be around. I haven’t been able to experience many other cities and how they experience music, but I’m sure LA has had an effect on my live performances and how audiences react. I do love LA for its tight-knit community of artists that I’m slowly finding myself to be a part of and the support that everyone has for each other.

Let’s talk about your EP that you will be releasing this fall. What was it like putting this collection together? Did anything surprise you about the process at all?

This EP is very special to me because it’s the first time that I am able to truly capture my music and my growth over the past years since I’ve started songwriting. Some of these songs have been with me for a couple years so long time fans (family and friends) will recognize and get to hear them in a new light. I am so excited to finally have a body of work to have for listeners that truly captures the mood of these songs.

What was the inspiration for your already released single “Wrong”? How do you think it prepares listeners for the rest of your EP? What other songs are you excited for people to hear?

My debut single from the EP, Wrong, is a co-write between my producer, Max Allyn, and I. When we wrote this song, we didn’t have an EP in mind but we were just so happy with how it came out that we knew we had to release it. The song is about not wanting to admit that you are wrong in an argument and fearing that this might damage the relationship. This song is one of the poppier sounding songs on this EP and I think it will prepare the listeners for what’s to come. All these songs on this EP show a diverse range of the music that I write, so I am excited for people be able to hear the finished product!

I’m curious to know more about what it was like performing out in LA at just 13 years-old?! Where did that confidence and courage come from to just start booking yourself gigs around town?

When I was 8, I joined a music program called School Of Rock which allowed me to gain experience learning and performing covers in full band settings at venues around LA. When I booked my solo show at 13, it just felt like an obvious decision. I had already spent so much time on stage playing covers, that playing a show with my own originals was the next step. Since then, I’ve formed an awesome band with my two close friends, Elijah Wells on drums and Daniel Alcala on guitar.

What’s it been like staying connected on your social media pages? What do you think of it all? What’s it been like for you keeping them all updated and current?  

Being only 17, social media is a huge part of mine and many others’ lives. I think that it provides amazing platforms to share my content with the masses and it can make it easier to reach people around the world. At the same time, there is a lot of pressure on the quality of content that people post and the amount of followers someone has can play a big role in this industry. If you don’t have a great follower count, it can make it hard for people to take you seriously. I find that a problem for me, but I do my best to keep people updated through social media because it is ultimately very important in building a fan-base.

How do you think that being a musician has helped you live your best life? Can you talk about the joy that it brings you today?

I started writing music as an outlet for myself and to share experiences that I was going through as I was growing up. This has become my main form of handling my emotions and allowing me a healthy way to express myself. Music is what makes me happy and I love having the opportunity to share it with others. Playing and writing music has become my life and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

What are your plans for the rest of the summer? Do you have any upcoming tour dates lined up?

As of now, I have one upcoming show on September 17th at the Westfield Topanga sponsored by KCSN.

Photo Credit- Sarvey T Rector

Who are some of your very favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

Fiona Apple and Elliot Smith have been my dream collaboration since I’ve started writing songs. I’ve always admired their music and the way their songwriting has influenced me to write.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

I love sharing my songs with audiences and knowing when they can relate to the songs and find something in the lyrics for themselves. I try to write universal and relatable songs as a way to connect people since we are all sharing so many similar experiences in our lives. I’ve continued to write keeping in mind that I want audiences to find their own meanings in my songs through metaphoric lyrics.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started on this music path? Or even to someone young that is thinking of becoming a musician one day?

The most important things in this music path is to be ambitious, persistent, and confident. Also, to keep writing and make sure you are writing for yourself and not for what you think that others want to hear. Be honest with your music, and it will show.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

With the release of my debut single Wrong, I had no idea how much amazing and positive feedback I would receive so I just want to thank you and the readers for taking their time to check out the song and giving me a chance!