An Interview With The Promising Singer-Songwriter ALEX PURDY!

Meet the DC-based singer-songwriter Alex Purdy! She is on the cusp of breaking out big time!

She has an original electro-pop style, with vocals that get stuck in your head and funky EDM infused instrumentals.  She’s completely self-taught and after just 10 months of diving deep into music production, Catch the Moon Music has recently signed her music.  She writes, produces, mixes and masters all her own stuff.

Alex frequently performs in Georgetown, Washington, DC and has upcoming shows with the Hera Festival in DC and just completed shows in the Atlantic City area.

Check out Alex’s Music Here-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bocEzzF7leM  Into You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_X6h0h-Rk8  On the Dance Floor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H49FI1fwGMQ   Chase You Down

Learn more about Alex Purdy in the following All Access interview-

What does a typical day look like for you? What do you have scheduled the rest of today and this week?

A typical day…I wake up and write down my dream from the night before in a dream journal. Then, I place both my feet on the floor, throw my hands in the air and emphatically shout “YES!” —as if I’ve gotten the best news in the galaxy. Or, if I’m trying to not wake people, I’ll think it in my head. 

I always play at least one instrument a day, guitar or piano, with the goal of playing it to “get free” (not to necessarily make anything “good”). This really lets me explore the instrument and play like a kid which is always more fun than perfect form. 

Some more about my typical day – everyday, in my mind, I imagine myself doing a backflip. I’m actually learning so I can do one onstage. Some people add exclamation marks in text messages, I’d rather do a backflip in person.

I’m super stoked about a song I just completed with the super saxophonist, Johnny Long.  Johnny’s played sax for B.B. King, Carlos Santana, Mick Fleetwood, and so many more.  It was a thrill to have him add his talent to “Festival,” now streaming on all platforms. It was crazy synchronistic how I met him. I was in Chuck Levin’s, a music store, waiting for some friends – just sitting there – and Johnny walks up asking if I’m ok because why would you just sit around in a music store? I had no idea when I met him what an accomplished saxophonist he is and was so excited he wanted to collaborate. The saxophone he played on “Festival” really took it to the moon and is one of the songs I’m most proud of. It was such a joy collaborating with him in the studio, he’s so relaxed and supportive.

Now that we are more than half-way through the year, how has 2019 been treating you? What are some goals that you have had for yourself this year? How close are you to reaching them or did you already? What are you already excited about for 2020?

This has been the best year of my life so far. 

I’m back to my best self.  College was hard.  I had become addicted to Adderall, and on top of that bulimic, too, so I really needed to heal from all that.  I was able to stop both on my own but my healing really took off after I got help from a holistic psychiatrist to replenish the nutrients I had lost.  When I received help from this doctor, she gave me the natural minerals and vitamins I lost from the addiction and bulimia. 

That may seem off topic, however I never would have started producing the songs I make now if I hadn’t gone through that.  Life has been completely different since I got help and was open to see a change happen within myself. I dove back into making music in August 2018 and have played over 15 barefoot shows in DC. I didn’t know my body had the capacity to feel good again until I got the help. It was truly a blessing rather than a goal.

I’m just so excited to be alive and make music I’m so passionate about. Music sets me free, it is therapy to my soul. My goals for 2020 are to learn to be a beekeeper, be the best assistant kindergarten teacher I can be and make the music I’ve always wanted to dance to.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be in this industry? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?

I’ll never forget what catapulted me into making music. 

When I was in college (during the time I was bulimic and on Adderall), I had stopped listening to music entirely for at least 6 months. Then one day, one of my best friends played me a song by Jon Bellion called Jim Morrison. When I heard it, it was as if something was shaken loose in my brain. I remembered how I used to play like a kid before Adderall made me so rigid and think all that mattered was my resume. I remembered who I truly am when I heard his song. Then I started writing poems and making art again. AND obviously listening to the rest of Jon Bellion’s songs. It was a life changing moment. I started watching hours of Logic Pro X tutorials on Lynda.com and making my own songs. I felt alive again and like there was great new possibility for my life.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Would you be as fulfilled in life?

I’m definitely here to do a lot of different things during my time on Earth. I once heard “a wise person sees many paths,” and I remind myself of this often because It would be no fun to just do one thing. I see myself making music and collaborating till the cows come home. I also would love to grow my own food with community and do parkour on our farm. Who knows what’s in store!!! I’m here for the magic and the tears.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best part about it all?

The biggest surprise was discovering what a spiritual journey it is to follow what I truly love. I’m learning that it is really not what we achieve along the way but who we become. Pursuing my love of music has required I look at the part of myself that doesn’t believe I’m good enough. I’ve been learning to acknowledge those negative thoughts and learn they are wired in our brains as a survival mechanism. Then choosing every day to continue creating imperfect art that feels like me.

Let’s talk about your newest music. What has been inspiring your music lately? How would you say that your newest songs compare to your older songs?

FUNK AND SOUL have been the rocket fuel of inspiration to my music lately. I’m in love with gospel and jazz – learning to create emotive tension and release while also constructing a super upbeat, sexy vibe…is a total blast to me! My newest songs have been created with the mindset of: what would I create if I wasn’t trying to follow a trend, wasn’t trying to tell someone what they want to hear and if I was simply unleashing my wild side. I go into creating music with the intention of injecting joy and soul into every song.

Where can people see you perform next? Do you have any fall tour dates scheduled yet?

The next festival I’m performing in is Inclusion Festival, to benefit RAICES Texas which helps families separated at the border with financial/legal aid. It’s on Saturday, November 2nd at Caboose Brewing Company in Fairfax, VA. The festival details can be found @inclusionfestivalofficial on Instagram.

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music?

Well, last year I couldn’t read the fret board on my guitar, didn’t know what a key change was and certainly didn’t know my scales. So I’d say anything is progress from that, right? This past year I’ve really stepped into my devotion and love for music theory – Jacob Collier has been a huge inspiration in that area. I’d devour his YouTube masterclasses recorded on students’ iPhones where he’d say – its more about the feel of the chord than the complexity of its name. His advice was to take your time when you play a chord. Really feel the emotions it evokes and that will help you bring out your best art. When I heard that, it powerfully shifted my perspective.

Would you like to share anything else about yourself or your music with our readers? 

I really appreciate the opportunity to share myself with your readers. My music can be found at alexpurdymusic.com.