Alyxx - The New Unknown - At Upheaval & Inkcarceration - PipemanRadio Interview

0:04 Hi, you live on too? Ss sure, I'm w for see wow for you your. This is the pipe Man here on the Adventures pipe Man W four c Y Radio. And I'm very excited because I'm home from festivals and I'm leaving for another festival. And so is this guest I have and we talked last year and we hung out at festivals. So I'm glad she's gonna be at INK. I'm not glad I won't be at Upheaval, but let's welcome to the show. Alex.

0:45 How are you? Hi? I'm great? How are you? I'm doing great? Yeah? So what a weekend you're gonna have Upheaval and incarceration. Yeah, it's gonna be a lot, but I'm really excited and Alast are kind of close to each other too, so it's only a four hour difference. It's not terrible. Yeah, no, that's not bad at all. And so have you ever played Upheople before? No, so this is a brand new stage. Remaining very very excited. To go nice. Yeah, if it wasn't the same way weekend as INK, I'd be at Upheaval too, because like it looks like a really cool festival. I do INK every year. And I hate when I have to make choices.

1:29 I wish they'd picked a different weekend. I don't know if I'm a conversation prior to that, but it's okay. Yeah, you know, it is pretty funny that, like nowadays, it seems there's a lot of conflicts with festivals. I'm thinking it might be smarter to like separate them so everybody goes to both. Yeah, and then I feel like it's like a low key competition. It's like which one are you going to go to? But I know a lot of the bands from Upheaval are going to Ink too, so it's kind of like it makes sense for the band, I guess. But also I mean there are a lot of people that now have to choose which one they want to go to. Well, that is that is a good point, because that is normally what happens. It's better for the bands because they can do both in one weekend and there's no waste of time and they can appeal to two big crowds.

2:19 Yeah, and it's safe time too, because, like you know, up People is about eleven and a half hours from me, so and then just on the way home, I actually am passing incarcerations, so that it works out very well. See there you go nice. So what are you most excited about for both of those festivals up? People? You know, I've played in Grand Rapids I think two years ago now, so I haven't been there in a long time, so being back there is going to be really cool. Also, you know, seeing Gojia and like Ginger live is going to be insane, So really excited for that. And the Campground is just like a cool I played it a couple of years ago, and it's like everyone's coming back from like the main festival, so everyone's like so hyped up and like they don't want the party to stop, so everyone's just like super energized and just like wants to keep going. So that energy is really cool too.

3:15 That's what I like about it too, especially since I don't have to work usually at that point in time, so I can just enjoy it. So and then you had this new single, the New Unknown, which is pretty cool and I I love speaking of Ginger, I put you there in a in a realm with Ginger and Courtney with that going from the very great melodic voice to the insane badass gral screen voice. Thank you that is a huge compliment. Okay, well it does take a lot, right, you know, like I think people don't realize a how much technique you have to have to do the grals and screams.

4:04 I realized because I sang thrash metal before anybody knew there was a technique for doing that crap, and I blew out my voice because I didn't know what I was doing. And then that ability to just switch gears from like amazing melodic voice to insane badass voice, Like, to me, that's impressive that somebody can switch gears like that. Thank you. Yeah, it's definitely something I've had to work on because you know, when you're in the studio, it's like, okay, like I'm screaming, I'm in this mode. But you know, when you're singing the whole song cohesively, it's like, okay, well you have to be in this mindset to sing and then just switch it. And for me, I've been singing since I was like six years old, so it is second nature, so I don't have to think about it.

4:51 Yeah I have to think about turning it off mode. So you know, it's just a learning curve and just practicing. But they're two completely different worlds. So yeah, one hundred. So since you've been singing since such a young age, and you know, obviously singing beautifully playing piano, what do your parents think of the growl and the screaming. My dad thinks it's awesome. Nice. I mean, my dad actually is the one who introduced me to Ginger actually years and years ago. He was like, yo, check this out. And I forgot what song it was, but it was some live version in the studio and she was singing beautifully and all suden she started screaming and I looked at him and he was like yeah, and I was like, this is awesome. So, uh yeah, he thinks it's really cool. My mom, she loves me.

5:44 Screaming is not her thing, but Jemmy, I could do anything and she'll still love me and support me. And see that's what's important. I think that's what's good about today's world with music, because you know, before and especially this kind of music, like before it used to be, your parents would be like, get a real job. They'd be a total downer on you. I remember, you know, when I was playing guitar and I was like experimenting, my dad would yell from the other room, you should give that up. You suck, And I probably did. I probably did suck. But still, you know, but I find so many parents nowadays are so supportive and even helpful with it. Like we even had here at the radio station, like these teen shows several years back, and they were all artists, but they were teen artists and their parents were like so supportive. Now, of course some of them were like mamagers too, but but that's still better than you know, get get a real job and stop dreaming, because I don't think you should ever stop dreaming.

7:01 No, And I think social media has a lot to do with that. You know. It's people like take off on social media and become so famous and they get all this money and stuff. So it's it is a very and it's not easy, obviously, but it's seems a lot more weirdly practical to do something like that. And I think, you know, if a parent sees that their kid is talented, then they're like, oh, this is my ticket in. All we got to do is just post content, just keep going. So I feel like there's a lot more incentive for parents to be but to be completely honest. But yeah, I am forever grateful. I spent my whole life performing and doing it. Did theater first before like stuck on my own project. And I mean my parents came to every show, drove me to every rehearsal, every show that I ever did, so they just knew that I physically cannot. I mean, I'm a makeup artist too, so I do that. But like in terms of being on stage, like that is it's just where I'm like meant to be. As cheesy as that sounds, like, I can't go through my life.

7:58 Not performing, and I don't even think that's cheesy. What I do want to clarify with the audience is even with that feeling too, like people think, oh, you have to be this like extreme extrovert to do that, And most of the artists I know are introverts, and when they get up on stage, they're just in zone. You know, it's not like you're not even really present. Sometimes it's like an out of body experience. That is the best way to describe it, because it is. I mean, even like when I was on stage for Ink, you know, I got up on stage, this is crazy crowd, and I was just like having the time of my life. And I got off stage and I was like, wait, what happened? Like I just believed.

8:39 It it was over, and then I'll know about you. But I know a lot of artists too, and even myself as a radio person and as a professional speaker, that every time before I get out on stage, even Bell after all these years, like I'm super nervous until that mic goes on and then like I'm in a different there's a switch in my head that just changes. I don't get nervous. See that's great. It's funny. I was talking to someone about this, like talking about being nervous. It's like, you know, this is my own music, like I wrote this, Like I am very comfortable with it. I could understand like people getting nervous, like being in front of people, But I've done theater my whole life, and like getting on stage in front of hundreds of people where they know the show, they have a preconceived notion of what this certain part is supposed to sound like, and you know there's just more eyes on you and that there's a lot more pressure in that sense. And I learned from a very young age how to like get rid of that. But when I hear like my intro before I go on stage, I like get so like excited and I just like jump up it down, like this is so cool, Like this is you know, seeing something that I didn't think was even possible to do, and I love it that I've somehow managed to get here. I just I get amped up right before I go on.

9:57 Well, I'm going to fill in the blanket of somehow. It's your your attitude and your love for it and being a true artist. I think that's how you got here, because I think the people that set out to be rich and famous rock stars, they're the ones that fizzle out and don't really make it there because they don't have a dedication to the music. They have a dedication to where they want to be in the music. And I think that's a big difference. Yeah, No, I definitely agree on that. I mean, there's people that just want to be famous, and there's people that don't want to be artists and you know, be I guess inspiring and you know, have a little bit more depth than just I look cool on a rock star, you know, right, And that attitude does not fly.

10:44 I'm just like, no, it sure doesn't, and I have to I will also point out that you brought up about the theater, and I totally agree with that. That's why I wanted to focus on because like I went to New York Academy of Dramatic Arts, and like there is a and I also lived in LA there's a very different i don't know, call it professionalism to doing live theater and even like acting in Hollywood, you know, And like, my hat's off to anybody at those theater because I think of all the performing hearts, I think that's the one where you're held up to the highest standard and you better be good.

11:25 Oh yeah, I mean I started performing professionally in New York when I was eleven, and like I I mean it was you know, I was a child, but still you know, you have to come in with your lines memorized. You have to make sure everything is perfect every show. You get notes after the show, and if it's not right, they have a conversation with you. And I always used to get in trouble because I didn't project enough, like right, Like I was like, just make the miclouder. But and even if like you didn't have like good energy on stage, you'd be like, how is there? How are you like you know what not. But there are definitely like kids that are gotten fired because they didn't have enough energy on stage or like you know, they forgot a couple of lines here and there. So it was like a stressful but fun environment. Like I never realized, you know, the professionalism at a young age, but now I'm like I just felt like that was a normal thing. So like when I would come into rehearsals later on in life, even like I did my community college shows, I came in, I was like, I have my memorized, my lines summrized, everything is like done and ready, And some people were just kind of more just chilling. They're like eh, and I'm like, what's going on? Like no one, you got to have everything preferred like perfect by the time you get there. So there's just a very different mindset I have.

12:37 Well, and see that's why you're going places, because it's just it's in you. It's not even something you try to do. Yeah, such a nature at this point exactly. And you're a fan too, Like that's an rd thing. Like I found out hanging out with you is like you're a fan and and I think that's so important, Like the best artists out there are fan first, artist second. No, I love it. Yeah. I remember we were just on a round and we were seeing I think I was falling at a verse, just like the last headline for My Day, and we're just like vibing out and that was so cool. No doubt. So I really hope, because I have had the experience, I hope you get side stage for Ginger because I'm hopefully do that. Oh my god. Like what was cool when I was side stage for Ginger is not only just seeing her in action up close, but seeing the crowd and the you know, just how how it looked from that perspective. For a Ginger.

13:42 Show, I'm definitely gonna have to run because it's from four to four thirty and they go on at four forty five. Oh my god. You know it's fine, I have enough time. But I was thinking now and I was like, I need to see a layout of the map to be like okay, so I can get my shit back where it needs to go and then I can just run to where I need to be. So regardless, you. Should have somebody that's with you, like film that that would be a great like Instagram or TikTok you running from your set to Ginger's set. Thanks so much fun run. See it would be so fun. So what else do you have going on after that?

14:24 So in the process of working on a couple of shows for the fall, writing new music and yeah, just keep going. You know, it's kind of you know, music shows, tour music shows to our kind of the whole cycle. But and what would you say is your favorite part of doing the music? I mean, being on stage like that is definitely my favorite part. Writing is fun, Recording is fun. I like producing, so I do produce music as well. So sitting there and like watching my vision kind of come to life. And you know, I'm very fortunate that I have the most talented musicians that I work with and they just really like bring everything to the next level. So it's just a really fun process to see that. But of course it's tedious, Like I track my own vocals and I will edit and comt my own vocals, and hearing myself for like six seven hours, I want to, you know, bash my head against the wall because I a point where I'm like, I breathed weird or I breathed weird in this section. I have to redo it and it's like, oh my god, no one cares. Plus I'm going to cut that part out anyways.

15:33 But I know exactly what you're I know exactly what you're saying, because that's why I don't edit my own interviews. Okay, because I have and I'm very good at it. But you know, being that same type of person, it'll take me like three days to addit a fifteen manion interview because I'll be like every little thing, and like you said, nobody really cares. So it's like, okay, I'll let somebody else do it because it'll drive me nuts. Like I'll pick out every and we're our own worst critic anyway, you know, so like you're picking out things that people would never even notice.

16:15 Oh yeah, No, I get to a point where after like I don't know our eight I just go fuck it, I don't care anymore. Leave it. It's fine. Like I start to get to a point where I just like accept it and tap out. But right, yeah, even like like listenings like mixes and things like that, I definitely have to step away for like a week at least just to like clear my head. Come back in with fresh ears, you know. There you go. Yeah, and I do want to say too that I because it's something I'm all about too. But I love how you're so consistent with the brand of your look, even your background for this interview, like you just it just all goes together. And you know, I add blue hair for years and everything had to match like that, say there you go. I love it.

17:05 I love it, like and I was the same way. I would have a blue one of these, and my sunglasses always had to be blue. When I changed my hair to red, I changed my sunglasses. Like. I was always like that. It was like everything had to perfectly match. And I'm still like that, but my hair is not blue anymore or red yet. I was like, you should do it again. You know what I was thinking of doing though, Actually I was. I've been thinking about for a long time. Remember when Billie Eilish had the black with the green up here. Yeah, it was like the green roots and then the black. Yeah. Yeah. I was like, that's pretty badass. I think I've been saying it for years. I think I'm going to do that, and I haven't. Yeah, maybe that's a good idea. I think, you know what, I just might do that nice. I love it because that's it's actually that is sometimes how I get my ideas because I used to, like you used to have the mohawk faux hawk with you know, blue on top. And then one day I was at one of the festivals and then in watching five Finger Death Punch, I'm like, you know, maybe I should put the blue down below, you know, because he had the red down below and the dark.

18:33 I'm like, that looks pretty cool that and that ended up becoming my trademark. Actually it's on my logo and everything, the blue below and the dark up top. Oh cool, yeah, right. My hair was an accident. I was just bored one day and then I kind of liked it, and then I stuck with it, and then everyone's like, that's really cool, like for your brand, and I was like. What it is totally you Like, I couldn't you know, it's funny because I couldn't imagine you not like that. And that's kind of why I've been experiencing lately. Like I go to festivals and all the bands are like, why happy your blue hair? You know, and like people get used to it after a while, and it's all I have to command you. I don't think people know unless you live that life. There's a lot of fricking work, you know, I mean, I know, and I and like you got bringing. I always brought a pillowcase with me and a towel with me, so I unscrewed anybody else's crap up. And and then you have the half head.

19:32 I'm always impressed with that. I don't know if you do it yourself, because if you do that, see, that's even more badass because like so, my daughters used to have me do their hair because I was very good at it, because I am that perfectionist. So my daughter was a half head and she's had me do it because I could do it well. I wouldn't be able to do it on myself. But and that's what I'm saying. I'm like, I mean, because I am like very sim metrical. So the fact that your half head is like perfect blows my mind because I'm like, I wouldn't be able to do that. So I have my friend she bleaches my roots for me, and then she'll part my hair every now and then I have to part it myself. And I dread that with like a burning passion because it's really obviously I can't see the back of my head exactly part it and she always tells me this is the worst part of her week. She'd be like, it's moving and then yeah, I mean I mix a bunch of colors to get the right shades that I want. Like this, I use a yellow and an orange, yellow and blue and that's the trick, by the way, if you want green to never fade to yellow. I haven't died this in like five weeks. So this is just really yeah, really that is just accepted. It's this is its color. Now.

20:51 That's wild because it does matter which color you use. I found that out like early on, because I use like pretty much every brand out there, and like I used to use the Provano and it was really really good till it wasn't They changed the formula. Is that you know, because yeah, okay, yeah, they. Changed the formula and so it started fading out really quick. That's why I stopped using it, because like, it really sucks when it only lasts like a couple of weeks. So the fact that years lasts and still looks that bright at five weeks, that's incredible because most of them are not like that, you know, and I know that, and you know that, but I don't think the rest of the world knows that.

21:32 You know, it's trial and erre trying to find the right combination in the right die. So I use Arctic Fox. I've been using that for five years. That's what I switched to after after Privana changed their thing. I used Arctic Fox and that did last me. And it used to fade great, like the blue. After like a month, people were like, did you get your hair done again? And so then I knew it was great because it's like it didn't look like faded crap like some of them would fade to green. But it wasn't a nice green at all. Blue. I think I was pravana actually, and it faded to like a weird ass greenish blue like a sea moss color. Yeah, is a vibe, but that's not what I wanted.

22:17 I had one. I forget what it was that it was blue and literally and I don't even touch water to it for like four or five days. Literally in two days, it was lavender. What from blue? Like I know, I don't, I don't know. It's wild, but you know, it's also funny talking about the matching thing. Uh So when I first got my hair blue, I also had to get a new car. So two days later I was shopping for a new car and I went to the Lexus Steeler and I saw this car that was the same color blue as my hair, and I bought it just because of that. Really, yeah, I gotta get that.

22:59 So now, oh, I have a line green Jeep, and so that's why the you know what I'm talking about would match the Jeep. I haven't matched my vehicle in a while. That'd be cool if I had. Because I have a Bronco. That'd be cool if I had like the green with like maybe like the stripes on it. You know they have like the vintage ones for the new Broncos. There's different likes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, limited series where they have like a racy striper on the side. That'd be cool. Well, you should do like which I like. Yeah, so I was going to say, you really should get it painted and make it half and half like your hair.

23:40 I should do that. Actually, wait, I really lie. It's not ten. It's like a sand gray that makes any sense. So it like looks like very militaristic vehicle, which I love. Yeah, So there you go. Well that's cool. Is there anything we want to talk about that we haven't touched on yet that the listeners need to know besides tell them how to reach out to you, get your merch, get your songs, find out all your tour dates and all that. Yeah, so everything is going to be at official Alexa l I xx dot com. I do have a Patreon where I've been just posting a lot of like cool, fun behind the scenes stuff for my tour. I have like little teasers for new music and you guys will find out everything first for shows and that kind of stuff.

24:24 I just started a subscription on Instagram actually, where it's like a less professional version of like the Patreon, because that like I'll put together like you know, videos and funny like compilations and things. That's gonna be more so like just like some fun everyday things like me dyeing my hair, things that don't really have to do with music, so to speak, some me more personally. So that's a new thing that I just did. Nice And do you have a TikTok that is your most embarrassing TikTok? Anything from like twenty twenty to twenty twenty three. And what made it embarrassing during that period?

25:06 I was like trying to be a TikToker, and I get notified on TikTok that it's like on this day, like two years ago, and I was just like trying to like keep up with the trends and do this stuff, and it was just so cringey, and I don't have the heart to go through and delete all of them, just because if you delete something on TikTok, you'd have to scroll all the way back down again, and that is so time consuming. Oh my god, you're speaking my language, because I'm dealing with that with Instagram now. Instagram got weird for some reason. If I like try to scroll on my page, it's like it scrolls for a second, then go back to the top. So that's what happens to me, Like I'm going through my whole thing deleting old posts that I really don't want on there representing me anymore. And is so frustrating because like I've had Instagram since it first came out, So it's like I'm scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, and then I do one and then it's back to top again. It's like it takes ten fifteen minutes just to get back to where I was that.

26:08 I've been doing, which is weird. I have an artist page for my makeup because I make up artist and I like freelance and whatnot. So I will go on that account, go to my band page. Like the photos or videos I want to delete, so I go on the other one. I just click it and it's right there, delete it, and then go back to notifications because I was doing that way you were doing it, and I was losing my mind. Oh that's brilliant, or yeah. Somebody else's phone just to like all of the ones that you want to get rid of. So there's no scrolling because I. I'm telling you like, I was doing it for like hours and then I'm like, okay, I'm done. Yeah, it took me about like a half hour. I'd be like fuck this, as I.

26:51 Exactly. Well, it's been pleasure talking to you again. And I'm so pumped you'll be at incarceration. I'm totally that I won't be at upheaval for you there, but it is going to be a blast, and I do want last thing I want to say too, the fact that you're a makeup artist. I can tell you like, you're badass at that too. Now, my mother was one of those people that was very, very into glamour and makeup and stuff, and she put that as more important than anything. And she was also the most critical. If she looked at another woman and she was like, uh, what are they doing, she would look at you and she'd be like, she wouldn't even say anything. You'd have to change anything.

27:40 She'd be like, you should be my daughter. Oh. Thank you. So you keep rocking your badass artists self because you are an artist in every sense of the word. And hopefully we'll get to hang out at ink. Oh definitely, thank you so much. This is so much fun, my pleasure. Thank you for listening to the adventures of Patmin onwfur CUI Radio