alx

INTERVIEW BY Rianne Akindele PHOTOS BY Alexa Jade GrosS

Meet ALX, a 22-year-old artist bringing the free-flowing, live-in-the-moment atmosphere of life in Naples, Florida to the global music scene. Since leaving Naples for Los Angeles, the heart of the United States music industry, ALX has been taking music more seriously, leading to the recording and release of his debut EP, The Fantasy (released May 27th). With this EP, we see that, while hilariously witty on social media, ALX also has the musical talent to match (which seems to run in the family as his older brother, Dominic Fike, is also on the rise right now).

I spoke with ALX the Friday of a pandemic-stricken Memorial Day weekend to discuss life in quarantine, musical influences, and the importance of including Bob Marley on your shower playlist.

How are you doing today?

I’m good. I woke up today at like 5 AM and had a Redbull ‘cause I’m working on getting my sleep schedule back on track.

What have you been doing to pass the time in quarantine?

Dude, I’ve watched so many movies. In between, I’ve been recording little hooks and such—not really full songs, ‘cause I’m having some writer’s block. But yea, just been watching movies, to be honest. Like, I watched the whole Harry Potter series, the

Twilight series, and I just restarted

Naruto—so, you know, back on my BS pretty much.

Okay, favorite Naruto character? Also, Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Yea, Zabuza or Kakashi. And that’s easy—

Team Edward. No soul wants to walk around smelling like a dog all the time.

So, you grew up in Naples and I know it’s going to be a kind of quarantined summer this year, but if you were back in Naples, what would a regular summer be like?

It’s crazy ‘cause, in Naples, like, right now, the malls are open. I don’t understand what they’re doing over there. I don’t even think anything’s different from how it was last summer. But, if I were there right now, I’d definitely be at the beach, having a drink. Like, what time is it over there now?

Like 6 pm? Oh yea, for sure I’d have a drink, and then we’d be figuring out the food situation. Probably on our way to a Publix to get some PubSubs.

Tell me a bit about Lame Boys Entertainment and Backhouse. I know it has to be pretty serious because all you guys in it have it tattooed somewhere in your body. Is it a collective? Friends hanging out or a mix of both?

Yea, so we started at Backhouse. Our homie actually had a back house and we’d go there and just invite a bunch of people over to hang and have parties. Then, we started hanging with our friend Matt

Black and my friend Javonne—who actually coined the name Lame Boys. So, then

I got inducted because I’m super cool and handsome (with handsome being the top requirement [to join]). I would also consider us all to be family. You know we spend so much time together; it’s like everyone I hang out with is like family to me.

When I was listening to your song, “Misses FL,” on Spotify, the Genius Behind the Lyrics feature popped up. One of the quotes said that, even though you love Naples and it’s your home, you felt like you needed to get out. What made you feel like you needed to leave?

Oh, cool! I haven’t even seen that yet. Um, yea, girlfriend issues. Also, it was getting super boring. I was just getting drunk ev-

ery few days and [getting] into trouble, so I came up to LA to get away from all of that. Since being up here, I’m not wildin’ out anymore and my brother says I’ve been way more relaxed too.

It also said that after you finished “Misses FL,” you just kind of sat in the studio and cried. Is that true?

Look, that was one of the most authentic cries I’ve ever had in my life. I was in my homie’s garage and the song was just playing over and over and I just started crying.

I was like, this is beautiful, man. Not even just the song, but the whole moment.

So, you came out to LA and started making music a bit more seriously. Is there anything you’ve learned about yourself during the process?

Yea, I mean. I just realized that I’m pretty cool. You know, I gained a bit of confidence in who I am and my abilities, which was nice.

Earlier you mentioned trying to get over your writer’s block; especially with being in lockdown, it’s kind of hard to come up with new thoughts every day. Are you the type of person who just sits and lets the song ideas come to you, or do you try to kind of write it out and see what comes?

Dude, I take so many showers. Like two days ago, I put a beat on and just started writing. I just hum things that might be boring or don’t really go anywhere. Originally,

I wanted to kind of freestyle it out, but that wasn’t really working, so now I’m back to actually writing again. Just the act of writing is a good way to kind of force yourself into it. Like, to fix writer’s block, you just gotta write and eventually something will come.

You mentioned you’ve been taking a lot of showers to pass the time. Do you have a favorite shower song or playlist?

Yes, dude. Legend by Bob Marley. If you start that from the top and then turn the lights off or maybe light a candle or turn your flashlight on so it’s not pitch black, you’ll have the best shower.

On your Instagram story, you mentioned that “Miss U” is your favorite song on your new EP. What about it makes it your favorite track?

Oh yea, that song is my baby. I bought the beat from someone for like $200 and I was like, “I love this song.” So, I tried to personify the song. I wanted the idea of missing somebody to be about a lady named “Miss

U” originally. There’s, like, two other versions that I despise and hope are never heard by human ears, but the final product I was in love with. It just took so long to make and I still listen to it like, “This is hot!”

A lot of your music seems to be super chill, carefree, and energetic. Would you say that the music you make mirrors your personality or approach to life?

Yea, for sure. That’s probably what those songs are. I had someone ask me what the songs are about and I was like, you know I’m just talking. I guess that flows well with music, you know because it’s just you talking about life.

You mentioned Bob Marley earlier, do you have any other musical inspirations? Is there a song out there that’s already been created that you wish you could have written or had a verse on?

Oh man, there’s so many I’m thinking of.

I wish I was on “White Flag” by Dido. That song—it’s from like her sophomore album— and it’s so cute. She was like dating someone- okay, well, we’ll get into that another time. But yea, Dido for sure. Or a Bieber song! I know every Justin Bieber song.

Name a Justin Bieber song right now and

I’ll body it.

I feel like all of the songs and movies/shows you’ve mentioned are from the middle school era which was such a great time.

Yea, I literally don’t listen to new music unless it’s really good. Like “Skybox” by

Gunna is one of the only newer songs I’ve listened to. And my brother’s music, too, to be honest! He inspires me so much, except he’s better than me. It’s like healthy competition. You know, I’ve been watching Naruto, and [in this one episode], Itachi was talking to Sasuke like, “I wanna be a wall for you to climb over,” and I was like, damn, that’s super cute. And you know, my brother

Dom’s (Dominic Fike) new music is crazy good. Like, he’s gonna win a Grammy and I’ll be there in a white tank top. It’s a masterpiece.

How did you kind of get into making music?

You know, our dad is a piece of work, but before he left, he did teach us how to play guitar.

Do you remember the first song you learned to play?

Yea, it was “Lips of an Angel” by Hinder!

You and Dom seem to be super close and obviously share music. For your EP, did you guys collaborate in any way?

Yea, not a lot of people know this but Dom is just so funny and stupid, but I still look up to him. For this EP, not really [in terms of collaborating]. We do have like one song together, but haven’t actually sat down to make a song in forever. I think that’s because he’s been working on his album, but now that, that’s finished, there will be a song with us together for sure. And it’ll be hot!

So, you have your EP coming out and the music video for “Crash;” is anything else you want to add?

ALX: $tunna gon’ make it.

Be sure to check ALX’s new EP, The Fantasy, out now on all streaming platforms. The music video for “Crash,” the opening track on the EP, depicts a swift and sweeping love, which is perfect for the summer. You can check that out now, as well!