Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Sad Alex

Rising Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, dancer, illustrator, and producer Sad Alex is the definition of a creative. Bringing her quirky honesty to complex productions, Sad Alex delivers emotionally poignant lyrics that span love, sex, breakups, and everything in between. Pop Culturalist caught up with Sad Alex—now signed to Red Bull Records—to chat about her career, turning on the faucet to her creativity, and being backed by a team she loves.

PC: You’re a writer, singer, pianist, dancer, and designer. How did you discover your passion for the arts? Is there one that you naturally gravitate towards?
Sad Alex: Wow. You just made me feel so multifaceted when you put it like that. I feel so powerful. Well, weirdly enough, even though it’s not my biggest strength, I started dancing first. I started taking dance classes when I was three years old, and I became pretty decent. It was a very big part of my life growing up. I was the president of my dance company at my college. I was a very good amateur at best. But that fueled a lot of my love for music. I started playing piano when I was five, and I started writing at twelve. I’ve had people tell me that they can see my dance background in the way that I write or the things that I’ve produced.

I’ve always drawn ever since I was a kid. I think I got that from my mom. I never tried to do it seriously. I started doing it recently out of necessity. When I was rebranding, I really struggled to find artistic direction that I liked. I never had a good grasp of that, the way I see how a lot of these artists have a great vision for cool photo shoots. I was never good at that. When I’m trying to figure out how to draw artwork that I like, I always go back to consistency and something that’s easy to produce. I usually do drawings on my iPad with the same colors and white background. That’s been an easier thought process for me to follow and I don’t have to stress myself out for photo shoots. I don’t love photo shoots. So this feels more like me and the way that I like to do things.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Sad Alex: That’s a tough question. It’s not revolutionary, but my relationships have a huge influence, whether it’s a romantic relationship, a close friendship, or a professional relationship that may or may not have worked out. They’ve all taught me something.

There was this one breakup that I had right when I moved to LA. Before then, it took me a long time to fit into my groove writing. That first breakup when I moved to LA four years ago was a catalyst for really turning the faucet on abruptly. So many of the songs that I started moving with this new project were facilitated from that breakup. I probably wrote two hundred songs about that poor guy. It’s absurd the amount that I’ve written about him. Him and I are friends now.

But it’s a weird thing. There are certain transitions in your life. When I broke my leg, that was a really big moment, and that changed my approach to writing. Then again, this relationship and new friends coming into my life. My roommate and best friend has given me a lot more confidence and has validated me in some stuff that I was insecure about. All these people close to my life have influenced me in some way to help take me to the next step. But I still feel like I’m very much growing and evolving, so I’m always going to be adjusting. That’s the lovely part about being human.

PC: You recently signed with Red Bull Records. What are some of the major differences between being signed to a major label as opposed to releasing music independently?
Sad Alex: I think what’s been really cool and something that I’ve never had is a team of people that I can communicate with as resources. For the longest time, it was just me. I used to have full phone conversations with people pretending that I was someone called Bethany Gallant, booking tours, sessions, whatever it was. Now, I have a manager who’s able to act as a liaison for all these communications.

I’m involved a lot in the creative process visually with my campaigns. I have a great friend who’s been helping a lot with these content pieces that we’ve been using as marketing tools and everything. It’s been wildly helpful. I’m grateful to have people help me with these different facets of this industry that I’m not good at taking control of myself. It’s allowed me to still wear my artist and writer’s hat while I’m still trying to maneuver all these new things that I’ve never had to think about before.

It’s easier to do things when you have a lot of people who are super supportive and can come in with ideas and help facilitate and execute those things so you don’t feel like you’re spiraling trying to do it all by yourself. I feel less alone in the world with people helping me.

I’ve been really happy. They’ve been very kind. What I love about Red Bull is that they’ve always been family oriented, both on the publishing and record side. Everyone is so supportive, and they’re friends. It makes it feel like a home as opposed to just a place that you’re turning out work.

PC: You have a new single coming out on May 1. Tell us about “hypotheticals” and the inspiration behind the song.
Sad Alex: It’s pretty normal to go down the rabbit hole of “what could I do differently to make them love me,” right? Whether it’s trying to win someone over or to change yourself after a relationship that didn’t work out. We’ve all seen the 2009 film classic, He’s Just Not That Into You. For me, “hypotheticals” covers the latter.

Ironically, I ended the relationship, but as you feel the person slipping away you realize that even though you didn’t want them, you still want them to want you. Then, you go down the rabbit hole of stalking the girl’s Instagram that he just tagged in his latest post. Then, you find yourself scrolling all the way to 2012 when she studied abroad in Australia and she has longer hair than you. But, you are definitely funnier and was he really a tit man all this time?

This all sends you spiraling into a world of self-loathing and how you should have done something differently to hold onto the love you had. In the wise words of Joni Mitchell, “You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone.”

PC: Of all the songs you’ve released, if you had to pick one that best encompasses you as an artist, what would it be and why?
Sad Alex: There’s a track called “I’m Glad That You Found Someone.” It’s one of the first songs that I wrote that incorporated my sense of humor into my writing well. That’s something that I’ve barely opened the faucet on. I’ve always wanted to implement my personality into my songs.

For a long time, especially in my early stages of writing, most of my songs were sad and most of my songs hit the same cord of emotional level or variety. But some of the songs now are making people laugh or making them feel quirkier. They touch into who I actually am as a person more. It’s one that will be coming out later this year.

To keep up with Sad Alex, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.