Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Alex Angelo

Most of us won’t soon forget 2020. But for up-and-coming singer-songwriter Alex Angelo, the year holds a different significance and meaning. It’s the year he spent experimenting with his pop/R&B sound and discovered who he is and wants to be as an artist. With five hit singles already under his belt, Alex has dropped yet another banger with “One Less Night.” We caught up with this fast-rising star to learn more about him and “One Less Night.”

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Alex: It really started with dance for me. I always loved music, and I had taken some dance classes as a kid. When I was eight, I attended a dance workshop with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA dance team. I didn’t know it, but they were auditioning for a kids hip-hop dance team. They called a couple of days later and invited me to the team. I would get some private lessons from those dancers and eventually got better.

I was also really into skateboarding when I was that young, but then I started getting into music more and more. I sold this big skate ramp that I got for a birthday, and with the money, I purchased some Technics 1200s [turntable record players], and I started to learn how to deejay. I became obsessed with that, and the Cleveland Cavs saw a video of me doing this. I ended up deejaying at the Cavs game while the players were warming up and throughout the game on kids’ nights. Yes, LeBron was on the team!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Alex: I feel like this is always changing because I am still young and learning. I love working with talented people and soaking up as much knowledge as possible, whatever the situation. Besides that, of course, my parents have had the biggest influence on my career for making many sacrifices in their lives to allow me to learn, grow, and become a better artist.

PC: 2019 was a year of self-discovery. What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned about yourself during that time?
Alex: Learning patience. I graduated high school, started college, and spent a lot of time surrounded by people I respect. I grew as a songwriter because I learned about why and what you are writing.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “One Less Night.” What inspired the song?
Alex: This is a lonely time, and I think it perfectly fits the vibe that a lot of people are experiencing. I imagine myself in situations with relationships, and those feelings inspired “One Less Night.” Sometimes, we can’t be together and it’s tough. We are obsessed with checking our phones and being depressed. Sometimes, it’s better to just be together.

PC: This is your sixth single of 2020. Of those six, if you had to choose one that best encompasses you as an artist, what would it be and why?
Alex: Great question. I’m not sure that I will be able to give you the answer you want because I really don’t know. I am using this time to feel the freedom to experiment and grow. I don’t have a label. I don’t have a company telling me what kind of song to write or produce. I know some artists that get deals. Oftentimes, these artists can’t release things when they want, and everything is so formulaic and planned out for them. I have ultimate freedom currently, so it’s allowing me to find the different sounds that best encompass me as an artist. I also look up to artists like Kanye, Childish Gambino, and Pharrell. All of these artists have created many different-sounding things as artists. I love that.

PC: You’ve toured around the world and shared the stage with some of music’s biggest artists. What has being on the road taught you that you’ve been able to apply to your career?
Alex: This is an easy one: respect everyone. I was an opening act while touring, and I connected with the people running the show a lot—the people that tour with the artists, the sound people, the tour management, the behind-the-scenes people that make things work. I have so much respect for them, and I like to soak up knowledge from those people. They see and hear everything. I have made wonderful relationships on tour.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: First album you bought?
Alex: First one I bought was Off the Wall by MJ. I will always remember how the music moved me and everyone around me. We’d play it real loud in the backyard, and I just remember how many times we’d cycle through the track list. It just felt so effortless. I always admired Michael’s videos obviously, but focusing on those tracks showcased another side to the magic. Plus, it introduced me to the legend Quincy Jones and the mastery he held in the music.

PC: First concert you attended?
Alex: High School Musical: The Concert

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Alex: One album that changed my life was 808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West. Aside from it just feeling like such a cool album to listen to, there were so many influences that I’d already enjoyed in other genres crammed into the LP. Pop music has always been something I loved, but this felt like both a futuristic and nostalgic take on the genre. The orchestral pieces flowed so nicely with the contrast of various electronic elements. The melodies are all complex enough to respect but simple enough to easily grasp. This album changed the way I listen, digest, and even create music. I still listen to it every time I’m on a flight.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Alex: The Hollywood Bowl

PC: A must-have on the road?
Alex: Something I need on the road is easily my laptop—obviously for my stage show but also for creation on the road. My laptop really is an extension of my brain, and I need it with me at all times. I can recall so many times when I was either on a tour bus, green room, or even a car creating and bringing ideas to life. Without it, I feel like I can’t achieve what I want as a creative.

To keep up with Alex, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify. Pick up or stream “One Less Night” today.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Kramer