Pop-Culturalist.com

It’s hard to believe that a year ago, Alex Harris was washing cars. The alternative R&B singer-songwriter has emerged as a much-needed new voice in the industry, venturing where many artists wouldn’t. This past spring, he dropped his debut EP, Pink Cloud, a five-track collection that explores his vulnerabilities, road to sobriety, and the highs and lows of life. It’s a deeply personal collection and one of the most honest works you’ll hear anywhere. Pop Culturalist sat down with Alex to chat about Pink Cloud, his creative process, and doing what he loves.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Alex: I started doing music when I was nineteen-years-old. I was fooling around with writing songs, but wasn’t doing anything too official. I kept trying to record myself and got frustrated with the process—I had all these songs written and I was just trying to figure out a way to record them, but I had no insight to know where I should start. From there, I went to Texas State University. It was there that I met Amir Rofoogar, who started to record my music. After that, it snowballed to where it is now, but I think what’s unique about my music is the stories that it tells. It documents everything from then until now.

I look at my music as a personal diary. I make my music based on my own experiences, so everything is periodic. The mixtapes and the things that I released in the past coincide with what I was going through at the time or relationships during that time. I would definitely say that my passion for music came from wanting to get certain things off my chest.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Alex: The biggest influence on my career is probably the music that my dad exposed me to, which was Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and a lot of old N.W.A. stuff—he had an eclectic taste. He went to high school in the ’80s, so there was also a lot of The Police and The Smiths. I was surrounded by all that music as a kid and I can hear those influences in my music today. When I first started, I didn’t realize it, but as I’ve recorded and written more, I’ve been like, “Wow! I think that derives from the music that I was exposed to.”

When I first started, I didn’t realize that. But as I’ve recorded more and wrote more, I’ve been like, “Wow! I think that derivates from the music that I was exposed to.”

PC: Your EP is out now. It’s a very personal collection that explores your vulnerabilities. How early on did you know that was what you wanted to convey?
Alex: I wanted it to very truthful to myself. I used to go to school for creative writing and I remember that I was trying to make up this elaborate story about a character and something that I didn’t necessarily know, and it showed. My professor was like, “The first rule about writing is to write about what you know.” Ever since then, especially with this EP, it’s about what I know and what I’ve experienced. I feel like the rawness translates to people. I made it about my life with the hopes that someone else can relate to it.

PC: What was that process like reliving your highs and lows? What was the biggest takeaway from this EP?
Alex: I got a lot of closure from it. I feel like a lot of the times that I make a record about something personal, maybe a downfall or a low point, I’m able to put it behind me. This EP gave me a lot of closure. Moving forward, it’s freed me to find new experiences and figure out what’s the next.

PC: If you had to pick one song that best encompasses the EP, what would it be and why?
Alex: I’m going to say “Blue” because it has parts where I break into rapping, it has parts where there’s R&B, soul, and just singing throughout it. It’s my most vulnerable song because it’s about a certain situation where you feel embarrassed to talk about…it’s about being ghosted by someone. The first verse is about being on the receiving end of being rejected and the second one is about being the rejector. To me, that one embodies the most authentic style of music that I’m trying to do.

PC: You just recently tweeted that a year ago, you were washing cars. Now, you have an EP out. Have you had time to reflect on this milestone?
Alex: I have! Any time that I feel like I’ve hit a low point now, I remember that I’m doing what I want to do: I’m making music. There was a period of time when I was washing cars and I was hungry then. I made it work. That’s when I recorded my music. It’s my reminder to be thankful for every small success, every new fan. I don’t take any of this for granted. I remember washing cars, forty hours a week.

PC: What does the year hold for you as we look ahead to the rest of 2019?
Alex: I have a single that should be coming out this summer called “88 Floors”, which I’m really excited about. The song showcases the rap side of what I do. I started out in rap and moved into singing as I became more confident in myself. I’m excited about releasing something for my core fan base as well as the new ones! The hooks are very melodic like the Pink Cloud EP. As far as 2019: more shows, more music, “88 Floors”, festivals. I’m actually doing a festival in Albania—it’s in a way far market, but I’m the type of person that I’ll go anywhere that I have fans.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Alex: Morrissey!

PC: First album you ever bought?
Alex: The Eminem Show. My mom threw it away and I bought it again. [laughs]

PC: First concert you attended?
Alex: Green Day

PC: A person you’d love to collaborate with?
Alex: Frank Ocean

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Alex: House of Blues Dallas

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Alex: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City because I was listening to that when I was in community college, which was when I had all these songs written down and didn’t know what to do with them. It was that album that taught me that I could write about my personal life, experiences, and incorporate rap. It reminded me to write about what I know and that’s when everything clicked.

To keep up with Alex, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and pick up Pink Cloud on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on .