Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A) Hi Bored City! Thanks so much for the chat! I’m a Canadian Country Artist, born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. I grew up in a large multicultural family surrounded by lots of different styles of music which greatly impacted my musical direction. My grandparents were touring performers in a Polynesian show in India, so my love of the stage is generational.
How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Alex Hughes”?
A) I am so excited to continue sharing my music with the world. With social media, it’s so much easier to reach country music fans all over the world. I’ll be doing interviews like this one with you, in hopes of gaining some fans in Ireland as well the UK and Australia.
There are also some cross-border touring opportunities for Canadian artists that I’m pursuing, so stay tuned on my social media to see where I end up over the next little bit! For anyone about to discover my music, my hope is that one of my songs resonates with you or just makes you feel good. That’s why I create.
Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A) Right now I’m really inspired by Country Music Artist, Kelsea Ballerini. It’s been so cool to watch her take what was probably one of her darkest moments and turn it into beautiful and raw music for her fans to enjoy and relate to. She is really taking her fans along for the ride with her and though I’m sure it’s terrifying, it really seems to resonate with them (myself included)!
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your new single, “Until This Fire Dies”?
A) A sultry guitar line and saucy melody idea inspired “Until This Fire Dies” which explores the idea of an intense and undeniable passion that eventually burns into love.
What is the story or message you’re trying to convey through this song?
A) This song is all about passion. My hope is that it might inspire a little romance or just feel good to listen to with a stiff cocktail in hand.
How did the creative process for “Until This Fire Dies” differ from your previous works?
A) I wrote this song with artist and songwriter Aaron Pollock. Aaron played a cool guitar part and looped it, which inspired the vibe of the song and the sultry lyrics. I also worked with a new producer, Dan Swinimer, on the production of the song and I love the direction that the song took. It’s a little different than my previous releases and I’m really excited for people to hear it!
What were the key elements you focused on to ensure the lyrics and melody of the song complemented each other?
A) This song is really about a moment of passion, so I wanted it to have a certain level of intensity to it. The melody is intended to dance around the catchy production while the lyrics tell a story of desire building into an undeniable love.
Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A) Prince – ever since I saw his performance at the Super Bowl I’ve been in awe of what he was able to do as a performer. I think it would have made for a really interesting collaboration at a live show. I’m very passionate about live performances and I would’ve loved to try and match the intensity and passion he brought to the stage. Until This Fire Dies with a guitar solo by Prince would be pretty epic – don’t ya think?
What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A) I got some really good advice when I was about 17 years old from a small private concert that I was lucky to be able to attend with Tim McGraw. He said that in order to pursue a career in music you have to be crazy and love it more than anything else. This advice really stuck with me so that’s why I’m passing it on; it’s a daunting journey with lots of ups and downs, so you really have to love it!
If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A) My advice to my younger self would be to find like-minded people and friends within the music community sooner! It’s a lot easier (and more fun!) to have people surrounding you that support you and you can support in return.
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