Tempo Talks: A Conversation with AlexStella

THE RELEASE

Meet AlexStella, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer living in London who is known for her avant-garde approach to sound. Her rich sonic landscapes captivate listeners as she bravely explores the boundaries of EDM, AVANT, ALT, and ART-POP genres. Her music mixes together operatic vocal passages, synthesizers, keyboards, and guitars, resulting in a dynamic and rich sound accentuated by vocal delays and enticing rhythms. She draws inspiration from artists such as Sevdaliza, Poppy, BABii, ARCA, and FKA Twigs. Her songs, which explore themes of love and rage, ring true with a sense of not entirely belonging, relying on her experiences growing up as a second-generation Polish immigrant in Sweden. AlexStella's songs capture life's highs and lows as a compelling representation of her path as an artist and a woman.

Join AlexStella and MNH on a captivating voyage of development and musical discovery as they release their genre-bending first song "Methe." This bold partnership began in early 2019, sparking a creative spark that resulted in endless all-night sessions and an uncompromising commitment to achieving perfection. The end result is a remarkable masterpiece that seamlessly blends elements of electronica, downtempo, avant pop, and art pop. Complex structures, beautiful pop melodies, and experimental operatic layers weave together with enticing synthesizers and pulsing 808s to create an immersive, avant-garde, haunting, and ambient-electronica soundtrack. The song, which was inspired by Sevdaliza's 'Human' and Rosala's 'A Palè,' illustrates the personal and collaborative progress of these two extraordinary musicians. The lyrics, which are inspired by the Greek goddess of intoxicated passions, delve into universal drives for satisfaction and the intricacies of human existence. This emotionally packed track addresses unrequited feelings for someone, going beyond relationships to affect one's perspective of self and accomplishments. "Methe" is a compelling and profound musical experience that defies borders and leaves an unforgettable impact on the listener, with its unique and ambient production containing distinctive stabs and synthesizers with a touch of drill.

THE INTERVIEW

What song or moment in time sparked your passion for music?
I believe my passion for music has its roots in those rare, precious moments spent with my family. Despite only meeting them twice a year, those gatherings became reunions filled with music, that strengthened our bond.
But what truly sparked my love for Electro/Dance music was that unforgettable moment during one of my visits to Grandma's when she gifted me a CD called 'Millennium Party,' straight from the musical glory of 1999. That CD had me in a chokehold. The emotions those songs stirred within me made me realise that music would forever be a part of who I am.

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

Little Dragon, Sonique, Sevdaliza, and the queen herself, Rihanna.

How does your creative process work from the moment you develop the idea to the completion of the record?

I always begin my creative process with Logic, where I explore sounds that resonates with how I am feeling in that moment. I'm all about tuning into my feelings because they somehow link up with the themes I want to explore in the song. 
So, the instrumental arrangement at this point, mainly consists of a drum machine topper, landscape sounds, and either a bouncy synth pad or lead. As the instrumental foundation takes shape, I add vocals without lyrics, allowing my emotions and intuition to guide me. I let the melodies flow naturally, singing whatever comes to heart. This process allows me to capture raw and genuine expressions that lay the groundwork for the song's emotional core.
Once I have the initial composition, I share the demos with a select group of individuals, including producers and friends whose opinions I deeply value. I believe that multiple perspectives enrich the creative process and lead to more well-rounded and captivating results. With their input in mind, I make a crucial decision: whether to continue working on the song independently, or involving my producer to collaboratively shape the record. Regardless of the path, the creative journey is always a deeply personal one for me. After that stage, I proceed to write the lyrics, intertwining them with the song's emotions and infusing them with personal experiences from my life.

As for this release, who is the producer and what about the production moved you?

The song was produced by MNH, an amazing London-based producer. We met in school and connected outside of it, and one day he suggested we collaborate on making music together. The rest is history. This collaborative process brought significant growth, and the production played a crucial role in helping me uncover a vital aspect of my artistic identity. The meticulous work and attention to detail put into every element of the music allowed me to explore and experiment with my artistic expression in new ways. MNH's approach to making music was a revelation, as it focused on having fun and freely expressing creativity, a complete contrast to the rules they drill into you at school. Who cares what genre and style you are.

When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?

It is very simple message. Remember what’s important to you and not what others tell you. We sometimes get lost in this universal quest for fulfilment, but YOU in the most simple form, is what makes YOU.

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