1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. You know, there's something poetic about the 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: fact that Billie Joel's daughter chose to make her mark 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:09,159 Speaker 1: not by running down a dream on the highway, but 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: by sitting at a piano bench, finding her own keys 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: to unlock stories her father never told. I'm buzznight and 6 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: welcome to another episode of Taking a Walk. Today, I'm 7 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: joined by Alexa Ray Joel, singer, songwriter and yes musical royalty. 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: Well most people know her last name. Alexa Ray has 9 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: been the better part of two decades proving that legacy 10 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: is just your starting point, not your destination. She's here 11 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: to talk about finding her voice when the world already 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: thinks it knows what you should sound like, the courage 13 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,599 Speaker 1: it takes to bare your soul at a piano, and 14 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: why sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: simply be authentically yourself. Stick around through this commercial break 16 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: and we'll talk to Alexa ray Joel next on Take 17 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: a Walk, Taking a Walk. It's a glorious day. I 18 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: have Alexa ray Jel on the Taking a Walk Podcast. 19 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: Hi, Alexa, Hey, buzz, how are you? 20 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: I'm doing fantastic? Do does it happen on occasion if 21 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: you're doing one of these podcasts where somebody says hey 22 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: Alexa and then there Alexa goes off in the background. 23 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: Do you have to deal with that from time to time? 24 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: I was just talking about this on the last podcast 25 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: that I did, So I go buy Alexa Ray now, 26 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: because in part of that, I don't want to hear 27 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 2: Hey Alexa, Oh, what can I do for you? Would 28 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: you like this to? 29 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 3: No? No, no, no no. 30 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,479 Speaker 2: So that's why I do Alexa Ray as much as 31 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 2: I can these days. 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: Welcome Alexa Ray. And since we call this podcast taken 33 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: a Walk, and since I'm not able to be with 34 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: you in person at the beautiful undisclosed location somewhere. 35 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: In the east family home in the East Coasts, so 36 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:03,919 Speaker 2: beautiful space here. 37 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: Oh my god. So since we're not able to take 38 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,399 Speaker 1: a walk in person, I do want to ask you though, 39 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: if you could take a walk with somebody, living or dead, 40 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: who would you like to take a walk with? Then 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: where would you take that walk with him? 42 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 2: Whoo wow? I wouldn't mind taking a walk with Billie Holiday. Yeah, 43 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 2: you know someone that's grown up completely differently obviously different 44 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,279 Speaker 2: in every way, different everything, skin color, different life experience, 45 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 2: different perspective, different time. 46 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: A true icon for sure. A trailblazer, right. 47 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 2: A trailblazer. I remembered watching I watched a documentary of hers. 48 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: I was just sitting there crying the whole time, just 49 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: in awe of just the gravity of how much she 50 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 2: went through, how much she suffered, how much she put 51 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: everything into her art. It was very profound to me. 52 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: That's a good one. I think you guys would have 53 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: a nice conversation. I think it would probably be a 54 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: pretty long walk. 55 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 2: Don't you think it would be a very long walk. Yeah, yeah, 56 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 2: she and it would be mostly me listening. I would 57 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: just hear her talk. 58 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, well, congratulations on the new EP and 59 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: on Riverside Way so much. I want you to take 60 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: us inside the creation of that. But I do have 61 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: to ask you, who is your Mount Rushmore of music 62 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: if you could kind of define that, obviously knowing there's 63 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: a certain family member who would have to be part 64 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: of that. 65 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: But yeah, I mean, you know, it's hard to say 66 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 2: off the top of my head because it's a mix 67 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: of people, and I can't not put my father on 68 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: that Mount Rushmore list, just in terms of how many 69 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: different types of music you know, I measure an artist 70 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 2: based on how much they play, how much they experiment, 71 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: how much they push past different boundaries, and really just 72 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: how much of a nonconformist they are just artistically go 73 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 2: with whatever they want. I think that's so brave, and 74 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 2: so I don't know. I mean, he's at the top. 75 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 2: I would put Joni Mitchell up there. I would put 76 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: George Gershwin up there. I would put I would put 77 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 2: Randy Newman up there. I think he's such an unbelievable 78 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: It's so funny because I've covered some of his songs 79 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: at the Carlisle at Kathay Carlile where it's so funny. 80 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 2: He's so underrated, Like nobody they're like, oh, that sounds familiar, 81 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: you know, but they don't know it's him. And really 82 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 2: any artist that's made it into that classic. I'm an 83 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 2: old school guess. So the American Songbook is really the 84 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: pinnacle of great music for me and Rogers and Hammerstein 85 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 2: and all of that. I'm a theater girl, you know, 86 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: so I go way back into all of that, and 87 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,720 Speaker 2: I think it gives you a better understanding of music 88 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: traditionally in terms of the structure, right, you have a 89 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: little maybe, like my Dad often opens with a classical 90 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 2: piano part. But then you have the verse, you have 91 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: the chorus, you have the second verse, you have the 92 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 2: second chorus, you have the bridge. Like I just have 93 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 2: a true respect for people that are able to write 94 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:45,599 Speaker 2: like that. Whether it's Gershwin or Dad or Bob Dylan, 95 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: you know what I mean, or or Newman or any 96 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: of the greats, or Elton John or even freaking Don 97 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 2: Henley is such a great songwriter. He knows how to 98 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: write a structured work. He understands the craft of song, 99 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: and I can't help but feel that that's getting somewhat 100 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 2: lost because everyone's prioritizing a hook. And that's great, But 101 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 2: can you write something that sounds timeless and structurally like 102 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: like the Rock of Gibraltar, you know, like solid, like 103 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 2: a solid, timeless work. That's hard to do. I respect that. 104 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: I try to emulate that. 105 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: So a couple things to unpack there. First of all, 106 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: you mentioned the Cafe Carlisle, and certainly that whole experience there, 107 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: Bembleman's experience, and just when you walk into that place, 108 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,799 Speaker 1: it's such a joyous celebration. We're actually creating an episode 109 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 1: celebrating bem Woman's and that whole experience there institution. Yeah, yeah, 110 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: so I had to mention that. But I also in 111 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: thinking of Randy Newman, I think he's vastly underappreciated. 112 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 2: Don't you think I'm so glad you circle back to him, 113 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: because even this new generation, like I'm trying to show, 114 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:17,119 Speaker 2: I'll play, feels like holm on the piano. My brother 115 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 2: and my little brother and sister, like who's that? They 116 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 2: thought it was something I wrote. I said, don't give 117 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: me the credit. That was written by the great Randy Newman. 118 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: Even da da da da dun dun dun dun dun 119 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: da dun dun dun dun dun. It's so comforting, it's 120 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 2: so familiar. Not everybody even associates it with him, right 121 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 2: toy story, It's what he's been able to write. I 122 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,559 Speaker 2: recently watched Was with my fiance. We love the movie. 123 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: We bought a zoo and they had the scene where 124 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: the rain was coming down and it was really sort of, 125 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: you know, beautiful and like that tranquil moment in the film, 126 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: and it had I think it's going to rain today, 127 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: And I just started crying those cores words and I 128 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: remembered why. I went to see a show at guild 129 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 2: Hall many years ago, and I think my father was 130 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 2: going through a sort of emotional time and we saw 131 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 2: the show together, Randy Newman show, and he played I 132 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: think It's going to rain today, Dunda, and my father 133 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 2: looked at me and he just started crying, and I 134 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 2: just started crying, just the beauty of it. And to 135 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: this day, it's funny how those childhood memories come back 136 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 2: and then you hear this song and you just you 137 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 2: get misdy eyed again. So a new Randy Newman is 138 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 2: like Dad for me, and that he's kind of a 139 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 2: home base guy that is a part of that American songbook. 140 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 2: He understands how to write timeless work that's so well 141 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: crafted and well thought out. And like I put him 142 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 2: up there with Dad, and my father does too. 143 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: You know, it's awesome. 144 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: I thought it was always tinkling on the ivories his stuff. 145 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: So I have chills thinking about Well, one song just 146 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: popped into my head as we're having the conversation, and 147 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: that is and you can I mean, you know, there's 148 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: so many. But as somebody who spent time near the 149 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: water obviously who doesn't sail, away, Take your breath away. 150 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 2: I'm so glad you brought that up. I actually covered 151 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: that with my amazing pianist Carmine Julio at the Carlisle 152 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 2: and I did more of an even more gospel version 153 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 2: because it's so gospel to me, you know, say, and 154 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: you can do a lot vocally, like you can build it. 155 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 2: You can start very bare bones and then get into 156 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 2: those gospel and those I don't know, just really dig 157 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 2: in on the on the keys and even do more 158 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 2: that gospel sound. I love it. And it's funny because 159 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 2: if you listen to that, and then you even listen 160 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 2: to like River of Dreams from they come from a 161 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 2: similar school. It's that old school gospel and it's just 162 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 2: the root of soul right there, you know. Take me 163 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 2: to the river, take the church, and it's the best. 164 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:16,719 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, thank you for sharing that. 165 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 2: I wanted to add too. I love how there's no 166 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: pretense with him. He's one of the only artists. 167 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: You know. 168 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 2: They say every artist has a little bit of an 169 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 2: affectation in terms of their look or how they wish 170 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 2: to come across to differentiate themselves. And I'll bring up 171 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 2: another movie because I'm a big movie buff but begin again. 172 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 2: I don't know if you've seen that movie. If not, 173 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 2: it's all about music. You should really watch it. It's 174 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: Mark Ruffalo here Knightley, and they kind of find each 175 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,599 Speaker 2: other and do a record together in New York City. 176 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: The girl says, oh no, sorry, Mark Ruffalo says, his 177 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: character says, okay, give me. Every artist is affected, every artist, 178 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: even dealing with the shades and the hat. Only one 179 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: artist that doesn't have some form of aesthetic or appearance pretense. 180 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 2: And Kiera Knightley's character goes Randy Newman, but that and 181 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 2: he goes, you got me. I love Randy Newman. There 182 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 2: is no concern for appearance or any like external. It's 183 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 2: all about the writing. It's all about the music. And 184 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 2: I just love that. So you should watch that movie. 185 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 2: It's really a real music lovers film. 186 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,719 Speaker 1: Oh I will for sure. Well take us into the 187 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: making of the EP, the whole process that you take 188 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 1: in terms of bringing people together, the writing process, the 189 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: collaboration process. Give us a little inside glimpse into it. 190 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 2: It's very raw for me. It has to just flow. 191 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 2: And I was just in a place. This was a 192 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 2: couple of years ago. Now with the EP Tales from 193 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,079 Speaker 2: a Winding Tower and we're doing Waterfowl releases, so people 194 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 2: right now are only hearing going to hear one song 195 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 2: at a time. But it was really natural for me. 196 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 2: I don't know, it just I just felt like, Okay, 197 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 2: this is a time when I feel like writing. It 198 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 2: was all just coming out. I wasn't forcing it. I 199 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:28,079 Speaker 2: wasn't sitting there going come on, come to me ideas. 200 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 2: The music was just coming went after the next and 201 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 2: I'm very eclectic. I was particularly eclectic with the CP 202 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 2: So Riversideway is more of a fiery banger. The next 203 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 2: song we're putting out that I'm putting out is more 204 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 2: of a sixties Torch style Heavy Eyes. Then the next 205 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: one is a very melancholic ballad. The next one's more 206 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 2: bohemian rhapsody if you will. There's some notes to like 207 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 2: Fiona Apple and the Lilith Days, almost a little bit 208 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 2: more of the nineties singer songwriter approach. So it just 209 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 2: all of those influences just kind of came out. I 210 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 2: know it sounds funny, but it just happened. It just happened. 211 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 2: It was such an organic process. I called up my 212 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 2: dad's guitarist, who's an amazing producer, Tommy Burns, and I said, 213 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 2: I got to do this record. I've got all these 214 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 2: ideas just flowing. And he was just he was on board. 215 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 2: And we brought our friend Tony Bruno, who's an incredible musician, 216 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 2: plays every instrument, producer, and they were my guys, they 217 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: were my producers. It was a super You know, it 218 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 2: helps when you're friends and you have a sort of 219 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 2: repertoire in chemistry with the people you work with, because 220 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 2: you're sharing your as my father says, you're spilling your 221 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 2: guts out on the table. You got to be able 222 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 2: to be vulnerable and as a homebody, which I am. 223 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 2: You see my family home here. We actually I was 224 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 2: lucky enough to record in my piano room in the 225 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 2: music room right behind here, and it's a big, wide 226 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 2: open space. I was barefoot, you know, didn't even have 227 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 2: to put shoes on, really spoiled with the recording process, 228 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 2: and I just sat there and did the piano and 229 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 2: the vocals bare bones. They recorded. We did the studio 230 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 2: musicians up in Applehead, which is in Woodstock, apple Head Studios, 231 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 2: great place to record, very seventies Hendrix, I don't know 232 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 2: everybody in the seventies was there. So I wanted that energy, 233 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 2: that real artist energy, very earthy woodsy up there. So 234 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: it was a super organic process and I feel so 235 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 2: lucky that I just got to record right in my 236 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 2: living room and the rest is history. And I just 237 00:14:55,720 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 2: hope people connect. There's something in there for everybody, you know, 238 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 2: for someone that might not connect to Riversideway, I've got 239 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 2: a more old school nostalgic ballad coming your way that 240 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 2: you might enjoy. Like, I just wanted something for everybody, 241 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 2: because for me, I get bored, you know, I stick 242 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 2: to one genre, one niche I need to move on 243 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 2: to the next. My father's the same way. It's you 244 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 2: got to play, you gotta you know, I don't like 245 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 2: sticking with one style at all. 246 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: So did you feel most in the zone in terms 247 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: of process and ultimate creation with this project? 248 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 2: Yes? I was completely in the zone, completely in the zone. 249 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 2: I mean River Sideway. I think I wrote in like 250 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: two nights, late late night and hus in the bathtub 251 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: and I was like done, da da dom boom boombo 252 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 2: man A bad boy on the rid of a sad 253 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 2: way and I just heard it and it was just there, 254 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 2: and you know, I know my father writes the same way. 255 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 2: He just kind of just there, and he usually does 256 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: start at the beginning with the first verse, because I 257 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 2: don't know listen, I don't know how people write out 258 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 2: of order. 259 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 3: I hear some people don't we hear the chorus where 260 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 3: I'm like, how do you hear the chorus first? How 261 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 3: do you hear the bridge first? Don't you need to 262 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 3: write in order? I'm kind of an orderly girl too 263 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 3: in my life. 264 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 2: I think chronologically I need things to go, So I 265 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 2: got to start with the first verse, then the pre chorus, 266 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 2: then the chorus. I feel really, really lucky that it 267 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 2: just flowed at that time, because I don't always have 268 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 2: and I know other artists. I've talked to other artists 269 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: about this. My father is the same one. Sometimes it's 270 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 2: a dry well. It's not every single day the songs 271 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 2: are just coming to you, the ideas are just flowing. 272 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 2: You have to be it's got to be there. You 273 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 2: got to be in that zone, you know. 274 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: And if there's a dry moment, though, do you just 275 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: sort of leave it there and come back to it 276 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: in an hour or the next day. I mean, how 277 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: do you sort of address that? 278 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: If I'm being honest, I should probably be more disciplined 279 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 2: about it. I don't like to force it. Music is 280 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 2: something I love so much. It's so fluid for me. 281 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 2: I only go to it when it's there. And I 282 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 2: know there's other songwriters that are much more regimented, and 283 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 2: they will sit there and they will go, Okay, I 284 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 2: need to finish this today. I've never been able to 285 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 2: do that. I'm a little bit of in fantasy girl. 286 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 2: I like to live in a fantasy world and live 287 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 2: in my dreams as much as I can. This world 288 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 2: we're living in is a bit disconcerting, the reality of 289 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 2: our just everything that's going on, and music is my escape. 290 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 2: And with Riversideway, which is out now, it was a 291 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 2: lot about going into fantasy, even going into an alter ego, 292 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 2: even stepping out of your self and your own head 293 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 2: and your own kind of neuro season and comfort zone. 294 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 2: And oh I'm a good girl and I need to 295 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 2: be this way. And I just said, screw that, and 296 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 2: let me just take a huge departure, go off them, 297 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 2: off the grid, off the map, and have some fun 298 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 2: and so, you know, just write a fun, fiery bang 299 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 2: or the hooks came, I heard wooo, I was playing 300 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,439 Speaker 2: on the piano, couldn't stop playing it. I said, well, 301 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 2: this is insane. 302 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 3: I know. 303 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 2: My father's the same way. It's like, once it's inside 304 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 2: of you, if you can't get that earworm out of 305 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 2: your head, you better see. 306 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 3: It through I. 307 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 2: For those who are listening, you should really watch my 308 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 2: father's documentary. And so it goes. He talks about with 309 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: river dreams, I'll go walking in Hapaa and he's saying, 310 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 2: I'm in the shower and I'm going akadavada. It was 311 00:18:55,720 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 2: me too with Oh Donna, boom boom, boom boom, and 312 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 2: I was like, Alexa, shut up. But I couldn't get 313 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 2: it out, so I knew that I had to finish it. 314 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 2: And then Tommy and Tony were like, damn it, Lex, 315 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 2: we got this earworm. 316 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 3: We can't get this song out of woo. 317 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 2: And they're moving equipment and they're going, I'm like, okay, great, 318 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 2: that's a good sign. 319 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 3: We got to make this record fast because if we're 320 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 3: singing it NonStop. 321 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 2: Maybe it'll be contagious. You know, So you got to 322 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 2: you got to enjoy that hook and trust it that. 323 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: The documentary is spectacular. I mean it is. It is 324 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: just Yeah, stunning on every every level and brilliant and 325 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: engaging and honest and just so wonderful. And it does, yeah, 326 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: take us inside you know, his process and his the 327 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: way it works, and his brilliance. So it's fantastic. 328 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: Oh deep, I just provided such a deeper context into 329 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 2: his material that some of which I I didn't even know, 330 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 2: you know, with part one back in the seventies. Like Dad, 331 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 2: there's so much there, you know, even with his first 332 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 2: wife and how she managed him and how many uphill 333 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 2: battles they fought to make. It's it's really amazing because 334 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 2: people think, oh, you know, maybe just land a hit 335 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 2: or it just happens. 336 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 3: He was not. 337 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 2: That did not happen. It was not overnight. He had 338 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 2: to claw and blood and sweat and toil and go 339 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 2: through you know, being ripped off and fight for the 340 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 2: rights to his palog And it's just amazing. You know 341 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 2: how much artists do go through behind the scenes that 342 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,959 Speaker 2: you know, unless people share those stories, people have no idea. 343 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: Resilience the key to resilience merging with creativity. How is 344 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: your dad? 345 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 2: Resilience is everything. He's great, he's great, he's tough, he 346 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 2: can he can get through anything. I always say, especially 347 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 2: after watching the doc I called him up, I said, Dad, 348 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 2: are you like you're like a cat? You have nine 349 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 2: lives maybe more, you know, because each sort of era 350 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 2: and they sort of in my view, went decade by 351 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 2: decade with his career and it's sort of unfolded with 352 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 2: his personal life as well, which then affects his material 353 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 2: and how he's writing. And he went through his I 354 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 2: even said, I said, at one point, you were sounding 355 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 2: more like Woody Allen in the seventies, and then you 356 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 2: went You're so in love with mom, and you were 357 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 2: more like you felt like a teenager again. So you're 358 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: doing Tin pan Alley and Frankie Valley in the fourth 359 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 2: seasons and you know, the doop and and then you 360 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 2: you know, and then you wanted to go darker and 361 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 2: more experimental and do your Sergeant Pepper era with nylon 362 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 2: curtain and expand sonically, and with each he even sounded 363 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:59,400 Speaker 2: different how he was speaking, like he really is a chameleon. 364 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 2: People don't realize this, and I've learned a lot just 365 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 2: from watching him through the years. He's not just a 366 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: chameleon musically, right, He'll style himself a little different he'll 367 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 2: start talking a little bit different because he goes into 368 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 2: the character of where he's at musically and what he's 369 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 2: working on. It's very interesting, you. 370 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: Know, Alexi Ray. Please give your dad our love and 371 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,719 Speaker 1: thank you for sharing everything here about your new music, 372 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 1: Riverside Way and the full EP, which is going to 373 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: be I like how you said that it's going to 374 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: be waterfall. 375 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 2: Is that the term you used, Yes, Waterfall releases. I'm 376 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 2: glad you brought that up because a lot of people 377 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:47,120 Speaker 2: on my Instagram and friends are asking me what's waterfall releases. 378 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 2: It's one song sort of flows into the next. So 379 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 2: I have Riversideway at the top of the EP, and 380 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 2: then I'll be putting out Heavy Eyes, and then we 381 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 2: have I don't want to confuse everybody, but then we 382 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 2: have three more coming down the line. But it's going 383 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 2: to be one at a time because in this sort 384 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 2: of add society where it's tough to catch people's attention 385 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 2: and it can be confusing with it, it's like a 386 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 2: lot to take in a whole record. I wanted to 387 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 2: do it one song at a time. Each song is 388 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 2: its own story, each song is its own niche, its 389 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 2: own world, its own kind of. I take on a 390 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 2: different character for each song, so I really wanted a 391 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 2: moment for each special song to shine. And it's going 392 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 2: to be five songs total. It's called Tales from a 393 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 2: Winding Tower because I wrote it in my family home, 394 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 2: which is actually called Tower Hill, and we have a 395 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 2: beautiful winding tower up to the top of the house 396 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 2: where you can see this gorgeous view. And there's something 397 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 2: storybook about a winding tower, and there's a few influences 398 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 2: with some psychedelic story book stuff that you'll hear later 399 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 2: on with the ep So that's why I call the 400 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 2: Tales from Winding Tower. I thought it sounded like a 401 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 2: seventies type of record. 402 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: You know, Oh, sounds fantastic. Alexi Ray, thanks for enchanting 403 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 1: us and taking us inside the process and for the 404 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: beauty of everything that you give us. 405 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Thank you so much. 406 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: Buzz Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking 407 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your 408 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. 409 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 410 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.