Q&A: ALEXIS Debuts With The Flirty and Catchy “Blue Jeans”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY IVONA HOMICIANU ☆
THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME YOU HEAR THE NAME ALEXIS - but it certainly won’t be the last. The 22 year-old Filipino-Australian artist debuted her career with “Blue Jeans,” a catchy pop anthem that shows promising potential. Inspired by the common experience of getting a crush on a stranger on a train, ALEXIS entertains the idea of being with them.
The daydream isn’t only present in the songwriting – the sound of the track itself gives the listener the sensation of walking on clouds. “Blue Jeans” belongs to the category of music destined for romcoms, turning our own experiences into a rose-tinted montage. Blending synth-pop and playful lyrics, “Blue Jeans” is only a taste of the youthful tracks to come.
Although ALEXIS has just released her first single this year, she’s been working with high-profile producers and has been a participant in international songwriting camps, showing dedication to her craft. These experiences seem to have paid off – ALEXIS has already enchanted thousands of listeners with “Blue Jeans.”
Don’t miss out on ALEXIS, read below for more on the artist.
LUNA: Could you tell us more about yourself?
ALEXIS: Yes of course! Music has always played a central role in my life. Growing up our household was constantly filled with it whether it was karaoke nights or just having songs playing throughout the day. My brother and sister both sing and play the piano so it became a thing that we love to do together. Some of my favourite memories are of us just singing and playing some of our favourite songs with my parents.
Aside from all the music, I’m very much a homebody so spending time at home with my family and our dogs is where I feel the most grounded. I also love reading, specifically romance books because I need something that I know will end happily. I’m also a really huge Formula 1 fan. I’m that person who will stay up to watch every session on a race weekend even if it’s 2AM and I have work the next morning. There’s just something about it that keeps me hooked.
LUNA: How did you decide on the stage name ALEXIS?
ALEXIS: Alexis was actually the name my mum had always wanted to call me! For the longest time, she had wanted that to be my nickname, but when I was born, she was obsessed with Ally McBeal and at the last minute, called me Ally instead. It took me a really long time deciding on what I wanted my artist project to be called, as I wanted something that was separate from my day-to-day life but that also was still an extension of me, and I loved the idea that I could pay homage to my mum at the same time so I decided to go with ALEXIS. It felt the most natural and fitting to my project and after going back and forth with a few different ideas, ALEXIS just felt right.
LUNA: On the cover of the single, there are various blue items. One of those items is “Beach Read” by Emily Henry. Did the book inspire you in any way for the creation of the song?
ALEXIS: In a way, yes! If you look closely at the cover art there's actually various different items that represent my personality and life including a few books such as “Beach Read!” I’m a big romance book girl and Emily Henry is one of my all-time favourite authors, her storytelling and writing abilities just hit me in the heart every time. I love Gus and January’s friendship but also their love story - like c’mon, his pining? Their writing dates? Dancing in the rain? The book dedication? I’d like to think that in some universe Gus hears “Blue Jeans” and is in his living room with January just singing and dancing and making her laugh.
LUNA: “Blue Jeans” is very catchy, you could almost hear it on the soundtrack of a romcom. If you could have it featured in a romcom, which one would it be and why?
ALEXIS: Ooh this is such a good question! This is so hard to pick, but I always think that it would be in some sort of Netflix, a coming-of-age movie. I think maybe it would be in something like “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”! I can totally see Lara Jean in her bedroom, jumping around and singing into her mirror with her sisters or Chris, just being fun and goofy.
LUNA: You’ve participated in international songwriting camps. Could you tell us more about that process?
ALEXIS: Of course! I went to a few writing camps last year, and I had the best time whilst I was on them! I met some of my best friends on those trips, and I got to write some amazing songs for myself with some amazing topliners and producers, but I also got to write for other amazing artists! Our days would be filled with writing sessions where there would be two to four other people and a producer, and we’d spend a couple of hours just writing songs. We’d usually take a break and enjoy the pool or the beach, and then we’d get back into it. It was so great being able to lock in creatively in such a beautiful environment with other supportive and talented songwriters and producers.
LUNA: As a singer-songwriter, what fellow singer-songwriter would you want to collaborate with?
ALEXIS: Oh gosh, I have so many people that I adore and would love to be in a room with, but I think at the moment it would have to be Olivia Rodrigo, Griff, or Holly Humberstone. I love the way they form their lyrics and melodies, and I would just love to watch them and have their input!
LUNA: Did you have an idea for what the production would sound like when you first wrote the lyrics, or did you get to experiment and discover what you’d like in the studio?
ALEXIS: Usually, I’ll bring in a song reference for the vibe that I want, and I’ll leave it up to my producer, Tyler, to do the rest. We wrote this song back in August last year, around the time Short n Sweet came out, and I just wanted to do something really fun and kind of cheeky as well. That vibe is a bit out of my comfort zone, but as soon as we locked in, it came together really quickly!
LUNA: Do you have more music planned for the near future?
ALEXIS: Yes! I’ve got a few more songs planned for this year, with my next single coming out in September! I’m so excited for these to come out, and I’m also really excited for next year too. I’ve got a bunch of songs that I’ve written on the shortlist for release next year, so I’m excited to start shifting my creative process to that and continuing on from the momentum of this year!
