AIDAN ALEXANDER sits down for an exclusive MMSCENE magazine interview with our Culture and Music Editor Nikola Bajovic. Aidan talks about his song writing process, acting and future plans. Aidan teamed up for his MMSCENE shoot with LA based photographer Mekhi Turner.
Continue reading for more from Aidan’s MMSCENE shoot and the interview:
When was the first time you realised you wanted to start to record music? – I’ve always wanted to. I grew up as far removed from the industry as one could be, so I had no idea how that was going to happen or what the process was even like, but yeah. I was young, I remember I wrote a song called “Baggy Pants.” It’s as bad as it sounds. Actually probably worse.
How does your song writing process work? Where do you get the most inspiration from? – I love watching old films, I think some of the dialogue in Andrei Tarkoskvy’s golden era of filmmaking is really inspirational. I remember being very inspired by human relationships after watching Solaris [1972]. On a less pretentious note I love simple but catchy pop melodies. I couldn’t name one single person, but I will say I think Hot N Cold by Katy Perry is the best pop song ever made. I also remember being really inspired by the theatrics of the wave of 70’s/80’s movie musicals like “Xanadu”.
Don’t dumb yourself down. Write the weird lyrics that make sense to just you. Don’t sell yourself short. What you have to say is just as important as what someone like Lady Gaga or Ariana Grande has to say.
The single “Lullaby” is my personal favourite. Can you tell me the story behind the song and when did you write it? – Well, the story had already ended as it began. Lullaby is my sonic attempt at giving mouth to mouth to a love that’s long dead. It’s a failed resuscitation. It’s an almost embarrassing confession to someone I love, that I love them. Even if they do not love me, I will always love them.
What would be the best advice to the new aspiring musicians? – Don’t dumb yourself down. Write the weird lyrics that make sense to just you. Don’t sell yourself short. What you have to say is just as important as what someone like Lady Gaga or Ariana Grande has to say. Find your point of view, and try to find a way to find the poetry in that.
You’re also an actor, and acting is also your passion. Can you tell me what would be your dream role? – I want to do a slasher. It doesn’t even need to be some A24 film, (although that is preferably, hi A24) it could be some campy, trashy, teen slasher and I’d be thrilled. I’m a freak, when I’m home alone I’ll like fake invasions or the opening scene in Scream [1996]. I know all of Drew Barrymore and Ghostface’s lines in that scene. My family is really disturbed by it.
Favourite genre of movie? – Easily horror. It’s a big mindless to me, I love the formulaic essence of it. You usually know what you’re getting. And when the final girl has an insane one liner before killing the bad guy, a year is added to my life.
A few years ago, you did a movie called “Vikes“… such a nice teen story. It looks like you had a lot of fun filming it. What is your favourite memory from that movie shoot? – To be honest, I don’t remember much. I remember bonding with Sydney, and loving her instantly. I remember it was my biggest part I’d done that far, and I didn’t want to mess up. I still don’t totally know what the film’s about though.
What are your future plans, realisations, dream jobs and hopes for the future sounds? – This is always the hardest question for me. I don’t know. I want to be acting, and studying and researching to play roles that are challenging. If I still feel like writing songs I hope I’m doing that. If one day I wake up and realize I want to fade out, and then live in some fishing village in the South Pacific, cool. I just want to be okay. And I want everyone else to be okay too.
Photography by Mekhi Turner – www.mekhiturner.com
Talent: Aidan Alexander
Interview by Nikola Bajovic
