Alexx Calise chases her Morning Pill with two new records
You’d be hard pressed to find an artist more passionate and driven than Alexx Calise. Most artists go into the studio to record one album, but not Alexx Calise. She’s in the studio cranking out, not one, but two albums. The first is a follow-up to 2007’s Morning Pill and the other for her project with drummer/songwriter Dennis Morehouse, Sound of Cancer. Guerrilla Radio caught up will Alexx to talk about recording, gear and opening for herself on tour.
GR: Describe your new album to us, please.
AC: We’re finishing the mixing right now. It should be coming out in the next two to three weeks and it’s a lot different than my first record because it has more of a “rocktronica” sound. My first one was lo-fi and straight rock and roll but this one has a strong dance, electronica feel. My influences are a lot of rock and grunge, so it produced a weird, interesting sound. It’s like Alanis Morisette fused with Prodigy. It’s pretty out there.
GR: Who will be putting the new record out?
AC: I’ve been independent for a number of years but we might do some label shopping For the most part I like doing everything independently because I like to own my own publishing and masters. I’ve had a lot of friends on major labels who complain about getting shelved and not getting enough attention. In order for me to sign with a label I’d have to find someone who is willing to work with me.
GR: How is Sound of Cancer different from you solo stuff?
AC: It’s much more raw and more harmony driven. By harmony I mean choral harmony, so for some of the songs we’ll be doing 13-part vocal harmonies. It sounds kind of like Massive Attack or Portishead. Actually I’m working on both albums at the same time and that’s why it’s taking so long for them to come out. Sound of Cancer is a bit darker but it has my signature stamp on it. I write a lot of esoteric, empirical lyrics. Even in my solo stuff it sounds poppy but I always write dark lyrics.
GR: How is it writing and recording two stylistically separate albums simultaneously?
AC: It’s brutal, to say the least. It’s a labor of love. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried and been upset and then been extremely happy. It’s been a pretty laborious process but whenever I hear a finished song I’m always so happy. It sounds so awesome, all that hard work was really well worth it.
GR: Are you going to tour for both projects?
AC: I think it would be really funny if one of the other projects opened for the other. It would be funny to see if people could tell the difference. We had talked about doing that because visually the projects are so different. In one I’m a rocker chick, and in another I’m a jazz singer. It’s an interesting dichotomy.
GR: Do you have any advice for other aspiring musicians?
AC: You just really have to be in it for the love. A lot of people have a preconceived notion of what it’s like being a “rock star.” The fact of the matter is you may never make it and you may never make a dime. You have to love it, otherwise don’t do it. There is a lot of rejection, ups and downs, heartache and pain. There’s a great amount of happiness, but you have to make sure you’re in it for the right reasons. You have to really truly love it, and it’s all you want to do.
GR: Is there any gear you’re nerding out on lately?
AC: I’m in love with my new baby, a white Les Paul Studio. It’s a beautiful, beautiful guitar. I also play through a Vox AC30 with Celestion speakers. It’s the amp standard, it just has an awesome sound.
GR: What inspires you to write music?
AC: I’m inspired by a lot of different things. I end up write about my own self-loathing, pain love, heartbreak, joy. I just need to get it out, you know? Music is kind of an outlet for my demons. I wouldn’t say I’m a dark person, but songwriting is my way of getting the dark stuff out so I don’t become a dark person.
GR: What are your plans after the record is finished?
AC: After we finish the record we’re just going to go nuts! We’ll be promoting and touring like crazy. I’m looking to do some SoCal dates and I’ve gotten some offers to tour in Europe. As soon as the record is done I will definitely be doing some extensive touring with my full band. I have a feeling this will be the year that stuff really starts to happen. Here’s hoping!
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