Five Questions With London-based Pop Diva Alexina

Alexina is a London-based rising pop diva with a growing international base. Alexina grew up in London but was born in the South of Scotland- in fact, her moniker is also the name of a Scots female warrior, which is derivative of her real name, Alexandra. She spent a lot of time at school playing in bands and is obsessed with literature. She loves Orwell, Vonnegut, Laurie Lee and Roald Dahl. When she isn’t reading or playing music, she’s writing poetry or publishing fiction books for children inspired by her spoiled dog.

Alexina’s voice places her in the same moody pop category as indie-artists-turned-pop-stars Halsey and Tove Lo. The ever-so-slight rasp in her voice comes out in a seductive, captivating way, especially at the song’s opening.

The songstress just released her new single “London,” which is a fiery shout to love lost and an eery sonic offering that engulfs you in the nuances of timbre and intonation which make the story roar like a massive blaze.

The Hype Magazine got Alexina to weigh in on her new project and what makes it the best introduction to her as an artist for the first time listener:

Tell us about your current project!

Well, I’m currently mid-way through releasing my debut 4 track alt-pop-noir EP, Partying on my Own and today I’ve just put out my third release, London. The EP chronicles various stages of a break-up and this track was the first, gut-wrenching song I wrote for the mini-album. It was written as a piano ballad but produced into a late-night drive-time, two-fingers-up pop song. The whole EP is a bit like that – a bunch of sad songs with inherently bold, anthemic sounds to hopefully empower the listeners who may find themselves in the same sad situation.

Do you feel your current project is the best introduction to you as an artist?

I really have never been more happy with anything I’ve ever made before. It’s taken me a really long time to get to this point but I’m finally here, I’m happy. I really don’t care how well this EP does, I feel it totally captures everything for me – the dark nights and the sadness but the ultimate soaring happiness.

What is the music landscape in your neck of the woods?

I spend 90% of my time in Kite Yard studios – an underground neon world which transcends all kinds of musical dimensions and landscapes. Producer Rob Brinkmann and I watch films, we watch YouTube videos for hours, we play every different kind of music, we build weird objects to record sounds from, we laugh a shit load and write and experiment and get so lost in there, it’s a bit like a parallel universe. We soak up a lot of current and old music and spew out what takes us. You come up the stairs and into the open air and you’re like WOW where the fuck have I been for the past 14 hours? I love it, it’s my true happy place. The musical landscape in my neck of the woods is probably defined by the weird and wonderful world of that studio.

Tell us about your passion outside of music!

When I’m not at Kite Yard, I’m either really social and out drinking, going to shows, talking, eating at friends houses and dancing or I’m a total recluse, spending hours researching weird articles and books. I love learning. I read and write every day. I love Scotland – I go home a lot, it’s very much my therapy. I’ll do three or four really manic weeks in London writing then go back to the countryside and go swimming or climb a hill and play the piano.

The Hype Magazine wants to know: What’s been your CRAZIEST “Where they do that at?! Or “WTF?!” moment thus far in your career?

A friend of mine, the producer and song-writer Guy Chambers, rang me up a couple of years ago and said “can you come to the studio I need you do record some vocals for a record I’m working on?” About an hour later I turned up to the studio on my bike and Robbie Williams was standing in the middle of the room, Guy standing behind him smiling. After semi-regaining composure, I got into the vocal booth and started to demo some harmonies for the song they were working on. Half way through Rob (as he’s informally known – also the nicest man I’ve ever met) came in to re-vocal his part. I remember the blood pounding through my ears as we stood side by side for about 10 minutes while he sang next to me in that tiny vocal booth. That was honestly a real WTFFFFFFF moment! I recorded a few BVs on that record, Heavy Entertainment Show! It really was a die-right-now moment!!!!

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.